Do you see the red eyes??
We call this a (tarpin) here in the hills,or maybe it is just my family that calls it that.remember I have 14 brothers and sisters,and I'm sure we came up with words that weren't words,but anyway I think this is a box turtle
,The path that I walk on in the woods by our house has this big mud hole in the middle of it,and this is where I found him or her..does anyone know why they do this???
I thought they were just dry land creatures...
,The path that I walk on in the woods by our house has this big mud hole in the middle of it,and this is where I found him or her..does anyone know why they do this???I thought they were just dry land creatures...
I know them as box turles and have come across eight of them this summer...and their shells do look rather muddy sometimes, I just want to shine them up before taking their photos! :) but don't!
ReplyDeleteMaybe to cool off? He/she has a pretty shell for sure!
ReplyDeleteSunny :)
I agree, must be to cool off. Yes, those red eyes are a bit scary!
ReplyDeleteOnly the males have red eyes!
ReplyDeleteI have to rescue box turtles from the highway - I can't help myself! :)
ReplyDeleteI know that snapping turtles bury themselves in the mud at the bottom of creeks and ponds so that they can catch fish. Not sure about tarpins.(yes we call them tarpins too!)
ReplyDeleteI always called them tarpins, too. I think they are neat, we found one on a trail walk at Pipestem a few weeks ago.
ReplyDeleteOnly males have red eyes? Does that mean they have been partying all night!!! Great pictures. We only have the Painted turtles here in Idaho where I live.
ReplyDeleteInteresting pictures, my first painting that really looked right was of a turtle that looked like the last picture.
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting on my post.
Jenny
cute turtle. maybe it wants to cool off? i haven't seen any on the farm make mud holes yet.
ReplyDeleteIn England we just call them tortoises, I'm not sure if they have different varieties, other than large and small.
ReplyDeleteI have found several lately in the little spring running through the woods, they too were buried in the mud, I think it may keep them cool...
Lovely pictures.