Pond Turtles

I was visiting a different ecosystem today. I was above a fresh water pond. Plants and animals that survive here are different than those on a hillside covered with chaparral. There is a baby to the left and a Mom or Dad to the right. These turtles are called Red Eared Sliders. Originally, they were found in the southeast United States, but pet stores began selling them and now they are all over the world. Turtles are reptiles so they like to get warm by basking on logs around this pond. Turtles have been around for millions and millions of years. What protects them? Their shells, of course. They can pull their heads, arms, and legs into their shell and escape predators. Also, they can swim away very quickly when startled. If they are caught from behind, they can push very hard with their rear clawed feet. Are these turtles fluorescent purple? No, mostly they are green and brown and they blend in with their surroundings. Turtles are omnivores and will eat pretty much any plant or animal that will fit in their mouths. In the autumn, when it starts to get cold, they will hibernate. That means they will stay on the bottom of the pond or they will find a hole in the woods and not do much of anything until it gets warm again. Their bodily functions…breathing, digestion, and blood flow…slow way, way, down. How bizarre is that? Do you wish you could hibernate sometimes? Why? Where would you hibernate and for how long?

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