- "Painted Turtle" is also the name of an imprint of Wayne State University Press
Wayne State University Press , founded in 1941, is a university press that is part of Wayne State University. It publishes under its own name and also the imprints Painted Turtle and Great Lakes Books....
.
Painted Turtle (
Chrysemys picta) is a
reptileReptiles, or members of the class Reptilia, are air-breathing, generally "cold-blooded" amniotes that generally have skin covered in scales or scutes. They are tetrapods and lay amniote eggs, whose embryos are surrounded by the amnion membrane...
that is common in southern Canada, the United States, and northern Mexico and is related to other water turtles such as
slidersTrachemys is a genus of water turtles found in North, Central, and South America. They are commonly known as "Sliders". It includes the Red-eared slider , which is the most common turtle kept as a pet.-Species:...
and
cootersPseudemys is a genus of pond turtles also known as Cooter Turtles, especially in the state of Florida. Cooter stems from kuta, the word for turtle in the Bambara and Malinké languages, brought to America by African slaves.-Description:The...
. This turtle lives in ponds, lakes, marshes, and in slow-moving rivers that have soft, muddy bottoms. The maximum carapace size, or shell length, for painted turtles is or 25 cm (10 in.). Its shell is used to protect it from its predators.
The skin of an adult Painted Turtle's head, neck, feet and tail, and the carapace-edge (marginal)
scuteA scute or scutum is a bony external plate or scale, as on the shell of a turtle, the skin of crocodilians, or the feet of some birds.-Properties:Scutes are similar to scales and serve the same function...
s have a red and yellow striped design that gives the appearance of having been hand-painted. The
plastronThe plastron is the nearly flat part of the shell structure of a turtle or tortoise, what one would call the belly, similar in composition to the carapace; with an external layer of horny material divided into plates called scutes and an underlying layer of interlocking bones.In certain families...
, depending on the subspecies, can be entirely yellowish or yellowish-orange, mostly yellowish with a dark pattern in the center, or may have a bold, elaborate pattern of yellow, orange, red and dark gray. The background skin tone of the painted turtle varies from olive green to solid black. The Painted turtle is the only species in the genus
Chrysemys. It comprises four sub-species: the Eastern, Southern, Midland, and Western Painted Turtle. The only species of Painted Turtle that has a stripe on its back is the Southern Painted Turtle.
The Painted Turtle is the official reptile of the U.S. states of
ColoradoColorado is a U.S. state located in the Rocky Mountain region of the United States of America. It may also be considered to be part of the Western and Southwestern regions of the United States. Colorado entered statehood in 1876 and was nicknamed the “Centennial State”...
(specifically the Western Painted Turtle) and
MichiganMichigan is a Midwestern state of the United States of America. It was named after Lake Michigan, whose name is a French adaptation of the Ojibwe term mishigama, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
.
Reproduction
Mating begins shortly after the turtles have emerged from
hibernationHibernation is a state of inactivity and metabolic depression in animals, characterized by lower body temperature, slower breathing, and lower metabolic rate. Hibernating animals conserve energy, especially during winter when food is short, tapping energy reserves, body fat, at a slow rate...
in early spring when the water temperature is still low. Mating may also occur in the fall. The breeding season typically lasts from late spring to early summer. Males begin to breed when they reach maturity, usually at 70-95 mm plastron length when they are three to five years old. Females take longer to mature (4–5 years) and are larger at maturity. The courtship ritual of adult painted turtles is a rare and beautiful sight, rarely seen in the wild. Possessing a broader, thicker tail and a smaller (about 80 percent the size of an adult female of the same age), more elongated body shape, the male painted turtle swims to face the female nose-to-nose, prior to fertilizing her ova, and uses his comparatively hugely over-sized front claws to tickle the cheeks of the female rapidly up-and-down in a vibratory manner, in about one-second bursts, with the "palms" of the forefeet facing outward. If the female is receptive, she will stroke the forelimbs of the courting male .Different subspecies of painted turtle can and do interbreed - the offspring exhibit an intergradation of the characteristics of the parent races.
Painted turtles are amniotes that requires females to nest on land. Females prefer soft, sandy soil with good exposure to the sun for their nest site.
