| Blanding's turtle | |
|---|---|
_(17812011862).jpg) | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Testudines |
| Suborder: | Cryptodira |
| Family: | Emydidae |
| Subfamily: | Emydinae |
| Genus: | Emydoidea JE Gray, 1870 |
| Species: | E. blandingii |
| Binomial name | |
| Emydoidea blandingii | |
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| The range of Blanding's turtle | |
| Synonyms[5][6][7] | |
Blanding's turtle (Emydoidea blandingii)[1][5] is aspecies of semi-aquaticturtle of thefamilyEmydidae. This species is native to central and eastern parts ofCanada and theUnited States.[2] It is considered to be anendangered species throughout much of its range.[8] Blanding's turtle is of interest inlongevity research, as it shows few or nocommon signs of aging and is physically active and capable of reproduction into eight or nine decades of life.[9][10]
There are differences of opinion as to thegenus for this species; bothEmys andEmydoidea occur in published sources in 2009, 2010, and 2011.[1][4]
Both thespecific name,blandingii, and the common name, Blanding's turtle, are in honor ofAmericannaturalist Dr.William Blanding (1773–1857).[11] The Blanding’s turtle is also known as “the turtle with the sun under its chin,” a name that comes from Indigenous oral traditions. In one Indigenous creation story, the turtle is said to have rescued the sun and returned it to the sky by carrying it in its mouth. This left the turtle with the permanent glow of the sun on its neck and chin.[12]
Blanding's turtle is a medium-sized turtle with an average straightcarapace length of approximately 18 to 23 cm (7.1 to 9.1 in) with a maximum of 25.5 cm (10.0 in).[13] A distinguishing feature of this turtle is the bright yellow chin and throat. The carapace, or upper shell, is domed, but slightly flattened along the midline, and is oblong when viewed from above. The carapace is speckled with numerous yellow or light-colored flecks or streaks on a dark background. Theplastron, or lower shell, is yellow with dark blotches symmetrically arranged. The head and legs are dark, and usually speckled or mottled with yellow. Blanding's turtle is also called the "semi-box" turtle, for although theplastron is hinged, the plastral lobes do not shut as tight as thebox turtles'.[14]
Blanding's turtle takes 14–20 years to reachsexual maturity. Mating begins between March and April and nests are dug from late May into early July .[15][16]Clutch size varies from region to region. InNew York, the clutch size ranges from five to twelve eggs, with an average of eight. The sex of the hatchlings is determined by the temperature of the eggs during development. Colder temperatures produce males, while warmer temperatures produce female hatchlings.[16]
Blanding's turtleoverwinters under or near water, in mud, or undervegetation or debris. This is known asbrumation. During the nesting season, a female Blanding's turtle may be found more than a kilometer from where it hibernated. It isomnivorous, eatingcrustaceans (includingcrayfish),insects (such asdragonflynymphs andaquatic beetles),snails and otherinvertebrates,fish, fisheggs,frogs,carrion,berries,seeds, andvegetable debris.[17] It will eatcoontail,duckweed,sedge, andbulrush.[17] It is capable of catching live fish. Based on the extreme lack of aging symptoms and lack of age related decline, this turtle is considered a negligiblysenescent species.[9]
Blanding's turtle is a timid turtle and may plunge into water and remain on the bottom for hours when alarmed. If away from water, the turtle will withdraw into its shell. It is very gentle and rarely attempts to bite in defence. It is very agile and a good swimmer.[18]
The geographic range ofE. blandingii centres on theGreat Lakes, and extends from centralNebraska andMinnesota (where it twice failed to become thestate reptile)[19] eastward through southernOntario and the south shore ofLake Erie as far east as northern New York. In Nebraska, this turtle is uncommon in the eastern portion of the state, but common to abundant in the Sand Hills region lakes, ponds, and streams. There are also isolated populations in southeasternNew York (Dutchess County),New England, andNova Scotia.[20]
Its general habitat iswetlands with clean shallow water. It is known to bask on logs, and will wander far from water, particularly when nesting. It generally nests in sunny areas, with well drained soil. Younger turtles may bask on sedge and alderhummocks. Young will often travel far in search of mating sites, newhabitat, or new food sources, as do elder turtles.
The primary threat to Blanding's turtle ishabitat fragmentation and destruction as well as nest predation by unnaturally large populations of predators.[2] It is listed as anendangered species on theIUCN Red List[2] as endangered in some U.S. states, and as eitherthreatened or endangered throughout Canada, though in the U.S. it has no federal status. International trade in Blanding's turtle is restricted, as the species is listed in Appendix II of theConvention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) meaning that international trade is regulated by the CITES permit system.[3]
This species can also be adversely affected byprescribed burns. During fall and late spring hatchlings move overland and it is recommended that prescribed burns should be avoided during these times.[21]
The U.S. states in which it is considered endangered areIndiana,[22]Illinois,Missouri,[23]Maine,New Hampshire,Massachusetts, andSouth Dakota.[24] It is considered threatened in New York and Iowa.[25][26] InMichigan, Blanding's turtle is also fully protected as aspecial concern species,[27] making it unlawful to kill, take, trap, possess, buy, or sell.[28] InLake County, Illinois, a long-term species recovery program has been underway since 2009.[29]
In Canada, the Great Lakes–St. Lawrence River population inOntario andQuebec is federally threatened,[30] and theNova Scotia population is endangered.[31]Conservation and recovery efforts in Nova Scotia have been in place for two decades and rely onhabitat andlife history monitoring based on the work of conservation practitioners, researchers, and volunteers. Habitat protection has proven crucial. The population inKejimkujik National Park has been placed under the highest level of protection, where volunteers andParks Canada staff carry out annual efforts to protect the turtle's nests from predation and monitor their population over time.[32] The McGowan Lake population was initially protected byBowater but has since been taken over by the Province. InPleasant River, the Nova Scotia Nature Trust protects four separate segments ofcritical habitat.[33]
Emydidae family | ||||
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| Genera |
|  | ||
| Chrysemys | ||||
| Clemmys | ||||
| Deirochelys | ||||
| Actinemys | ||||
| Emys | ||||
| Emydoidea | ||||
| Glyptemys | ||||
| Graptemys | ||||
| Malaclemys | ||||
| Pseudemys | ||||
| Terrapene | ||||
| Trachemys | ||||
| †Wilburemys | ||||
Phylogenetic arrangement of turtles based onturtles of the world 2017 update: Annotated checklist and atlas of taxonomy, synonymy, distribution, and conservation status. Key: †=extinct. | ||||
Authority control databases: National |
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