Close-up of painted turtle head: The name “painted turtle” is self-explanatory when you take a close look at this aquatic reptile. The yellow and red stripes of its neck, face and legs as well as the brightly colored margin of its shell are a thing of beauty, at least to a herpetologist. (Photos by Mary Holland)
One of the rewards of enduring a long, snowy, cold winter is the joy of going outside and basking in the May sun. Warm-blooded or cold, hibernator or not, creatures of all shapes and sizes who remain in New England year ’round celebrate spring by observing this ritual. In all likelihood the painted turtle (Chrysemys picta), also known as the “sun turtle,” devotes more time to this endeavor than any other animal, including human beings.
Painted turtles remain active for more of the year than many other fresh water turtles and can even be seen swimming under the ice in late winter or early spring. However, in the northern part of its range, including Harvard, painted turtles spend at least four months buried in the mud at the bottoms of ponds or streams. Unable to generate their own heat, all reptiles must find a fairly protected spot in which to spend the winter. The conditions under inches, much less feet, of mud are less than ideal: little oxygen, cold temperatures and darkness. Fortunately, painted turtles are very tolerant of low levels of dissolved oxygen and absorb what little there is through their skin. Still, it’s a fine line between freezing and surviving several months with a lowered metabolism.
After a winter of low light, no food, little oxygen and even less heat, it must be exhilarating to rise to the surface of open water, take a deep breath and warm up in the sun. The appearance of painted turtles as early as April confirms that this may be the case. They are among the earliest reptiles to emerge from hibernation and can often be found lying in the sun on rocks or logs in a pond that is still partially covered with ice.
Basking is a priority in the life of a painted turtle. The warmth of the sun not only raises a turtle’s temperature, but it also helps to metabolize vitamins in its diet. It spends a great deal of time, often five or six hours a day in the spring, lying in the early morning and mid-day sun. A likely place to find these turtles is on logs, rocks, and hummocks that are exposed to sun’s rays much of the day. Painted turtles make no attempt to hide themselves while they bask, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t concerned about predators such as raccoons, skunks, and foxes. They compensate for this bravado by being extremely wary, dropping off their perch into the water at the slightest movement. This behavior certainly saves the lives of many painted turtles, but it also prevents most people from getting a close look at one.
Competition for basking sites can be fierce in ponds with few logs, rocks or hummocks. The sun not only warms up these painted turtles, but also helps them digest nutrients.
When a pond lacks an adequate number of basking sites for its painted turtle population, the competition for those that exist is fierce. From a distance you may see several turtles piled up, one on top of the other. This occurs most frequently in ponds where sunning spots are few and far between. Occasionally these stacks of turtles have been observed tipping over; this is not by accident. The bottom turtle, when it has had enough weight-bearing exercise, often pushes with its hind legs to lift the rear part of its shell. It then rocks left and right, as well as up and down, in an attempt to dislodge the turtles piled on top of it.
In addition to basking, painted turtles also have courtship on their minds soon after emerging from hibernation. While engaged in this activity, both male and female turtles exhibit movements and gestures reminiscent of a water ballet. According to David Carroll, in his book Swampwalker’s Journal, there is often a slow and lengthy chase, ending with both turtles facing each other in relatively shallow water. They then extend their necks, arching toward each other until the tips of their noses touch, after which they sink to the bottom of the pond. Eventually they rise to the surface and repeat this series of movements several times until the female swims away in what Carroll calls the “restrained ceremonial flight.” The male turtle leisurely chases and catches up with the female, circling her while facing her. Eventually he stops directly in front and gently strokes her head and neck with the back of his claws. He then back-paddles away from her, returning shortly to stroke her and perhaps touch noses again. This continues until the female either rejects him and swims away or is receptive and strokes his outstretched front legs with the bottoms of the short claws on her front feet. She then sinks to the bottom, where the two turtles mate.
