Yet Another Snapper

I was walking around Ohio University several days ago with Olivia Brooks, who runs the Twitter account Wild Earth, a new all-around nature account. We were specifically checking out the small creek that currently runs through Emeriti Park, along the Oxbow Trail road, and out around West Green. This waterway wasn't always a small creek; this is actually the remnant of the Hocking River. The Hocking River used to cause major flooding for Athens and Ohio University. In the 1960's they began to reroute the Hocking River around the university, thereby making sure that it would not cause such major flooding in the future. What was left in the old riverbed was this tiny creek which helps feed two ponds in Emeriti Park, as well as helps divert rainwater to the Hocking River.

Find the turtle.

Even though the mighty river no longer flows here, the creek is still teeming with life. There's a muskrat who patrols the waters around West Green. I, along with many others, have seen Northern Watersnakes hunting for prey in the water. Many frogs call the creek home, as well as many small fish (I don't know the species present, but would love to find out). Dragonflies and damselflies patrol the skies above the creek hunting down other insects. But those aren't the only things lurking in or near the creek. This past Spring I found a hatchling Common Snapping Turtle in the creek and made a post about it. This time around, as Olivia and I were patrolling the creek, she pointed out a turtle up ahead of us.

As we got closer we saw it was another Common Snapping Turtle, a decently-sized one at that. The Common Snapping Turtle, Chelydra serpentina, is the largest turtle species in Ohio. Their carapaces (the upper part of the shell) can reach lengths up to 20 inches, although 10-18 inches is the average. They usually weigh 10 to 35 pounds, although the largest wild specimen caught weighed about 74 pounds. Although we couldn't measure this individual exactly, it's carapace was about 9-11 inches long. Notice the long tail, one of the initial characteristics that might tell you you're dealing with a "snapper."

I decided to get some close-up shots since he (or she) decided to just stay put as we watched him. I've never been able to inspect an adult Common Snapping Turtle so closely, so I definitely jumped on the chance to do so. This species has a large head with a pointy snout, as you can see above. Notice how rough the skin is around the neck. Also notice the black streaks around the eye. The eyes actually have similar markings, helping add to the camouflage. This camouflage not only helps to protect the individual from would-be predators (although an adult does not have many predators), but also helps it to be a better predator. Adults typically employ a "wait and ambush" technique when hunting. They will sit in the water without moving in an attempt to look like just another part of the creek or pond bed. Whenever some sort of prey gets close, they will lunge out and grab it. This species is opportunistic and will eat just about anything it can get, whether it be fish, insects, birds, or even small mammals. 

Another interesting aspect of the turtle that many people don't get to see is the serrated backside of the carapace. The carapace is also keeled, meaning it has raised, pointed parts of the shell. These are very pronounced when the turtle is young, but tend to wear down as they get older. An old individual might appear to have a flat carapace. The individual we found still had the keels present, but they were not overly pronounced. As a result, I would say this individual is probably between 5 and 15 years old. (Also to note, unlike box turtles and tortoise species, you cannot count the rings on their carapace scales to determine the age.) Dr. Sue, one of the professors at OU who specializes in turtles and turtle reproduction, said she had seen this individual a few years back, so it's definitely been hanging out in the creek and ponds. It makes me wonder if the hatchling I found earlier this Spring is the offspring of this individual. I am pretty sure there is at least another larger individual that lives in one of the ponds at the Emeriti Park as well.

As you probably know, Common Snapping Turtles are not a species you want to mess with. They are very aggressive out of water, and typically much more relaxed in water; however, even in water they can and will hurt you if it perceives you as a threat. Honestly, just don't touch these guys. There's really no safe place you can touch them, as their neck is extremely flexible and can reach just about anywhere on their body. If you see one, give it space.

