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Herpetology > Testudines of Vermont > Flashcards

Testudines of Vermont Flashcards

1
Q

What is carpace?

A

Dorsal (top) part of turtle’s shell

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2
Q

What is plastron?

A

ventral (bottom) part of turtle’s shell - For most turtle species, males have a concave plastron

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3
Q

What is a scute?

A

one of the bony “puzzle pieces” on the turtle shell

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4
Q

What is the family of the snapping turtle?

A

Chelydridae

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5
Q

What is the scientific name of the snapping turtle?

A

Chelydra serpentina

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6
Q

What sex determination does the snapping turtle have?

A

temperature sex determination

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7
Q

Describe the life history of the snapping turtle?

A

eggs/clutch size: round, 20-80 eggs

nesting: females leave water around May/June to lay eggs

behavior: very defensive when on land! Stay out of reach from necks and jaws

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8
Q

What is the sexual dimorphism on snapping turtles?

A

Males : Larger
Females : Smaller
*hard to sex individuals

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9
Q

What is the habitat of the snapping turtle?

A

Live in still, slow-moving bodies of water with soft bottoms

Enjoys emergent vegetation

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10
Q

What is the conservation status of the snapping turtle?

A

S5: common, documented in almost every Vermont town

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11
Q

What is the fun fact of the snapping turtle?

A

Vermont’s largest turtle?

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12
Q

Where are snapping turtles found?

A

literally everywhere in Vermont

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13
Q

What are the field ID marks of the snapping turtle?

A

The Snapping Turtle is probably the most common turtle in Vermont. The carapace (shell covering the back) is shallowly domed with a strongly toothed posterior margin (see photo below). The plastron (shell covering the belly) is narrow, leaving the turtle’s flesh always partially exposed. It is uniformly grayish brown with no colorful markings, spots, or stripes. It is often covered in algae, giving it the nickname moss back.

The Snapping Turtle can get quite large. The upper shells of adults range from 10-18 inches long. The young have three keels that disappear with age and wear. They have a long tail that has spines along the top. They also have a long neck.

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14
Q

What is the family of the Eastern Musk Turtle?

A

Kinosternidae

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15
Q

What is the scientific name of the Eastern Musk Turtle?

A

Sternotherus odoratus

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16
Q

What is the sex determination of the Eastern Musk tutle?

A

temperature sex determined

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17
Q

What is the life history of the Eastern Musk Turtle?

A

eggs/clutch size: oval, 1-9 eggs

nesting: lay eggs very close to water edge

behavior: almost entirely aquatic; can walk along bottom of wetlands as opposed to swimming

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18
Q

What is the sexual dimorphism of the Eastern Musk turtle?

A

Males: Longer, thicker tails; raised scaled behind knees; more skin exposed between plastral scutes

Females : Larger plastron than males; stubby tail

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19
Q

What is the habitat of the Eastern Musk Turtle?

A
  • Live in shallow, weedy, still water
  • Limited to scattered locations in Champlain Basin in Vermont
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20
Q

What is the conservation status of the Eastern Musk Turtle?

A

S2: Rare, please report sightings

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21
Q

What is the fun fact of the Eastern Musk Turtle?

A

Releases foul, musky odor when under stress

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22
Q

Where are Eastern Musk Turtles found?

A
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23
Q

What are the field ID marks of the Eastern Musk Turtle?

A

The carapace (shell covering the back) of the Eastern Musk Turtle is oval, moderately domed, smooth (no keel and smooth at back edge), and a solid grayish green. The plastron (shell covering the belly) is small and hinged, although the hinge does not work well. There is also skin exposed between the scutes on the plastron. The carapace length can be 3-5 inches. Their skin is grayish-green and they have two white stripes on each side of their head and neck. They have a few fleshy hair-like projections under their chin.

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24
Q

What is the family of the Northern Map Turtle?

