Basking

Humans are an endothermic species. This means that we produce our own body heat through the metabolic process. Mammals and birds are endothermic. Fish, reptiles, amphibians, and most invertebrates are ectothermic species. They get their body heat from an external means. The painted turtle is a good example of and ectothermic species. To be active the painted turtle must maintain its internal body temperature from about 65 to 75 degrees. So in the morning the turtle will need to sun for several hours after spending the night in the cold water. Once it warms up enough it can go out and forage for food, however it will have to return to basking frequently through out the day.  

Only the Turtle Stands Between the Darkness and the Light

 

Even though the turtle and the log are the central subject of this photo it is the reflection of light and shadow on the water that makes this pic interesting to me. The turtle and the log seem to separate the band of light from she shadows extending from the reflection of the turtles head. 

Painted Turtle

Painted Turtle

The painted turtle is the most common turtle found in North America. One of the main reasons is because of their ability to live in areas that have been disturbed by people. Turtle eggs and young are very vulnerable to predation but adult turtles, with their hard shell, have very few predators to worry about. In the wild turtles can live over 50 years but unfortunately many do not make it to that age because of cars.
Although they breath air through their lungs, like we do, they are mostly aquatic creatures. Painted turtles spend most of their life in the water. With their webbed feet turtles are excellent swimmers and spend much of their time hunting aquatic insects, fish, frogs and crustaceans. Since they are omnivores they also eat algae and other aquatic vegetation. The smaller males usually only leave the water to sun. Since they can not regulate their own body temperature they need to sit out in the sun to warm themselves up. Usually their sunning spot is close to the water in case a quick escape is necessary. The larger females also sun but will also leave the water around the beginning of summer to dig a nest and lay their eggs. These are usually the turtles that are hit by cars, especially on dirt roads where they may be digging the nest.