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Blanding's turtle

May 08, 2024

The Blanding's turtle (Emydoidea blandingii)[1][5] is a semi-aquatic turtle of the family Emydidae. This species is native to central and eastern parts of Canada and the United States.[2] It is considered to be an endangered species throughout much of its range.[8] The Blanding's turtle is of interest in longevity research, as it shows few or no common signs of aging and is physically active and capable of reproduction into eight or nine decades of life.[9][10]

Blanding's turtle
CITES Appendix II (CITES)[3]
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Suborder: Cryptodira
Superfamily: Testudinoidea
Family: Emydidae
Subfamily: Emydinae
Genus: Emydoidea
JE Gray, 1870
Species:
E. blandingii
Binomial name
Emydoidea blandingii
The range of Blanding's turtle
Synonyms[5][6][7]

Taxonomy edit

There are differences of opinion as to the genus for this species; both Emys and Emydoidea occur in published sources in 2009, 2010, and 2011.[1][4]

Etymology edit

Both the specific name, blandingii, and the common name, Blanding's turtle, are in honor of American naturalist Dr. William Blanding (1773–1857).[11]

Description edit

The Blanding's turtle is a medium-sized turtle with an average straight carapace length of approximately 18 to 23 cm (7.1 to 9.1 in) with a maximum of 25.5 cm (10.0 in). A distinguishing feature of this turtle is the bright yellow chin and throat. The carapace, or upper shell, is domed, but slightly flattened along the midline, and is oblong when viewed from above. The carapace is speckled with numerous yellow or light-colored flecks or streaks on a dark background. The plastron, or lower shell, is yellow with dark blotches symmetrically arranged. The head and legs are dark, and usually speckled or mottled with yellow. The Blanding's turtle is also called the "semi-box" turtle, for although the plastron is hinged, the plastral lobes do not shut as tight as the box turtles'.

Reproduction edit

Blanding's turtles take 14–20 years to reach sexual maturity. Mating probably occurs in April and early May with nesting beginning in early June and lasting throughout the month.[12] The clutch size varies from region to region. In New York, the clutch size ranges from five to twelve eggs, with an average of eight.

Behavior and life span edit

Blanding's turtles overwinter under or near water, in mud, or under vegetation or debris. This is known as brumation. During the nesting season, a female Blanding's turtle may be found more than a kilometer from where it hibernated. It is omnivorous, eating crustaceans and other invertebrates, fish, frogs, crayfish, carrion, berries, and vegetable debris. It is capable of catching live fish. Based on the extreme lack of aging symptoms and lack of age related decline, these turtles are considered a negligibly senescent species.[9]

The Blanding's turtle is a timid turtle and may plunge into water and remain on the bottom for hours when alarmed. If away from water, the turtle will withdraw into its shell. It is very gentle and rarely attempts to bite. It is very agile and a good swimmer.

Distribution and habitat edit

 
Affixing a transmitter for research purposes

The geographic range of E. blandingii centres on the Great Lakes, and extends from central Nebraska and Minnesota (where it twice failed to become the state reptile)[13] eastward through southern Ontario and the south shore of Lake Erie as far east as northern New York. In Nebraska, this turtle is uncommon in the eastern portion of the state, but common to abundant in the Sand Hills region lakes, ponds, and streams. There are also isolated populations in southeastern New York (Dutchess County), New England, and Nova Scotia.[14]

Its general habitat is wetlands with clean shallow water. It is known to bask on logs, and will wander far from water, particularly when nesting. It generally nests in sunny areas, with well drained soil. Younger turtles may bask on sedge and alder hummocks. Young will often travel far in search of mating sites, new habitat, or new food sources, as do elder turtles.

Conservation status edit

The primary threat to the Blanding's turtle is habitat fragmentation and destruction as well as nest predation by unnaturally large populations of predators.[2] It is listed as an endangered species on the IUCN Red List[2] as endangered in some U.S. states, and as either threatened or endangered throughout Canada, though in the U.S. it has no federal status. International trade in the Blanding's turtle is restricted, as the species is listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) meaning that international trade is regulated by the CITES permit system.[3]

This species can also be adversely affected by prescribed burns. During fall and late spring hatchlings move overland and it is recommended that prescribed burns should be avoided during these times.[15]