A

Emydidae

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25
What is the scientific name of the Northern Map Turtle?
Graptemys geographica
26
What is the sex determination of the Northern Map Turtle?
temperature determined sex
27
What is the life history of the Northern Map Turtle?
Eggs / Clutch Size: Oval, 8 – 19 eggs Nesting: Lay eggs on shorelines Behavior: Bask in large groups, but almost entirely aquatic Deciduous Scutes: Sheds outer scute layer as turtle grows (like molting)
28
What is the sexual dimorphism of the Northern map turtle?
Males: Longer, thicker tails; vent posterior to margin of carapace Females : Larger, more rounded carapace
29
What is the habitat of the Northern Map Turtle?
* Mostly in Lake Champlain and major tributaries * Vermont is the only New England state to have the Northern Map Turtle
30
What is the conservation status of the Northern Map Turtle?
S3: Uncommon, please report sightings
31
What is the fun fact of the Northern Map Turtle?
Called map turtle because of the offwhite lines that resemble topographic lines on carapace
32
Where is the Northern Map Turtle found?
33
What are the field ID marks of the Northern Map Turtle?
The Northern Map Turtle has a slightly domed, smooth carapace (shell that covers the back) that may have a strong central keel. A close look at their gray-green carapace reveals curved off-white lines that resemble topographic lines on a map. The posterior margin (rear edge) of their carapace is both toothed and flared. The plastron (shell covering their belly) is wide and usually pale yellow. The length of the carapace is 6-11 inches. Their skin is dark green to black with pale yellow stripes. They bask often just as Painted Turtles do, but Painted Turtles look almost black from a distance (versus gray-green) and close up you will see red stripes on the base of the neck and legs and under the edge of the shell on the Painted Turtles. Northern Map Turtles do not have any red on them.
34
What is the family of the spotted turtle?
Emydidae
35
What is the scientific name of the Spotted Turtle?
Clemmys guttata
36
What is the sex determination of the Spotted Turtle?
temperature sex determination
37
What is the life history of the Spotted turtle?
Eggs / Clutch Size: Oval, 1 – 8 eggs Nesting: Occasionally has 2 clutches per year in southern VT populations Behavior: Very cryptic – a notoriously difficult species to detect
38
What is the sexual dimorphism of the spotted turtle?
Males: Tan chin, brown eyes; concave plastron Females : Yellow chins, orange eyes; typically larger than males
39
What is the habitat of the Spotted Turtle?
* Only documented in three VT counties * Enjoys shallow water (<0.5m), emergent vegetation, occupies many different wetland types
40
What is the conservation status of the Spotted turtle?
S1: Rare, please report sightings and keep locations confidential. Endangered in Vermont. * Unfortunately, species very vulnerable to poaching
41
What is the fun fact of the spotted turtle?
Spotted turtles hatch with only one yellow spot per scute and develop more spots as they age.
42
Where are spotted turtles found?
43
What are the field ID marks of the Spotted Turtle?
Spotted Turtles have a moderately domed carapace (shell covering the back) that is oval and smooth over the top and all the way around. The carapace is black with yellow spots. The plastron (shell covering the belly) is yellow or orange with black on the outer edges of the scutes. They are relatively small, measuring only 4-5 inches in carapace length. Their skin is also dark with yellow spots.
44
What is the family of of the Wood Turtle?
Emydidae
45
What is the scientific name of the Wood Turtle?
Glyptemys insculpta
46
What is the sex determination of the Wood Turtle?
genotypic sex determination
47
What is the life history of the Wood Turtle?
Eggs / Clutch Size: 3-20 eggs Nesting: in gravel bars near water, or in grasslands or sandy shores Behavior: Worm stomping!
48
What is the sexual dimorphism of the Wood Turtle?
Males: larger, more concave plastrons, long and thick tail Females : smaller, less concave plastron, smaller tail
49
What is the habitat of the Wood Turtle?
* River turtle! * Inhabits streams and rivers, feeding on land and forest nearby. * Typically within 1000 feet of a stream/river. * Overwinter in water.
50
What is the conservation status of the Wood Turtle?
S3: Uncommon, localized * Widespread in Vermont spatially, but not very common in any one place.
51
What is the fun fact of the Wood Turtle?
Wood turtles do not shed their scutes and add one growth ring per year!
52
Where are Wood Turtles found?
53
What are the field ID marks of the Wood Turtle?
The Wood Turtle has a moderately domed shell. Each scute is covered by a pyramidal stack of older and smaller scutes that form clear concentric rings. The brown or gray carapace (shell covering the back) has a weakly toothed posterior margin (back edge). The plastron (shell covering the belly) is wide and yellow with black on the outer edges of the scutes. Wood Turtles have black heads and their legs and neck are yellow, orange, or red. The carapace length of the adults ranges from 6-10 inches.
