Rural Perspectives: Temperature has a hand in determining the sex of these turtles
The Eastern Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta picta) can survive up to six months in hibernation with very little or no oxygen. Photo by Diane Constable
by Diane Constable
As you travel this spring along the many waterways surrounding us, you will likely see our State Reptile—the Eastern Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta picta). It is easily identified by its yellow, orange, and red markings and a reddish bottom shell.
Because they are cold blooded, these turtles spend much of their day basking in the sun on rocks, logs, and banks of the wetlands. This serves to warm them before they plunge back into the water to look for food, such as a wide variety of aquatic plants, insects, and other small animals.
In the spring, the female searches the shores of the water looking for a place to dig a nest in which to bury her 12-15 eggs. If temperatures are below 84 degrees, the baby turtles will mostly be all males; if warmer they will be mostly females.
When they hatch in about 75 days, the baby turtles are on their own and will make their way back to the water. They will shed and grow new bits of their shell as they grow. The male turtles will grow to be about five to seven inches. Females will be a bit larger. These painted turtles will live up to 30 years.
When the painted turtle hibernates, it digs itself into the mud or banks of the waterways, and its body temperature will drop as low as 43 degrees. The turtle’s unique body chemistry will allow it to survive up to six months in hibernation with very little or no oxygen. It is the most studied animal on the effects of hibernation.
Fun Fact: Eastern Painted Turtle fossils have been found from the last ice age, about 300,000 years ago, and their ancestor fossils have been found to be 15 million years old.
CORRECTION: In the April issue of Stockbridge Community News, the Rural Perspectives column about Canada geese omitted the specific subspecies (Branta canadensis maxima) of the giant Canada goose that was brought back from near extinction in the 1900s. We appreciate the sharp eye of one of our readers for bringing this omission to our attention so we could correct the record.
Diane Gray Constable
Diane Constable is an avid photographer. She serves on the Unadilla Township Planning Commission and is a member of the township’s Parks and Recreation Committee. Diane also enjoys her dogs and gardening.