The U.S. states in which it is considered endangered are Indiana,[16] Illinois, Missouri,[17] Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and South Dakota.[18] It is considered threatened in New York and Iowa.[19][20] In Michigan, Blanding's turtle is also fully protected as a special concern species;[21] making it unlawful to kill, take, trap, possess, buy, or sell.[22] In Lake County, Illinois, a long-term species recovery program has been underway since 2009.[23]

In Canada, the Great Lakes–St. Lawrence River population in Ontario and Quebec is federally threatened[24] and the Nova Scotia population is endangered.[25] Conservation and recovery efforts in Nova Scotia have been in place for two decades and rely on habitat and life history monitoring based on the work of researchers and volunteers. Habitat protection has proven crucial. The population in Kejimkujik has been placed under the highest level of protection; the McGowan Lake population was initially protected by Bowater but has since been taken over by the Province. In Pleasant River, Nova Scotia Nature Trust protects four separate segments of critical habitat.[26]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d Rhodin 2011, p. 000.185
  2. ^ a b c d van Dijk, P.P.; Rhodin, A.G.J. (2019) [errata version of 2011 assessment]. "Emydoidea blandingii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2011: e.T7709A155088836. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-1.RLTS.T7709A155088836.en. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
  4. ^ a b Rhodin 2010, pp. 000.138–000.139
  5. ^ a b c Rhodin 2010, pp. 000.105–000.106
  6. ^ Fritz, Uwe; Havaš, Peter (2007). "Checklist of Chelonians of the World". Vertebrate Zoology 57 (2): 149–368. (Emydoidea blandingii, pp. 180–181).
  7. ^ Emys blandingii. The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
  8. ^ . Environmental Laboratory, Engineer Research and Development Center, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Archived from the original on 2009-01-14. Retrieved 2006-05-25.
  9. ^ a b . The Moirai – Aging Research. 2016-10-30. Archived from the original on 2018-09-03. Retrieved 2016-12-13.
  10. ^ Brooks, Michael (2008). Chapter 9: "Death". 13 Things That Don't Make Sense. New York: Doubleday. ISBN 9781861978172.
  11. ^ Beolens B, Watkins M, Grayson M (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 27. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5.
  12. ^ MacCulloch RD, Weller WF (1988). "Reproduction in a Lake Erie population of Blanding's Turtle, Emydoidea blandingii ". Canadian Journal of Zoology. 66 (10): 2317–2319. doi:10.1139/z88-345.
  13. ^ "Minnesota State Symbols—Unofficial, Proposed, or Facetious". Minnesota State Legislature. Retrieved 2011-02-25.
  14. ^ Ernst CH, Barbour RW, Lovich JE (1994). Turtles of the United States and Canada. Washington: Smithsonian Institution. p. 242.
  15. ^ Refsnider JM, Linck MH (2012). "Habitat use and movement patterns of Blanding's Turtles (Emydoidea blandingii) in Minnesota, USA: a landscape approach to species conservation" (PDF). Herpetological Conservation and Biology. 7 (2): 185–195. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  16. ^ Indiana Legislative Services Agency (2011). "312 IAC 9-5-4: Endangered species of reptiles and amphibians". Indiana Administrative Code. Retrieved 28 Apr 2012.
  17. ^ "Endangered Species in the Field Guide". Discover Nature Field Guide. MO Dept. of Conservation. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
  18. ^ (PDF). South Dakota State University. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-10-21.
  19. ^ "Study tracks reclusive, threatened turtle species to better understand habitat needs". Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved 2023-06-09.
  20. ^ "Blanding's Turtle Fact Sheet". New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
  21. ^ Blanding's Turtle (Emys blandingii). Michigan Natural Features Inventory.
  22. ^ "Michigan's Rare Animals". Retrieved 2020-04-12.
  23. ^ "Lake County celebrates World Turtle Day with release of 100 endangered Blanding's turtles". Chicago Tribune. 23 May 2019. from the original on 2021-08-01.
  24. ^ Blanding's Turtle Great Lakes / St. Lawrence population 2013-06-10 at the Wayback Machine, Species At Risk Public Registry
  25. ^ Blanding's Turtle Nova Scotia Population 2013-06-10 at the Wayback Machine, Species At Risk Public Registry.
  26. ^ Government of Canada (2017). Recovery Strategy for the Blanding's Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii), Nova Scotia Population, in Canada. Species at Risk Public Registry.
Bibliography
  • Rhodin, Anders G.J.; van Dijk, Peter Paul; Iverson, John B.; Shaffer, H. Bradley (2010-12-14). (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-17. Retrieved 2010-12-15.
  • Rhodin, Anders G.J.; van Dijk; Peter Paul; Iverson, John B.; Shaffer, H. Bradley; Roger, Bour (2011-12-31). (PDF). Chelonian Research Monographs. 5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-01-31.

