Tuesday, December 1, 2020
Kame (turtle)
The Artist
Ando Hiroshige (1797 – 1858), one of the most famous Japanese Ukiyo-e artists, translated ordinary landscapes into graceful, poetic forms. Orphaned at age 12, Hiroshige took over his father’s firefighting job and was soon inspired to become an artist like his role model, the esteemed Hokusai.
Monday, November 23, 2020
My Cousin: The Yellow Spotted Amazon River Turtle
Yellow-spotted Amazon river turtles are one of the largest South American river turtles with an average life span is 60 to 70 years.
These turtles are considered side-necked turtles, which means they cannot pull their heads into their shells, rather craning them to the side to protect themselves in the event of attack from predators.
This species can be recognized by its dark upper shell and the yellow spots that adorn its head, though these fade with age. Females can be twice as large as males. They have strongly webbed feet and an oval shell, dark on top, which is slightly domed. They can grow to a length of 20 inches and weigh around 18 pounds.
These turtles inhabit South America's Amazon River. They occupy tributaries and lakes connected to the Amazon River, though when the river floods, they will branch out to flooded forests.
These turtles eat a range of foods, from fruit and plant materials to fish and small invertebrates.
The yellow-spotted Amazon River turtle is diurnal and is most active in mid-morning and afternoon. Groups of turtles can be seen basking in the sun on logs or stones in the middle of rivers and on the shore.
As ectothermic (cold-blooded) animals, this behavior functions to warm their bodies. They are also very aquatic, only coming out of the water to bask.
They are a vulnerable species in the wild because they are a popular food item in some South American countries.
Friday, November 13, 2020
Thursday, November 5, 2020
Turtles and Indian Myth
Friday, October 30, 2020
Wednesday, October 21, 2020
Turtle Attacks Napolean!
The Death of Boney by Sir Wm Biscuit
Glorious news from the 1809 expedition showing Sir William Curtis leaning from a small open boat towards the shore where a turtle is attacking Napoleon.
Glorious news from the 1809 expedition showing Sir William Curtis leaning from a small open boat towards the shore where a turtle is attacking Napoleon.
Saturday, October 10, 2020
Wednesday, September 30, 2020
Monday, September 21, 2020
Sunday, September 13, 2020
Nova Scotia Lore
1956 Advertisement in La Domenica del Corriere reported this giant turtle was seen by the crew of the fishing boat "Rhapsody" off the coast of Nova Scotia
Wednesday, September 2, 2020
Thursday, August 27, 2020
Thursday, August 20, 2020
Friday, August 14, 2020
Wednesday, August 5, 2020
My Cousin: The Razor-Backed Musk Turtle
The razor-backed musk turtle grows to approximately 6 inches in length. It has a brown-colored shell, with black markings at the edges of each scute. The shell has a distinct, sharp keel down the center of its length, giving the species its common name. The body is typically grey-brown in color, with black spotting, as is the head, which tends to have a bulbous shape to it. It has a long neck, short legs, and a sharp beak. Males can usually be distinguished from females by their longer tails.
They are almost entirely aquatic, spending most of their time in shallow, heavily vegetated, slow-moving creeks or ponds. The only time they typically venture onto land is when females lay their eggs. When a razor-backed musk turtle feels threatened, it will release a foul odor, similar to a skunk's. Their diet consists primarily of aquatic invertebrates, including freshwater clams, crayfish, snails and various insects. They also feed on fish and carrion. Its relatively small size, and ease of care makes it a more attractive choice as a pet turtle for many keepers.
Photos: www.joelsartore.com
Thursday, July 30, 2020
Sunday, July 19, 2020
Thursday, July 9, 2020
Saturday, July 4, 2020
Adopt a Sea Turtle!
Sea turtles have outlived almost all prehistoric animals with which they once shared the planet. Having survived the extinction of the dinosaurs, marine turtles still inhabit the oceans’ open waters and coastal habitats, feeding on jellyfish and other aquatic plants and animals. Critically endangered, the sea turtle is at risk from many factors, including habitat destruction, entanglement in fishing gear, hunting and egg collection, climate change and pollution.
Adopting a sea turtle (virtually) from the World Wildlife Organization makes a great gift to yourself or anyone that loves the creatures of our planet.
Click here to get details on adopting a sea turtle.
Adopting a sea turtle (virtually) from the World Wildlife Organization makes a great gift to yourself or anyone that loves the creatures of our planet.
Click here to get details on adopting a sea turtle.
Sunday, June 14, 2020
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