Nests are dug with the turtle's hind feet, usually within 200 metres of water. The nest is no deeper than 10 to 12 centimetres. The females will lay 4 to 15 oval, soft shelled eggs, in a conical flask-shaped hole. The eggs are elliptical, white to off-white and are mostly smooth with slight pits. Female turtles may lay up to five clutches of eggs per season although typically, they will lay only one or two clutches. Once the eggs are laid the mother will cover the hole with dirt or sand and leave the nest unattended. Painted turtle eggs hatch 72 to 80 days after they are laid. Once the young hatch and dig out of the nest, they are immediately independent.Nest tempurature determines the sex and survivability of hatchlings. A study was done by Dr. Brooks in which he studied what temperatures produced different sexes. The results showed that males were only produced by temperatures of 22,24, and 26 degrees celcius, while females were produced at tempuratures of 30 and 32 degrees celcius. Both sexes were produced at 20 and 28 degrees celcius . This study showed that eggs incubated at constant temperatures could determine sex, but naturally incubated eggs with varying temperatures are not able to be determined.
Behavior
Painted turtles are most active from May to October in the Northeastern United States. Instances of local flooding following heavy rainfall in warm months, will sometimes force these turtles to temporarily take to the land for a day or two, migrating between habitats and taking risks crossing roads. It is then that a specimen can be captured with relative ease. During the winter, painted turtles
hibernateHibernation is a state of inactivity and metabolic depression in animals, characterized by lower body temperature, slower breathing, and lower metabolic rate. Hibernating animals conserve energy, especially during winter when food is short, tapping energy reserves, body fat, at a slow rate...
by burying themselves deep in the mud beneath streams and ponds. The mud insulates the turtle, which helps prevent freezing during the harsh winter months. The turtle may submerge itself in up to 90 cm (3 ft) of mud under less than 1.8 metres (6 ft) of water. Painted turtles can survive without oxygen at 3° Celsius (37.4°F) for up to five months, longer than any other known air-breathing
vertebrateVertebrates are members of the subphylum Vertebrata, chordates with backbones or spinal columns. About 58,000 species of vertebrates have been described. Vertebrata is the largest subphylum of chordates, and contains many familiar groups of large land animals. Vertebrates comprise cyclostomes, bony...
. To survive during hibernation, the turtle must prevent
lactic acidLactic acid , also known as milk acid, is a chemical compound that plays a role in several biochemical processes. It was first isolated in 1780 by a Swedish chemist, Carl Wilhelm Scheele, and is a carboxylic acid with a chemical formula of C
3H
6O
3...
from building up in its body. The turtle accomplishes this by slowing its metabolic rate, which in turn lowers the rate of lactic acid production. It then uses magnesium and calcium stored in its shell to buffer and neutralize lactic acid. Northern populations of painted turtle may remain dormant for four to six months. More southerly populations may become active during warm periods. When emerging from a dormant period, most turtles will not begin to eat again until the water temperature has reached approximately 15.5° Celsius (60°F).
The painted turtle spends the majority of its time in the water, but it can often be seen lying in the sun on floating logs or on rocks by the shore. This behavior is called basking. Some turtles bask simply by floating at the surface of the water with only the tip of their nose breaking the surface. Adult painted turtles are very shy and are not easily captured. Painted turtles bask because they cannot generate heat or regulate their own body temperature. Instead, they rely on heat from the sun to raise and maintain their body temperature at a level high enough for food in their stomachs to digest efficiently; about 65°F minimum. Basking episodes generally last for two hours at a time. Painted turtles are omnivorous, taking insects, worms, tadpoles, small fish and crustaceans as well as carrion, in addition to duckweed and other aquatic vegetation. Like almost all semi-aquatic turtles, painted turtles cannot and will not ingest food unless their mouths are fully underwater.
Housing
Aquariums used to house a painted turtle should be sized to at least 80 gallons per adult, but a 20 gallon, or 30 gallon breeder tank is great for babies, or hatchlings. They must have an accessible land area (commercially made turtle ramps are available at most pet stores) to bask on and to completely dry out on. The tank should be cleaned at least a couple of times a month and the correct size filtration system should be purchased and kept clean and well-supplied with filter media. A
UVAUltraviolet light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength shorter than that of visible light, but longer than x-rays, in the range 10 nm to 400 nm, and energies from 3 eV to 124 eV...
