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<br /> Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources • Bureau of Endangered Resources PUBL-ER-529 92REV
<br /> Blanding's Turtle
<br /> _ .. • .., .
<br /> (Emydoidea blandingi)
<br /> Legal Status in U.S..Unprotected :rd yy�i -t ;,. • ' y
<br /> - '1 -_•'- '''', • • '. . .,',,'',. s.; i,. .% ,•Legal Status in Wisconsin:Threatened .y"�. �i' I i cV'�� •'� ' ..,',�1,',:, ':,
<br /> Length:8 to 10 inches ,tires ���'!f�` , %' :�. As',,,--,i', 1,‘;-;'
<br /> Weight:Up to 3 pounds ' •l 1 /4 %•'"� " -...---,,k- j
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<br /> Range in Wisconsin:Throughout the state �`1�� s E�°� �'1
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<br /> except the extreme north-central counties. 7s,-
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<br /> Turtles are an important link to the past history of life on earth.It is believed that turtles have survived for
<br /> millions of years as inhabitants of our planet;however today,here in Wisconsin,many turtle species are being
<br /> threatened. One such species is the timid,gentle Blanding's turtle.
<br /> Description: Pennsylvania in the East,through Ohio,Indiana,
<br /> Named after its discoverer,the Blanding's turtle Michigan,Illinois,Wisconsin,and southern Minne-
<br /> is medium-sized.It can be easily identified by the rota and is found in Nebraska,Iowa,and extreme
<br /> bright yellow underside of its neck.Its head,tail, northeastern Missouri in the West.
<br /> and limbs are blue-black,while the underside of its In Wisconsin,Blanding's turtles live throughout
<br /> shell(or plastron)is yellow,with brown or black the state with the exception of the extreme north-
<br /> splotches,and is hinged.Its upper shell(or cara-
<br /> pace)is usually black speckled with yellow,or
<br /> horn colored and mottled with brown.The young ° .:,:,.,0
<br /> are patterned differently from adults;their shells „d
<br /> help them blend in with their surrounding envi-
<br /> ronment.The hinge of the Blanding's turtle's
<br /> plastron is not functional until the turtle is 3 to 5
<br /> years old.Before this age its yellow throat mark-
<br /> ings are not apparent.The function of the yellow
<br /> chin is unknown(perhaps it has something to do filial
<br /> with mating).Males are larger than females,have ,.ml. r-
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<br /> longer tails,and their plastrons are concave for
<br /> mating.The hinged plastron allows the turtle to
<br /> close the front half of the shell tightly,protecting
<br /> the soft flesh of its head,neck,and legs from
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<br /> predators.Due to this behavior,this species is
<br /> pm. dl,
<br /> sometimes referred to as the"semi-box turtle."
<br /> Distribution and Habitat
<br /> The original range of the Blanding's turtle
<br /> extended from southern Ontario and northwestern
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