Reptile-Amphibian #4 — Painted Turtle

chrysemys picta marginata (Midland subspecies)

Sunday, March 30, 1986 — 11:00 am

Barrington, Illinois — Baker’s Lake

I found two turtles lying in dead grass at the edge of the marsh near the floating bridge. I picked them up, studied them, made notes and tossed them into the marsh. They were lying about four feet apart when I found them. Both pulled back into their shells when I picked them up.

Their back plates alternated. The bellies were yellowish, unmarked. One was olive, approximately 8 inches by 5 inches. The other one was blacker and a bit smaller. They had a red pattern around the edge of their shells on top and bottom — more intricate on the black turtle. Their faces and eyes were patterned with yellow. Their legs were patterned with red and yellow.

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