/UVB light is critical to the health of basking turtles. Turtles require heat and sunlight (either natural or artificial) to properly digest food and develop their shells and beaks. Fluorescent UVA/UVB lamps are not suitable for turtles when used alone. Turtles in cooler times of year need some heat in addition to the UV light, Like an incandescent spot light, but a UV light will provide enough heat if the water is 60°F. Exposure to sunlight or artificial heat sources must be arranged carefully since overheating can kill a turtle within minutes. Always provide a sufficient amount of clean, shaded cooler water to which the turtle can retreat. Keep a turtle habitat fitted with an effective barrier such as a firmly-attached, 1/2-inch wire mesh cover with a sturdy frame which your baby or young child, cat or dog cannot dislodge.
Feeding
Painted turtles eat various types of food. They are willing to eat normal turtle food, but it's healthier to provide a more varied diet. They will also eat worms, small chunks of (any) meat, and small leaves. For bigger turtles, fish, raw vegetables, frogs, crickets (bugs), consist of their main diet. If you're having trouble getting them to eat, feed them something different or something smaller. In the wild, painted turtles are oportunistic feeders on plants and animals .
Predators
Painted turtles are vulnerable to predation throughout their development and into adulthood. Many animals such as raccoons, several types of
squirrelA squirrel is one of many small or medium-sized rodents in the family Sciuridae. In the English-speaking world, squirrel commonly refers to members of this family's genera Sciurus and Tamiasciurus, which are tree squirrels with large bushy tails, indigenous to Asia, the Americas and Europe....
s,
chipmunkChipmunks are small squirrel-like rodents of the genus Tamias. They are native to North America and Asia.- Etymology and taxonomy :Tamias is Greek for "storer," a reference to the animals' habit of collecting and storing food for winter use...
, woodchucks,
skunkSkunks are mammals best known for their ability to secrete a liquid with a strong, foul-smelling odor. General appearance ranges from species to species, from black-and-white to brown or cream colored. Skunks belong to the family Mephitidae and to the order Carnivora...
,
badgerBadgers, occasionally referred to as brocks, are short-legged, heavy-set carnivores in the weasel family, Mustelidae. There are some eight species of badger, in three subfamilies : Melinae , Mellivorinae , and Taxideinae...
,
foxFox is a common name for many species of carnivorous mammals belonging to the Canidae family. Foxes are small to medium-sized canids , characterized by possessing a long narrow snout, and a bushy tail ....
es,
fish crowsThe Fish Crow is a typical crow in appearance that is associated with wetland habitats.-Taxonomy:The Fish Crow was first described by Alexander Wilson in 1812...
,
garter snakeA garter snake is any species of North American snake within the genus Thamnophis. Because of the similarity in the sound of the words, combined with where people often see them, they are sometimes called garden snakes, gardner snakes or gardener snakes, or even garder snakes or guarder snakes...
s,
deerDeer are the ruminant mammals forming the family Cervidae. They include for example Moose, Red Deer, Reindeer, Roe and Chital. Animals from related families within the order Artiodactyla are often also considered to be deer – these include muntjac and water deer...
, ants, beavers, and humans will prey on turtle nests. Newly hatched turtles are eaten by
ratRats are various medium-sized, long-tailed rodents of the superfamily Muroidea. "True rats" are members of the genus Rattus, the most important of which to humans are the black rat, Rattus rattus, and the brown rat, Rattus norvegicus...
s,
muskratThe muskrat , the only species in genus Ondatra, is a medium-sized semi-aquatic rodent native to North America, and introduced in parts of Europe, Asia, and South America. The muskrat is found in wetlands and is a very successful animal over a wide range of climates and habitats...
,
minkThere are two living species referred to as "mink": the American Mink and the European Mink. The extinct Sea Mink is related to the American Mink, but was much larger. All three species are dark-colored, semi-aquatic, carnivorous mammals of the family Mustelidae, which also includes the weasels...
, raccoons, snapping turtles, snakes, bullfrogs, large
fishA fish is any aquatic vertebrate animal that is typically ectothermic , covered with scales, and equipped with two sets of paired fins and several unpaired fins...
and
heronThe herons are wading birds in the Ardeidae family. There are 64 recognised species in this family. Some are called egrets or bitterns instead of herons....
s. Adult turtles are preyed upon by
alligatorAn Alligator is a crocodilian in the genus Alligator of the family Alligatoridae. The name alligator is an anglicized form of el lagarto the Spanish term for "lizard", the name by which early Spanish explorers and settlers in Florida called the alligator...
