Terrestrial Foraging by Two Species of Semiaquatic Turtles (Testudines: Emydidae)

I describe terrestrial foraging behavior in Trachemys scripta elegans (Red-eared Slider) and Graptemys pseudogeographica kohnii (Mississippi Map Turtle), two species of semiaquatic turtles. I observed specimens of Red-eared Slider on two occasions in two different locations climbing onto the bank of...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inSoutheastern naturalist (Steuben, Me.) Vol. 7; no. 4; pp. 748 - 752
Main Author Carr, John L.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Southeastern Naturalist 01.01.2008
Humboldt Field Research Institute
Subjects
Biological taxonomies
Diet
Ecological life histories
Emydidae
Foraging
Grasses
Notes of the "Southeastern Naturalist," Issue 7/4, 2008
Shallow water
Sprouts
Swallowing
Testudines
Turtles
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Summary:I describe terrestrial foraging behavior in Trachemys scripta elegans (Red-eared Slider) and Graptemys pseudogeographica kohnii (Mississippi Map Turtle), two species of semiaquatic turtles. I observed specimens of Red-eared Slider on two occasions in two different locations climbing onto the bank of a stream and consuming grass blades (Luziola fluitans [Southern Watergrass] and Eragrostis hypnoides [Teal Lovegrass]), which were swallowed when the turtles returned to the water. These observations included both adult males and females. In addition, I observed on one occasion two juvenile Mississippi Map Turtles leave the water and forage on plants on a stream bank also used by Red-eared Sliders. Individuals of Mississippi Map Turtles passed by grass and consumed the sprouts of a dicot (Ludwigia decurrens [Wingleaf Waterprimrose] and/or Pentodon pentandrus [Hale s Pentodon]).
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-2
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
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ISSN:1528-7092
1938-5412
DOI:10.1656/1528-7092-7.4.748