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

Keep Balloons on Land

Not all turtles are this clever when it comes to balloon pieces found at sea.

Thursday, November 5, 2020

Turtles and Indian Myth

An Indian myth claims our World is supported by four elephants standing on the back of a giant turtle.


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.


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


Thursday, August 20, 2020

Friday, August 14, 2020

Attack Turtle!

Watch out kitties! I'm coming for you!


All I can say is "go, man, go!"

Wednesday, August 5, 2020

My Cousin: The Razor-Backed Musk Turtle



Razor-backed Musk Turtle is found in the states of Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi, Texas, Florida and Louisiana and native to the U.S.

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

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.


Sunday, June 14, 2020

Run, Babies, Run!

Sea Turtle hatchlings get a little help before making a dash for the ocean~