s, snapping turtles,
raccoonProcyon is a genus of nocturnal mammals, comprising three species commonly known as raccoons, in the family Procyonidae. The most widespread species, the Common Raccoon , is often known simply as "the" raccoon, as the two other raccoon species in the genus are native only to the tropics and are...
s,
bald eagleThe Bald Eagle is a bird of prey found in North America that is most recognizable as the national bird and symbol of the United States of America. This sea eagle has two known sub-species and forms a species pair with the White-tailed Eagle. Its range includes most of Canada and Alaska, all of the...
s,
ospreyThe Osprey , sometimes known as the sea hawk, is a diurnal, fish-eating bird of prey. It is a large raptor, reaching 60 centimetres in length with a 1.8 metre wingspan...
, and red shouldered hawks. Humans pose many threats to painted turtles through habitat destruction, the use of pesticides, vehicles on roadways, intentional killing by anglers, and through improper care while kept as pets. When a painted turtle feels threatened, it may kick and scratch, bite and urinate. Painted turtles that have avoided predators and disease have been known to live longer than thirty years in the wild.
Subspecies of Painted Turtles
Eastern Painted Turtle (C. p. picta)
- 4 1/2—6" males, 6-8" females
- Scutes of carapace
A carapace is a dorsal section of the exoskeleton or shell in a number of animal groups, including arthropods such as crustaceans and arachnids as well as vertebrates such as chelonians, order Testudines, turtles and tortoises.-Crustaceans:In crustaceans, the carapace is a part of the exoskeleton...
in straight rows
- Front edges of large scutes form bands across carapace (aligned)
- Two bright yellow spots on each side of the head
- Plain yellow or yellow-orange plastron
The plastron is the nearly flat part of the shell structure of a turtle or tortoise, what one would call the belly, similar in composition to the carapace; with an external layer of horny material divided into plates called scutes and an underlying layer of interlocking bones.In certain families...
may have one or two small dark spots.
- Range: Nova Scotia to Georgia. Intergrading with the Midland in much of the Northeast
The Atlantic Northeast is a region of North America, comprising New England in the United States and the Maritimes in Canada. Definitions of the region vary; in New England it may be restricted to the rural north, and it may also extend to all of Atlantic Canada.The region is noted for a cultural...
Midland Painted Turtle (C. p. marginata)
- 4 1/2—5 1/2"
- Large, alternating (staggered) carapace scutes
- Vaguely oval or narrow elongated medium-to-dark gray plastral blotch centered on the mid-line, remainder of plastron yellow or yellow-orange
- Range: Southern Quebec
Quebec is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking identity and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
and Southern OntarioOntario is a province located in east-central Canada, the largest by population and second largest, after Quebec, in total area. Ontario is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Manitoba to the west and Quebec to the east, and 5 U.S...
to TennesseeTennessee is a state located in the Southeastern United States. According to the 2008 census, it has a population of 6,214,888, an increase of nearly 9.5% since 2000. Tennessee is the 14th fastest growing state in the US and is ranked 17th by population. It is ranked 36th by total land area. In...
. Northwest GeorgiaGeorgia is a state in the United States. One of the original Thirteen Colonies that revolted against British rule in the American Revolution, it had been the last of the Thirteen Colonies to be established, in 1733. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January...
and extreme Northeastern AlabamaAlabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States of America. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its...
Southern Painted Turtle (C. p. dorsalis)
- 4—5" males, 6-8" females
- Single broad orange or red stripe on back, occasionally yellow or whitish in color
- Alternating (staggered) carapace scutes
- Plain yellow plastron which may have one or two tiny black spots
- Range: Southern Illinois to the Gulf of Mexico. Southwest Alabama to Southeastern Oklahoma. Isolated colony in central Texas
Note: This subspecies is easily recognizable by the stripe on its back- it's the only Painted Turtle that does
Western Painted Turtle (C. p. belli)
- 4 1/2-7" males, 8-11" females, thus making westerns the largest type of the subspecies
- Netlike pattern on carapace
- Alternating (staggered) carapace scutes
- Distinctive gaudy, red, orange and dark gray branched pattern on otherwise-yellowish plastron much larger than the plastral pattern in the Midland.
- Range: Southwestern Ontario and Southern Missouri to the Pacific Northwest. In Idaho this turtle can be found in the Panhandle
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- All Painted Turtles have a Vomeronasal Organ. (A.K.A. Jacobson's Organ)
External links