Further reading edit

  • Behler JL, King FW (1979). The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians. New York: Knopf. 743 pp. ISBN 0-394-50824-6. (Emydoidea blandingi [sic], p. 458 + Plate 291).
  • Conant R (1975). A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Second Edition. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. xviii + 429 pp. ISBN 0-395-19979-4 (hardcover), ISBN 0-395-19977-8 (paperback). (Emydoidea blandingi [sic], p. 71 + Plates 5,7 + Map 26).
  • Goin CJ, Goin OB, Zug GR (1978). Introduction to Herpetology, Third Edition. San Francisco: W.H. Freeman. xi + 378 pp. ISBN 0-7167-0020-4. (Genus Emydoidea, p. 259).
  • Holbrook JE (1838). North American Herpetology; or, A Description of the Reptiles Inhabiting the United States. Vol. III. Philadelphia: J. Dobson. 122 pp. + Plates I-XXX. (Cistuda blandingii, pp. 35–38 + Plate V).
  • Smith HM, Brodie ED Jr (1982). Reptiles of North America: A Guide to Field Identification. New York: Golden Press. 240 pp. ISBN 0-307-13666-3. (Emydoidea blandingi [sic], pp. 44–45).
  • Stejneger L, Barbour T (1917). A Check List of North American Amphibians and Reptiles. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press. 125 pp. (Emys blandingii, p. 115).

External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Emydoidea blandingii.
  • Blanding's Turtle, Herpetological Resource and Management (HRM) of Michigan
  • Blanding's Turtle 2018-09-03 at the Wayback Machine, Illinois Natural History Survey
  • Blanding's Turtle, Reptiles and Amphibians of Iowa

