Basking Turtles

Here's a pair of turtles sharing a log. Due to the color red, both are fairly easy identifications. You can see the red "ear" on the turtle on the left, making it a Red-eared Slider. And the red plastron on the turtle on the right (plus its size) make it a Northern Red-Bellied Cooter.

There are some concerns that the guy on the left, introduced to this area from other parts of the US, may crowd out our native species (including the guy on the right). The sliders are considered a more aggressive turtle, though they do have a size disadvantage compared to our cooters. When I see turtles basking in the sun, they usually turn out to be these turtles or the Eastern Painted Turtle; currently all 3 species seem to be doing pretty well around here.

May 13, 2021 at the Raritan River Greenway
Photo 132037500, (c) jpviolette, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)


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