Tiny turtle

[Wade]

Found this little guy while dip netting for aquatic insects.

Common musk turtle, Sternotherus odoratus.

Wade

 

[genious_gr]

Cool, what about the insects you found???

 

[Wade]

Not much this time around, just some dragonfly niads. My sister (who took this pic, I'm digital impaired ) has been taking some nice pics of my aquatic insect tank, so I'll probably post some in the insect forum.

Wade

 

[GQ.]

That is a great find! I would love to see a little guy like that out in the wild. I have yet to happen upon a baby turtle. One of these days...

 

[Deliverme314]

did you keep it?

 

[GQ.]

Ask and you shall receive! I took my daughter fishing yesterday evening. at a small lake/pond about five minutes from us. We were on the way out when we stopped to look at some minnows. Below them was a peculiar looking piece of debris. It looked like maybe a filet knife sheath. I poked the debris with a stick to figure out what it was. All of a sudden a small turtle darted out from under some nearby floating plants. After a bit I managed to catch him as he lay snuggled in the sand at the bottom of the lake. It was a Texas Spiny Softshell turtle, Apalone spinifera emoryi. They are not native to San Diego. They are an introduced species that is well established here. My daughter agreed that this find more than made up for being skunked. I snapped a few pictures of it which was a bit tough. The little guy would not hold still. He could move too! Enjoy!

This first picture is with an American quarter for perspective. The turtle was about the diameter of a soda can top.

 

[GQ.]

"What? Is there something on my face?"

 

[Malkavian]

softshells are nippy little guys are they not?

 

[spider]

softshells are nippy little guys are they not?

Heck yea!!!
Me and my Brother caught a five inch one,and it bit me with out hesitation!

Cute lil` Fellurs...

 

[GQ.]

softshells are nippy little guys are they not?

As spider said, they are biters. Suprisingly this one did not bite me when I picked him up out of the water. I was fully expecting a bite when I reached deep into the water to pick it up. I had to make a blind grab for it. I wouldn't be as carefree with a larger specimen. They have really long necks so you have to be careful how you handle them. They can easily reach back and chomp on a stray finger.

 

[spider]

As spider said, they are biters. Suprisingly this one did not bite me when I picked him up out of the water. I was fully expecting a bite when I reached deep into the water to pick it up. I had to make a blind grab for it. I wouldn't be as carefree with a larger specimen. They have really long necks so you have to be careful how you handle them. They can easily reach back and chomp on a stray finger.

Common snappers are the same way.They just might take a bit of skin off...


But...Was the water clear?

 

[GQ.]

But...Was the water clear?

The water was actually fairly clear up to a point. I had to make a blind grab simply because I couldn't see him when I plunged my arm up to my shoulder and my face hit the water. I couldn't see anything once my face hit the water. I don't think I would have had a second chance. He was hard enough to see halfway buried in the sand and I knew where he was at. I would have never found him after a failed attempt. It was one of those instances where everything worked in my favor. Sometimes stuff just works out!

 

[spider]

The water was actually fairly clear up to a point. I had to make a blind grab simply because I couldn't see him when I plunged my arm up to my shoulder and my face hit the water. I couldn't see anything once my face hit the water. I don't think I would have had a second chance. He was hard enough to see halfway buried in the sand and I knew where he was at. I would have never found him after a failed attempt. It was one of those instances where everything worked in my favor. Sometimes stuff just works out!

Luck you!
I have been trying for the longest of times for a Soft shell turtle.
And out of the blue my brother and me pass over a bridge,he looks over and BAM! He drops his bike and runs l;ike crazy down the hill,only to catch a nice Spiny soft shell turtle,in 5 inch deep water!
Why was`nt that MY softshell?!

*Sigh* My day will come...

 

[Wade]

did you keep it?

No, I have too many aquatic turtles as it is!

I didn't know spiny soft shells had been introduced to California. Neat find!

Wade