By Jim Knox
I have a very faint memory of the event—I couldn’t have been more than four. I recall sitting by the boat ramp of the lake on a sunny day with my mom and helping little turtles climb out of a small dirt mound by the water’s edge. When my older siblings returned from fishing with my dad, they excitedly joined me to examine the pretty black and yellow hatchlings.
As I’ve grown and developed a passion for wild creatures, I’ve quizzed my siblings as to the exact identity of the nickel-sized reptiles. Based upon their confirmation of the color, and their recollections, I’ve narrowed it down to one species.
The Spotted Turtle, Clemmys gutatta is a striking wild neighbor residing in quiet wetlands within our home state. Upon close examination, this little aquatic turtle’s unique appearance separates it from its kin here in New England. Topping out a modest 4.5 inches with a flattened upper shell or carapace, this animal would pass unnoticed from most eyes if it weren’t for the bold markings. With yellow-orange scales along their heads, necks, and forelegs, and orange and black scutes (large plate-like scales) along their plastrons, these small reptiles are hard to miss. Males possess a tan chin and brown eyes, while females possess a yellow chin with orange eyes. Sporting bright yellow or orange spots speckled liberally along their blueish-black bodies and carapace—Spotted Turtles seem to glow with life and energy.
Resilient and able to handle colder temperatures than their turtle kin, Spotted Turtles hibernate communally and are among the first reptiles to emerge from winter hibernation along the Atlantic Coast, Great Lakes states and neighboring Ontario and Quebec. This gives them an advantage in accessing food before the competition. Similarly, these turtles enter into periods of aestivation or prolonged dormancy to escape the heat when the summer temperatures remain high for extended periods of time. This cessation of activity conserves their energy, conferring a survival advantage.
Though omnivores by definition and carnivores by specialty, Spotted Turtles shift gears to adopt an herbivorous diet when conditions dictate available food sources. This means that everything is on the menu. Aquatic plants, crayfish, freshwater shrimp, snails, fish, spiders, tadpoles, slugs, insects, and worms are consumed when and where available. This universal adaptability benefits them as seasonal fluctuations make different foods available. As active hunters who eat in the water exclusively, these turtles have a specific mode of hunting. They thrust their heads into aquatic vegetation to flush hiding prey into flight mode. Pursuing the fleeing prey, the agile, swift swimming turtles chomp down on prey with their hard, horny, beak-like mouths.
Yet despite their hibernation and diet advantages, at 3-4.5 inches in length and just 8-12 ounces in weight, Spotted Turtles present themselves as a tasty morsel for any number of predators from Largemouth Bass to Northern Water Snakes to Raccoons, to Bobcats. To counter a size disadvantage, these burger-sized turtles maintain hyper vigilance. Favoring shallow, unpolluted water sources such as bogs, fens, vernal pools, marshes, and Maple swamps with soft, muddy bottoms they use their terrain to their advantage. When danger is sensed, or when surprised, basking Spotted Turtles dive into water, burying themselves in bottom mud where they remain hidden from danger.
Though well equipped for life in the wild, life in a human dominated landscape poses its challenges. Protected throughout their range, including Connecticut where they are a State Species of Special Concern, their greatest threats include habitat fragmentation and illegal collection. With a life span which can exceed 50 years, Spotted Turtles mature slowly, reaching reproductive maturity at approximately 10 years of age. That’s why every turtle taken out of the wild has a significant effect on each local population. For ways you can assist these beautiful creatures, check out the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection website: portal.ct.gov/deep.
In the Spotted Turtle we have a creature which is worthy of a closer look and a bit of emulation. These tiny reptiles possess a suite of traits that confer a distinct advantage over the competition—including even introduced species. From their seasonal “early rising,” to their versatile, opportunistic diet, to their vigilance to danger and their contingency planning, Spotted Turtles show us that unique individual strengths coupled with tremendous adaptability yield a formula for success for Spotted Turtles and humans alike.
Jim Knox serves as the Curator of Education for Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo and as a Science Advisor for The Bruce Museum. A Member of The Explorers Club, Jim enjoys sharing his passion for wildlife with audiences in Connecticut and beyond.
