Wood Turtle
Glyptemys insculpta
Appearance 2
It is brownish to gray-brown in color. The head of the adult turtle is black, occasionally with light dots or other markings; the scales on the upper legs are black to brown, while the skin on the throat, lower neck, and on the lower parts of the legs can be yellow, orange, or orange-red to salmon-red, sometimes speckled with darker colors.
Habitat 2
Wood turtles are often described as woodland turtles, but in reality, they can live comfortably in a number of habitats such as woods, shrub or berry thickets, swamps, and open, grassy areas typically near streams.
Behavior/Reproduction 2
In May or June, female wood turtles search for open, sunny nesting sites, preferring sandy banks near moving water. The female digs the nest with her hind feet into which she lays 3 to 18 eggs. Females may not reproduce every year. Wood turtles spend much of their active time taking up sunlight during the day. They hibernate in winter (October through April), generally on the bottom in the shallows of streams and rivers where the water will not freeze. They are agile and very intelligent.
Fun Fact 2
They can live to be at least 60 years old or older in some cases.
Citations 2
http://www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/Glyptemys_insculpta/
Sources and Credits
- (c) Jonathan Crowe, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), http://www.flickr.com/photos/38489797@N00/114942249
- (c) gburg2016, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
More Info
iNat Map
| Category | Amphibians and Reptiles |
|---|
