Bog turtle
Bog Turtle
Sierra Jacoby
American Military University
SCIN130
Dr. James Brown
The quote “good things come in small packages” is the perfect description of the bog turtle. The bog turtle, Glyptemys muhlenbergii, is the smallest turtle located in the northeast, growing only to be about three to four and a half inches long (Hay 568). Bog turtles are no bigger than the palm of your hand. This charming little turtle is noticed most by the yellow-orange spots that can be found on either sides of the head and the mahogany color of its shell. Bog turtles live in a mosaic of open, sunny, spring fed wetlands and scattered dry areas (Hay 568). The variety of wet and dry places meet all the basic needs required by this charming turtle: basking, foraging, nesting, hibernating, and finding shelter. Sunny open areas provide the warmth needed to regulate the turtles’ body temperature and incubate its eggs. Soft, muddy areas allow the turtle to escape from predators and high temperatures. Dry areas allow a place for the turtle to nest and the spring that flows all year long ensures that the turtle will not freeze throughout winter. This turtle is located in the temperate deciduous forest biome. This tiny turtle hatches from its egg in late August, early September, after incubating for forty-two to fifty-six days (Earnst 1994). Shortly after being born, together the small turtles burrow into mud or find an abandoned vole or muskrat hole to hibernate in. Around eight years of age these guys finally reach maturity. In the spring after that, they begin to mate with one another. After fertilized, the female turtle will begin to build her nest in sphagnum moss. During the beginning summer months the female will lay up to six eggs at a time (Earnst 1994). Once laid, the female will leave the eggs unattended so that they can incubate. These amazing little turtles can live up to 40 years. Bog turtles are active from April to October but are most
Sierra Jacoby
American Military University
SCIN130
Dr. James Brown
The quote “good things come in small packages” is the perfect description of the bog turtle. The bog turtle, Glyptemys muhlenbergii, is the smallest turtle located in the northeast, growing only to be about three to four and a half inches long (Hay 568). Bog turtles are no bigger than the palm of your hand. This charming little turtle is noticed most by the yellow-orange spots that can be found on either sides of the head and the mahogany color of its shell. Bog turtles live in a mosaic of open, sunny, spring fed wetlands and scattered dry areas (Hay 568). The variety of wet and dry places meet all the basic needs required by this charming turtle: basking, foraging, nesting, hibernating, and finding shelter. Sunny open areas provide the warmth needed to regulate the turtles’ body temperature and incubate its eggs. Soft, muddy areas allow the turtle to escape from predators and high temperatures. Dry areas allow a place for the turtle to nest and the spring that flows all year long ensures that the turtle will not freeze throughout winter. This turtle is located in the temperate deciduous forest biome. This tiny turtle hatches from its egg in late August, early September, after incubating for forty-two to fifty-six days (Earnst 1994). Shortly after being born, together the small turtles burrow into mud or find an abandoned vole or muskrat hole to hibernate in. Around eight years of age these guys finally reach maturity. In the spring after that, they begin to mate with one another. After fertilized, the female turtle will begin to build her nest in sphagnum moss. During the beginning summer months the female will lay up to six eggs at a time (Earnst 1994). Once laid, the female will leave the eggs unattended so that they can incubate. These amazing little turtles can live up to 40 years. Bog turtles are active from April to October but are most
References: Holman, J. A. 1977. The Pleistocene (Kansan) herpetofauna of Cumberland Cave, Maryland. Annals of Carnegie Museum 66:157-172 pp. Retrieved September 6, 2014. Romer, A. S. 1966. Vertebrate Paleontology. Univ. of Chicago Press, Chicago, 468 pp. Retrieved September 6, 2014. Hay, O. P. 1908. The fossil turtles of North America. Carnegie Institution of Washington, Publication No. 75. 568 pp. Retrieved September 6, 2014. Walunas, R. (2011, June 11). Bog Turtle: Conservation of the Northeast: 1-2 pp. Retrieved September 6, 2014. Harding, J. (2012, May 3). Glyptemys muhlenbergii. Retrieved September 6, 2014. Ernst, C., J. Lovich, R. Barbour. 1994. Turtles of the United States and Canada. Washington D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.