May 08, 2024
blanding, turtle, emydoidea, blandingii, semi, aquatic, turtle, family, emydidae, this, species, native, central, eastern, parts, canada, united, states, considered, endangered, species, throughout, much, range, interest, longevity, research, shows, common, si. The Blanding s turtle Emydoidea blandingii 1 5 is a semi aquatic turtle of the family Emydidae This species is native to central and eastern parts of Canada and the United States 2 It is considered to be an endangered species throughout much of its range 8 The Blanding s turtle is of interest in longevity research as it shows few or no common signs of aging and is physically active and capable of reproduction into eight or nine decades of life 9 10 Blanding s turtle Conservation status Endangered IUCN 3 1 1 2 CITES Appendix II CITES 3 Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Reptilia Order Testudines Suborder Cryptodira Superfamily Testudinoidea Family Emydidae Subfamily Emydinae Genus EmydoideaJE Gray 1870 Species E blandingii Binomial name Emydoidea blandingii Holbrook 1838 1 4 5 The range of Blanding s turtle Synonyms 5 6 7 Testudo flava Lacepede 1788 nomen suppressum Testudo flava Bonaterre 1789 nomen suppressum Testudo meleagris Shaw 1793 nomen suppressum Cistuda blandingii Holbrook 1838 nomen conservandum Emys blandingii Strauch 1862 Emydoidea blandingii Gray 1870 Emys twentei Taylor 1943 Contents 1 Taxonomy 2 Etymology 3 Description 4 Reproduction 5 Behavior and life span 6 Distribution and habitat 7 Conservation status 8 References 9 Further reading 10 External linksTaxonomy editThere are differences of opinion as to the genus for this species both Emys and Emydoidea occur in published sources in 2009 2010 and 2011 1 4 Etymology editBoth the specific name blandingii and the common name Blanding s turtle are in honor of American naturalist Dr William Blanding 1773 1857 11 Description editThis section includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this section by introducing more precise citations February 2024 Learn how and when to remove this message The Blanding s turtle is a medium sized turtle with an average straight carapace length of approximately 18 to 23 cm 7 1 to 9 1 in with a maximum of 25 5 cm 10 0 in A distinguishing feature of this turtle is the bright yellow chin and throat The carapace or upper shell is domed but slightly flattened along the midline and is oblong when viewed from above The carapace is speckled with numerous yellow or light colored flecks or streaks on a dark background The plastron or lower shell is yellow with dark blotches symmetrically arranged The head and legs are dark and usually speckled or mottled with yellow The Blanding s turtle is also called the semi box turtle for although the plastron is hinged the plastral lobes do not shut as tight as the box turtles Reproduction editBlanding s turtles take 14 20 years to reach sexual maturity Mating probably occurs in April and early May with nesting beginning in early June and lasting throughout the month 12 The clutch size varies from region to region In New York the clutch size ranges from five to twelve eggs with an average of eight Behavior and life span editBlanding s turtles overwinter under or near water in mud or under vegetation or debris This is known as brumation During the nesting season a female Blanding s turtle may be found more than a kilometer from where it hibernated It is omnivorous eating crustaceans and other invertebrates fish frogs crayfish carrion berries and vegetable debris It is capable of catching live fish Based on the extreme lack of aging symptoms and lack of age related decline these turtles are considered a negligibly senescent species 9 The Blanding s turtle is a timid turtle and may plunge into water and remain on the bottom for hours when alarmed If away from water the turtle will withdraw into its shell It is very gentle and rarely attempts to bite It is very agile and a good swimmer Distribution and habitat edit nbsp Affixing a transmitter for research purposes The geographic range of E blandingii centres on the Great Lakes and extends from central Nebraska and Minnesota where it twice failed to become the state reptile 13 eastward through southern Ontario and the south shore of Lake Erie as far east as northern New York In Nebraska this turtle is uncommon in the eastern portion of the state but common to abundant in the Sand Hills region lakes ponds and streams There are also isolated populations in southeastern New York Dutchess County New England and Nova Scotia 14 Its general habitat is wetlands with clean shallow water It is known to bask on logs and will wander far from water particularly when nesting It generally nests in sunny areas with well drained soil Younger turtles may bask on sedge and alder hummocks Young will often travel far in search of mating sites new habitat or new food sources as do elder turtles Conservation status editThe primary threat to the Blanding s turtle is habitat fragmentation and destruction as well as nest predation by unnaturally large populations of predators 2 It is listed as an endangered species on the IUCN Red List 2 as endangered in some U S states and as either threatened or endangered throughout Canada though in the U S it has no federal status International trade in the Blanding s turtle is restricted as the species is listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species CITES meaning that international trade is regulated by the CITES permit system 3 This species can also be adversely affected by prescribed burns During fall and late spring hatchlings move overland and it is recommended that prescribed burns should be avoided during these times 15 The U S states in which it is considered endangered are Indiana 16 Illinois Missouri 17 Maine New Hampshire Massachusetts and South Dakota 18 It is considered threatened in New York and Iowa 19 20 In Michigan Blanding s turtle is also fully protected as a special concern species 21 making it unlawful to kill take trap possess