638a861fb54f44b294ead608c8fe6dbd

Blanding's turtle (Emydoidea blandingii), Mississippi National River & Recreation Area, 2015.

Blanding's turtles are rare in the recreation area as well as in the rest of Minnesota and this semi-aquatic turtle is considered endangered throughout most of its range. The most distinguishing feature of the turtle is the bright yellow chin and throat. Also notice the yellow speckles or flecks on its dark carapace (upper shell). The turtle's plastron (lower shell) is also yellow with dark, symmetrical blotches. Blanding's turtle is nicknamed 'semi-box turtle' because although its plastron is hinged, it doesn't close as tightly as the hinge of a true box turtle. NOTE: the genus of this species is under debate and both Emys and Emydoidea are used currently.

U.S. National Park Service

Permission must be secured from the individual copyright owners to reproduce any copyrighted materials contained within this website.

Public domain

Image

Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, Code: MISS

National Park Service Facebook Photos

Title: Mississippi National River & Recreation Area
URL: http://www.nps.gov/miss/learn/photosmultimedia/photogallery.htm

20150101

01/01/2015

Public Can View

Organization: Mississippi National River & Recreation Area
Address: 120 W. Kellogg Blvd, Saint Paul, MN 55102

Friday, December 9, 2016 1:37:39 PM

Wednesday, August 9, 2017 9:40:25 PM

blandings.jpg

Monday, January 1, 0001 12:00:00 AM

jpg

50.1 kB

Scenic