Common Musk Turtle

A couple weeks ago I went out on an early morning hike at AW Marion State Park in Pickaway County. As I got to the other side of the dam there I noticed an Eastern Milk Snake basking on the trail. Creeping forward, camera ready, I edged closer and closer to the snake. Sadly, it quickly slithered away into the rocks along the dam, leaving a disappointed blogger (although I did have an encounter with another Milk Snake later, which you can read about here.) However, I turned around and walked about fifteen more feet and saw another reptile...

Meet the Common Musk Turtle, Sternotherus odoratus. Well, at least the carapace of one. As I went up to her to take a picture, she pulled herself up into her shell for protection. I have to admit, while missing the Milk Snake was disappointing, this encounter made up for it. This species is a very aquatic species, essentially only coming to land to lay eggs. This individual was about thirty to forty feet away from lake which leads me to think I caught a female on the way back to the lake after laying her clutch of eggs.

I picked her up to get some closer photos to help with identifying later on as I am not that well acquainted with turtles yet. She put on her scariest "Don't get near me or I'll bite" face on, but still stayed within the safety of her shell. So why the name "musk turtle?" Well, like many reptiles, this species has the ability to release musk, a bad smelling liquid, in self defense (the musk is phenolalkalinic acid for anyone interested). This habit has also led to the Common Musk Turtle being known as the Stinkpot. What about identifying these guys? Well, Common Musk Turtles are smaller turtles. The photo above gives you some idea with my hand as a reference. They have highly domed shells, compared to the flatter shells many other aquatic species have. Also, look at the yellow stripe going across the face in the photo above; this characteristic is a really good field mark for identification.

Another characteristic worth noting is their small plastron, or the bottom part of the shell. In fact, the plastron doesn't do much for protecting the legs and tail, as you can see. Common Musk Turtles, as I mentioned earlier, spend most of their life in the water. In fact, they possess an adaption that allows them to do aquatic respiration. Their tongues are covered in papillae that allow them to take oxygen out of the water, sort of like a fish's gills. This species can be found all throughout Ohio in wetlands and slow moving, vegetated streams.

I am a huge lover of turtles and have been ever since I was little. Having encounters like these are always awesome and very interesting. I'm hoping to also find a Box Turtle this summer, but I haven't been that lucky. Hopefully I'll have more turtle encounters in the next few months.

Common Snapping Turtle

I was walking along the remnants of the original path of the Hocking River (before it was re-routed for reasons dealing with flooding) last Friday (March 28) afternoon in Athens. All that's left is a small creek that flows behind my dorm hall (I'm a student at Ohio University). Scanning the low, clear waters, I saw tadpoles, a few dead frogs, and something else that caught my eye.

As I focused on the object, I noticed it sort of looked like a tiny turtle basking on a leaf. Upon closer inspection, it was indeed a turtle basking on a leaf, but not just any type of turtle. This turtle was a young Common Snapping Turtle! So of course I moved in for a closer look...

Ah! That's better. Anyway, this is a Common Snapping Turtle, Chelydra serpentina. Notice the rough carapace, long tail, and angry-eyes staring your blogger down. His body temperature was so low though from the very cool water that he barely even moved. Common Snapping Turtles are found throughout Ohio; however, you don't see them too often because, unlike most turtles in Ohio, they don't bask very often. They mostly bask in early spring, which is why this little one was out and about.

As the name implies, these guys will bite, and they bite hard. While not as dangerous as their gigantic Alligator Snapping Turtle relatives of the south, these are still the biggest turtles in Ohio and are extremely dangerous. If you see one, don't try to touch it. Their necks are very flexible and can reach around and bite you even if you pick one up by the back half of the shell. As a result, many people try moving ones they come across by their tail. Please, don't ever do that. Picking one up or dragging one by the tail can severely hurt their spine. Dragging one can also damage the plastron (the bottom of the shell) and its legs. So basically, just leave them alone and they will leave you alone. Trust me, you don't want to be bitten by one of these guys, and you also don't want to hurt them.

That's it about this little guy. I hope to get more turtle posts on here this summer. I would really love to get some nice photos of an Eastern Box Turtle to do a big post on them, so here's hoping to that! Hope you enjoyed!