buy or sell 22 In Lake County Illinois a long term species recovery program has been underway since 2009 23 In Canada the Great Lakes St Lawrence River population in Ontario and Quebec is federally threatened 24 and the Nova Scotia population is endangered 25 Conservation and recovery efforts in Nova Scotia have been in place for two decades and rely on habitat and life history monitoring based on the work of researchers and volunteers Habitat protection has proven crucial The population in Kejimkujik has been placed under the highest level of protection the McGowan Lake population was initially protected by Bowater but has since been taken over by the Province In Pleasant River Nova Scotia Nature Trust protects four separate segments of critical habitat 26 References edit a b c d Rhodin 2011 p 000 185 a b c d van Dijk P P Rhodin A G J 2019 errata version of 2011 assessment Emydoidea blandingii IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2011 e T7709A155088836 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2011 1 RLTS T7709A155088836 en Retrieved 9 March 2022 a b Appendices CITES cites org Retrieved 2022 01 14 a b Rhodin 2010 pp 000 138 000 139 a b c Rhodin 2010 pp 000 105 000 106 Fritz Uwe Havas Peter 2007 Checklist of Chelonians of the World Vertebrate Zoology 57 2 149 368 Emydoidea blandingii pp 180 181 Emys blandingii The Reptile Database www reptile database org Blanding s Turtle Environmental Laboratory Engineer Research and Development Center U S Army Corps of Engineers Archived from the original on 2009 01 14 Retrieved 2006 05 25 a b Emydoidea blandingii The Moirai Aging Research 2016 10 30 Archived from the original on 2018 09 03 Retrieved 2016 12 13 Brooks Michael 2008 Chapter 9 Death 13 Things That Don t Make Sense New York Doubleday ISBN 9781861978172 Beolens B Watkins M Grayson M 2011 The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles Baltimore Johns Hopkins University Press p 27 ISBN 978 1 4214 0135 5 MacCulloch RD Weller WF 1988 Reproduction in a Lake Erie population of Blanding s Turtle Emydoidea blandingii Canadian Journal of Zoology 66 10 2317 2319 doi 10 1139 z88 345 Minnesota State Symbols Unofficial Proposed or Facetious Minnesota State Legislature Retrieved 2011 02 25 Ernst CH Barbour RW Lovich JE 1994 Turtles of the United States and Canada Washington Smithsonian Institution p 242 Refsnider JM Linck MH 2012 Habitat use and movement patterns of Blanding s Turtles Emydoidea blandingii in Minnesota USA a landscape approach to species conservation PDF Herpetological Conservation and Biology 7 2 185 195 Retrieved 24 February 2024 Indiana Legislative Services Agency 2011 312 IAC 9 5 4 Endangered species of reptiles and amphibians Indiana Administrative Code Retrieved 28 Apr 2012 Endangered Species in the Field Guide Discover Nature Field Guide MO Dept of Conservation Retrieved 4 September 2015 A Field Guide to South Dakota Turtles PDF South Dakota State University Archived from the original PDF on 2013 10 21 Study tracks reclusive threatened turtle species to better understand habitat needs Iowa Department of Natural Resources Retrieved 2023 06 09 Blanding s Turtle Fact Sheet New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Retrieved 22 May 2015 Blanding s Turtle Emys blandingii Michigan Natural Features Inventory Michigan s Rare Animals Retrieved 2020 04 12 Lake County celebrates World Turtle Day with release of 100 endangered Blanding s turtles Chicago Tribune 23 May 2019 Archived from the original on 2021 08 01 Blanding s Turtle Great Lakes St Lawrence population Archived 2013 06 10 at the Wayback Machine Species At Risk Public Registry Blanding s Turtle Nova Scotia Population Archived 2013 06 10 at the Wayback Machine Species At Risk Public Registry Government of Canada 2017 Recovery Strategy for the Blanding s Turtle Emydoidea blandingii Nova Scotia Population in Canada Species at Risk Public Registry Bibliography Rhodin Anders G J van Dijk Peter Paul Iverson John B Shaffer H Bradley 2010 12 14 Turtles of the World 2010 Update Annotated Checklist of Taxonomy Synonymy Distribution and Conservation Status PDF Archived from the original PDF on 2011 07 17 Retrieved 2010 12 15 Rhodin Anders G J van Dijk Peter Paul Iverson John B Shaffer H Bradley Roger Bour 2011 12 31 Turtles of the world 2011 update Annotated checklist of taxonomy synonymy distribution and conservation status PDF Chelonian Research Monographs 5 Archived from the original PDF on 2012 01 31 Further reading editBehler JL King FW 1979 The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians New York Knopf 743 pp ISBN 0 394 50824 6 Emydoidea blandingi sic p 458 Plate 291 Conant R 1975 A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America Second Edition Boston Houghton Mifflin xviii 429 pp ISBN 0 395 19979 4 hardcover ISBN 0 395 19977 8 paperback Emydoidea blandingi sic p 71 Plates 5 7 Map 26 Goin CJ Goin OB Zug GR 1978 Introduction to Herpetology Third Edition San Francisco W H Freeman xi 378 pp ISBN 0 7167 0020 4 Genus Emydoidea p 259 Holbrook JE 1838 North American Herpetology or A Description of the Reptiles Inhabiting the United States Vol III Philadelphia J Dobson 122 pp Plates I XXX Cistuda blandingii pp 35 38 Plate V Smith HM Brodie ED Jr 1982 Reptiles of North America A Guide to Field Identification New York Golden Press 240 pp ISBN 0 307 13666 3 Emydoidea blandingi sic pp 44 45 Stejneger L Barbour T 1917 A Check List of North American Amphibians and Reptiles Cambridge Massachusetts Harvard University Press 125 pp Emys blandingii p 115 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Emydoidea blandingii Blanding s Turtle Herpetological Resource and Management HRM of Michigan Blanding s Turtle Archived 2018 09 03 at the Wayback Machine Illinois Natural History Survey Blanding s Turtle Reptiles and Amphibians of Iowa Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Blanding 27s turtle amp oldid 1216640762, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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