Western Pond Turtle

The western pond turtle is a small to medium freshwater turtle, found in ponds and streams. This reptile is generally brown or black in color on the upper shell and yellow and black on the lower one. They are found in the western coast of the United States and Mexico. The Canadian Species at Risk Act drafted in May 2002 has identified this turtle as having become extirpated in Canada.

Western Pond Turtle Scientific Classification

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Reptilia
Order	Testudines
Family	Emydidae
Genus	Actinemys or Emys
Scientific Name	Actinemys Marmorata or Emys Marmorata

Western Pond Turtle Quick Information

Other Popular Names	Pacific Pond Turtle, Pacific Freshwater Turtle, Pacific Terrapin, Pacific Mud Turtle, Northern Western Pond Turtle, Northern Pacific Pond Turtle
Size	Length of Carapace for Adults: 4-7 inches Babies: 1 inch
Weight	1 to 2.4 pounds
Color	Dorsal side: Light olive or dark brown. May or may not have dark reticulations. Ventral side: Yellowish plastron may have dark spots in the middle of the scutes Sexually dimorphic adults with the males having pale or light yellow throats
Distribution	From Puget Sound Lowlands located in Washington to the western parts of Oregon till the southern limits of Baja California
Habitat	Ponds, streams, lakes, ephemeral and permanent wetlands, need to nest in terrestrial locations
Sound	Give a shrill call when in danger
Clutch Size	1 to 13 eggs
Incubation Period	3 to 4 months
Lifespan	Up to 40 years in the wild, 50 to 70 years in captivity
Diet	Animal Food:  Tadpoles, snails, aquatic beetles, fish, insects, frog eggs, leeches and dragonfly larvae Plant food: lily pods, cattail roots, filamentous algae and tule roots [8]
Predators	Otters, coyotes, ospreys and raccoons Bullfrogs, minks, raccoons and warm water fishes eat baby turtles
IUCN Conservation Status	Vulnerable

Behavior

Western pond turtles are shy and wary; they tend to hide in the water the moment they sense trouble. They also protect themselves by retracting to their tough shells the instant that they are disturbed. The turtles often take cover under vegetation or large stones that are immersed in water. They like to live in still waters with some plants in the embankments and generally stay away from rapidly flowing streams.

The members of this species assemble in places with logs, boulders and fallen trees for basking. It exposes them to sunlight that helps them get rid of parasites. Western pond turtles of the northerly areas hibernate at the bottom layers of ponds or inside burrows in the mud. However, the turtles inhabiting the southern areas stay active all through the year.

Mating and Reproduction

Western pond turtles mate during spring and probably also during fall. The nesting process takes place from May to July. During courtship, the males scratch the front of the female’s carapace with their forelimbs. After this, the female raises her rear end, and mating takes place under water.

A majority of mature females reproduce every year with some of them laying two clutches every breeding season. During the onset of summer, many females lay their eggs in the nests that are constructed under the mud and near a source of water.

For building a nest, a female will find an appropriate place with dry mud, less plants and usually facing the south. Urine is used to moisten the soil, and the hind legs are used to dig a hole. After this, it will lay a clutch of around 3 to 13 eggs, fill the hole with plants and dirt, cover it with a layer of wet soil and leave the eggs to incubate. This entire process will take 2 to 4 hours.

Life Cycle

The eggs will hatch after an incubation period of 3 to 4 months. They come out of their nests during fall or emerge in the following spring after spending the winter in their nests. The baby turtles are independent and search for food using their survival instincts; however, many of them fall prey to predators and don’t complete a year of age.

The juveniles grow slowly in cooler areas and reach sexual maturity after completing eight years of age. In warmer areas and also in areas where they get better nutrition, they mature quickly, making them ready for breeding in half the stipulated time.

Adaptations

Western pond turtles have the ability to breathe in oxygen through their skin. This helps them survive with lesser amounts of oxygen during dry spells when they remain motionless on the soil. In addition to this, their tough carapace and wary nature protect them from falling prey to predators.

Interesting Facts

• The body of the Western pond turtle including the carapace as well as the softer parts has a marbled pattern. This is encapsulated in the Latin word “marmorata”.
• The gender of the baby turtle depends on the temperature at which its egg hatches. If the temperature at incubation is below 86 degrees Fahrenheit, then it will mostly be a male whereas if it is above that temperature then it will probably be a female.
• One can make out the duration of time they have spent in the water by examining their body shape.

References:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_pond_turtle
2. http://www.californiaherps.com/turtles/pages/a.marmorata.html
3. http://www.iucnredlist.org/search
4. http://www.arkive.org/western-pond-turtle/actinemys-marmorata/
5. http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Emys_marmorata/