Painted Turtle(Chrysemys Picta)

_{Primitive Scrapbooking and Primitive Art by Mo Jackson, background from Arti-bytes (Hunibuni), note paper from BYOBB Kit by Gina Miller, Painted Alpha by Rhonna Farrer, Arrow by Katie Pertiet, Date Stamp by Jenn Star, Dragonfly by Jen Wilson, Fonts: Pea Girly Girl Script, Pea Lis, Artistamp Medium, Pea Jenny Script.}



Identification: Shell hard, smooth, somewhat flattened; bright yellow lines on head and limbs; lower shell orange or reddish, with dark markings (most conspicuous in juveniles); upper shell often with narrow yellow lines (less yellow in larger individuals), less often with network of dark lines; upper jaw notched at tip; upper shell of female up to about 25 cm (9.8 inches), though rarely more than 21 cm (8 inches); males much smaller.

Mature male: Vent located beyond rear edge of upper shell carapace when tail is extended; claws on front feet very long; lower shell flat.


Habitat: Permanent ponds, reservoirs, marshes, river backwaters, slow-moving streams, and nearby temporary waters such as those that are seasonally flooded. Favors waters with a soft bottom, abundant aquatic vegetation, and partially submerged logs or other places for basking. Often many bask on a single log.

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We had a hot, yet nice time at a lake near my parent's home. I took the kids out in the canoe, while Grandpa Jim and Michael took the kayaks. Their was hardly a breeze to be had, so we got uncomfortably hot pretty fast. We got to see some really cool painted turtles sunning themselves on a protruding tree branch. We got home just as the rain started pouring down in torrents.

I looked up information on the turtle I saw and found out that it was a male. I also noticed from my photo that he had a reddish plastron, which keeps it from being an Eastern Painted Turtle because, as I understand it, they have yellow plastons. Anyway, he was quite handsome!

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Good News for Aaron. Thanks to a great family in our ward, the Frost family, Aaron will be able to achieve his Second Class scout rank. He was afraid to swim the required length of the pool. He will jump in the 10 foot section off of the diving board, but rushes instantly to the side, so he didn't have the freestyle stroke techinique. Karen Frost and one of her sons, Mark, helped Aaron work on the stroke he needed and to work up to the requirement in increments. Karen used to be Aaron's Den leader and he really trusts her. Michael had mentioned Aaron's need of help to the Frosts at our ward Luau just last Saturday, and on Monday afternoon I got a call from Mark setting up a time at our local pool. This family is such a blessing for Aaron, and us!