54
What is the family of the Painted Turtle?
Emydidae
55
What is the scientific name of the Painted Turtle?
Chrysemys picta
56
What is the sex determination of the Painted turtle?
temperature sex dependent
57
What is the life history of the Painted Turtle?
Eggs / Clutch Size: 4-15 eggs Nesting: Multiple clutches per year, especially in warmer climates Behavior: Loves to bask Deciduous Scutes: Sheds outer scute layer as turtle grows (like molting)
58
What is the sexual dimorphism of the Painted Turtle?
Males: smaller, longer front claws, longer and thicker tails Females : larger, smaller front claws, shorter tails
59
What is the habitat of the Painted Turtle?
* Aquatic turtle * Likes to bask on rocks and logs * Soft-bottomed ponds and lakes with emergent vegetation and basking substrate
60
What is the conservation status of the Painted turtle?
S5: Common
61
What is the fun fact of the Painted Turtle?
Hatchlings demonstrate freeze resistance, sometimes overwintering in the nest and emerging in spring.
62
Where are Painted Turtles found?
63
What are the field ID marks of the Painted Turtle?
The Painted Turtle has a slightly domed carapace (shell that covers the back) that is solid green to black and smooth all over with no keel. The scutes on the carapace are outlined in a lighter green or off-white. The plastron (shell covering the belly) is wide and either solid yellow or yellow with a dark irregular central blotch. The length of the carapace is 5-7 inches. Their skin is green with yellow spots and stripes. They have two distinctive yellow spots on each side of their neck. At the base of their neck, and on their legs, the yellow stripes are replaced with red stripes. The undersides of the outer scutes of the carapace are very colorful with yellow, red, and green markings. The red markings disappear gradually after death, leaving only yellow and green.
64
What is the family of the Pond (red-ear) slider?
Emydidae
65
What is the scientific name of the Pond Slider?
Trachemys scripta
66
What is the sex determination of the Pond Slider?
Temperature sex determined
67
What are the life history traits of the Pond Slider?
Eggs / Clutch Size: 10-30 eggs Nesting: Up to 6 clutches laid per year! Behavior: Territorial behaviors with one another and other turtle species
68
What is the sexual dimorphism of the Pond Slider?
Males: smaller, larger front claws, longer and thicker tails Females : larger, smaller front claws, smaller tail
69
What is the habitat of the Pond Slider?
* Still, warm, shallow waters with soft bottom and emergent veg
70
What is the conservation status of the Pond Slider?
Invasive! * Reports in seven VT counties, assumed to be released pets. No known breeding populations (yet ). Native to Southeast and Midwest US.
71
What is the fun fact of the Pond Slider?
* Vermont, New Hampshire, and Alaska are the only three US states without known breeding populations
72
Where is the Pond Slider found?
73
What are the field ID marks of the Pond Slider?
Red-eared sliders are easily identified by the distinctive red or orange stripe behind each eye and their olive to brown carapace (top shell) with yellow or green stripes
74
What is the family of the Spiny Softshell?
Trionychidae
75
What is the scientific name of the Spiny Shoftshell
Apalone spinifera
76
What is the sex determination of the Spiny Softshell turtle?
genotypic sex determination
77
What is the life history of the Spiny Softshell turtle?
Eggs / Clutch Size: 4-32 spherical eggs Nesting: Lays eggs in full sun on shorelines, especially in shale Behavior: Super speedy in water; buries in sand with tube nose sticking out for breathing
78
What is the sexual dimorphism of the Spiny Softshell?
Males: smaller, spotted pattern, longer and thicker tail. Females : larger, spotted pattern changes with age, short tail.
79
What is the habitat of the Spiny Softshell?
Entirely aquatic. Only found in the northeast corner of Lake Champlain (into Quebec)
80
What is the conservation status of the Spiny Softshell?
S1: very rare; state threatened
81
Where are spiny softshells found?
82
What is the fun fact of the spiny softshell?
Not found in other New England states
83
What are the field ID marks of the Spiny Softshell?
Spiny Softshells have a flat, smooth, leathery carapace (shell covering the back) that does not have scutes. The carapace is gray-brown with dark spots or rings. They get their name from the tiny soft spines on the anterior margin of their carapace. The plastron is narrow and pale yellow or white. The females carapace can be 10-19 inches long, while the males carapace is only 5-10 inches long. Softshells have a very long neck and a thin tubular snout. Their skin is tan or olive with black markings. They have two light stripes on the side of their face.

Herpetology (6 decks)

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