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What Are Adaptations of a Western Pond Turtle?

The Western pond turtle (Clemmys marmorata), also called the Pacific freshwater turtle and Pacific mud turtle, is a medium-sized aquatic turtle native to Western North America. Western pond turtles were once found from Southern California north through British Columbia, Canada. However, Western pond turtle populations have decreased dramatically due to habitat destruction and fragmentation, according to biologists at Stanford University. Despite environmental pressures, Western pond turtles have several adaptations that allow them to live up to 50 years in the wild.

Shell Color
- Western pond turtles prefer to live in slow-moving streams and rivers in the wild. The turtles often bask in the sun on rocks, logs or floating plants during the day, warming their bodies. The dark shells allow them to easily soak up heat from the sun. In addition, the turtle shells are dark olive to brown in color, which makes them very difficult for predators to see once they are underwater.
Shell Shape
- Adult Western pond turtle shells contain several adaptations that help pond turtles survive and reproduce. Adult turtles have an average shell length between 6 and 8 inches long.The top portion of the pond turtle shell is called a carapace, and like other aquatic turtles, it is flat and streamlined. The low profile of the shell allows pond turtles to swim quickly and efficiently through the water. The bottom portion of a male pond turtle's shell is called the plastron and has a slight depression in the middle. This depression allows the male to balance himself as he climbs over a female when mating, making copulation much easier.
Limbs
- Western pond turtles have developed specialized feet that allow them to survive in aquatic environments. The feet are webbed, flat and function as paddles when the turtles are swimming. Female pond turtles have sharp claws that they use to excavate small holes in the ground for their eggs. Males use their forelimbs to hold on to the rear portion of a females shell in an attempt to mate with her. An accepting female raises her rear and allows the male to climb over her. Males have long, curved rear claws that they use to grip onto the female's shell when mating.
Behavior
- Pond turtles are a shy species due to the number of predators that eat the young turtles. Bullfrogs, fish, snakes, birds, raccoons and otters all feed on young turtles. If the turtles cannot escape, they retract all of their limbs into their hard protective shell when threatened. Adults have few predators, but will still retract their body into their shell when threatened in the wild.

Animals & Science