Featured Turtle Pictures  -  August 10, 2006

UPDATE:The eggs have been incubating since ca. 28-July-06, but after about a month and a half, I was unable to determine if the eggs were alive or dead.  To be safe, I decided to sacrifice one of the eggs to learn what was going on inside.  To my happy surprise, the egg contained a live fetal turtle about as big around as my thumbnail.  It was moving around and it had good reflexes, as evidenced by its efforts to right itself when I turned it on its back to look at its feet. Unfortunately, that little turtle died as a result of my actions, but the rest of the clutch should be ready to hatch in another 45 days or so.  Have a look:
 

Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina) female with nest and eggs

Straight Carapace Length (SCL) = data not taken on nesting turtle
Gender = female
Named: Latifa
Comments:
   - dug nest in back yard flower bed adjacent to a creek in Knoxville, TN
   - eggs were in danger of predation by racoons, dogs, and crows
   - entire clutch of eggs taken and relocated to incubate and hatch
   - followup when hatchlings emerge