Turtle Identification

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  • bwframe

    Loneranger
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    Feb 11, 2008
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    Found this guy in the garden, hidden under the lettuce I was cutting.

    20200603-181155.jpg


    Never seen one this small. The shell is an inch and a quarter long.

    What kind is it? What do I do with it?

    Don't want to harm it, yet don't want it eating my garden.

    TIA :ingo:
     

    NHT3

    Grandmaster
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    My guess would be a painted turtle and I wouldn't worry about how much it might eat considering it's size. :):

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    Nathanaf8388

    Plinker
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    May 5, 2020
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    Montezuma
    If you still have it can you show a picture of the bottom?
    But I’m going with Baby box turtle.

    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
    Last edited:

    bwframe

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    Small snapper I think.

    That was my first thought too. It looks just like a tiny version of a snapper.

    I don't have any sort of pond or creek in the immediate area. Would snappers have eggs near water?

    That's the next questions;

    Is this small of a turtle fairly soon out of the egg? Should I be assuming that there are more of these near ?
     

    patience0830

    .22 magician
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    Not far from the tree
    That was my first thought too. It looks just like a tiny version of a snapper.

    I don't have any sort of pond or creek in the immediate area. Would snappers have eggs near water?

    That's the next questions;

    Is this small of a turtle fairly soon out of the egg? Should I be assuming that there are more of these near ?

    Yes. More. Snapper. If it cannot pull entirely inside the shell and close up, it is not a box turtle. Not a painted turtle due to lack of markings.
     

    hoosierdaddy1976

    I Can't Believe it's not Shooter
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    Mar 17, 2011
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    Don't think it's a snapper. No serrations on rear of the shell. Image search leads me to believe it's a baby box turtle, but I have never seen one in the wild.
     
    Last edited:

    4651feeder

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    Stumbled upon this guide https://turtleowner.com/native-turtles-of-indiana-with-pictures/ and if these are the only choices to me it looks like a Map or False Map Turtle.

    Having previously lived next to a creek, I realize turtles venture some distance for nesting. In your case where you've stated no apparent water nearby, I've wondered if young turtles are sometimes transplanted by large birds unsuccessful attempt at a meal.

    Recently have found several broken bird's egg shells on my drive and walk nowhere near nests. believe the crows and or jays raid and attempt to drop the egg on a hard surface to open it.....maybe my imagination has gotten the best of me?
     

    KJQ6945

    Grandmaster
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    It would appear to be a very young box turtle. The two easiest thinks to identify it as box turtle would be the feet, and the hinged plastron (lower shell).

    Aquatic turtles will have webbed feet, as opposed to the box turtles, which are suited for life on land.

    As Patience mentioned, a box turtle can withdraw into the shell as a defense. While this is generally true, it doesn’t really work until the upper shell gets big enough. The hinge on the lower shell, allows the shell to close, and is not found on the other turtles mentioned in here.
     

    bwframe

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    Thank you all for the ID's.

    Now is there anything I should know for relocation this little guy?

    I prefer not to put the little guy back in the garden.
     

    Nathanaf8388

    Plinker
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    May 5, 2020
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    Montezuma
    Thank you all for the ID's.

    Now is there anything I should know for relocation this little guy?

    I prefer not to put the little guy back in the garden.

    Put him on the other side of your yard and tell him not to go back to the garden.


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