DID
YOU GUESS IT??
The
Beautiful Shell of a Painted Turtle
This
Can You Guess It?? photo appears in the August
2005 Nebline Newsletter.
Turtles
occur on all continents except Antarctica. Over 240 species
occur worldwide but turtles are most abundant in eastern North
America.
Turtles
feed on a combination of plant and animal material that includes
items such as aquatic weeds, crayfish, carrion, insects, fish,
and other small organisms.
All
turtles reproduce by laying eggs in early spring. Hatching
begins in late summer and extends into the fall, depending
on summer temperatures associated with the climate of the
range.
An interesting fact: There are no genetic males or females
painted turtles. Their sex is determined by external temperature
during embryogenesis (when the embryo is being formed). Colder
temperatures produce males and hotter ones make females.
During
winter in Nebraska, painted turtles hibernate. Scientists
estimate that painted turtles can live up to 40 years in the
wild, but in captivity they do not live as long.
Resources:
Reptiles
and Amphibians of Nebraska
Internet
Center for Wildlife Damage Management
