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Bog Turtle (Glyptemys muhlenbergii)
Bog Turtle Photograph by US Army Corps of Engineers. License: Public Domain. (view image details)
BOG TURTLE FACTS
DescriptionThe Bog Turtle is one of the smallest turtles in the world. It has a dark brown or black carapace, and may have radiating light lines on the back. The head, neck, and legs are dark brown with some reddish or yellow spots and streaks. There is a large reddish-orange to yellow blotch behind each tympanum, and these blotches sometimes join into a band behind the neck. The underside is brown or black, and often has lighter yellow blotches. Adult male Bog Turtles have a concave plastron and a long, thick tail. The female has a flat plastron and a thinner tail. Size carapace length 10cm - 15cm. Environment Bog Turtles are found in bogs, marshes, wet meadows, swamps. They prefer open habitat with slow moving water with soft muddy or silty bottom, with plenty grass or sedge vegetation. Food Bog turtles are omnivorous, and eat food both in and out of water. They eat insects, slugs, snails, crustaceans, worms and sometimes frogs or salamanders. They also plant foods such as seeds, berries, leaves. They will sometimes eat carrion. Breeding The Bog Turtle nests from mid-May to early July. The female digs a nest in moist soil or sand in an open sunny position. One to six white oval eggs are laid which hatch after 45 to 65 days. The hatchlings have carapace length of 21 to 28mm. Range The Bog Turtle is found in small widely scattered colonies in eastern United States from New York to northern Georgia. It is one of the most endangered turtles in North America. Classification
Relatives in same Genus Wood Turtle (G. insculpta) Home | Mammals | Reptiles | Birds | Insects | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer | Contact Us |