Sunday: 31 August 2008
Yesterday, during a fun-filled three hours of eradication along the upper SBS Creek, I rediscovered a box turtle that was previously found on April 22 2006. He’s an unusual turtle in several ways, not the least of which is the very high density of spotting on his carapace. He also has unusually bright pigmentation on his legs and face.
As you may know, I have instituted the presumptuous tradition that upon rediscovery, a turtle receives an actual name.
So 042206m joins the venerable Sylvia, first observed May 12 2006 and then again Oct 3 2006; as well as the rambunctious Ernest, first observed this year May 9 and then again May 17. Glenn and I both independently came up with the name “Gustav,” but in the end decided maybe that wasn’t such a great idea at present. However the notion of taking the name of significant tropical storms of the point in the season seems like a neat one.
So this is Ivan. He’s the third rediscovery among a total of 15 box turtles documented. There have been six males and nine females.
And a couple of requisite thumbnails for documentation purposes:
One of the peculiarities of Ivan, besides his magnificent skin pigmentation, is his very prominent beak. I can’t tell if that’s just the way it is or if it’s been broken in some way.
That did get me to thinking - it’s been my gradually increasing awareness that the box turtles I’ve run across have different faces. So I thought it would be fun to do a comparison.
Now not all 15 turtles have been cooperative in this regard - some are very shy and so we don’t see them here. But four males and five females allowed varying degrees of opportunity for recording their facial features.
Four other females. These first two are much more colorful than poor Sylvia.
These two females were in the process of eating slimy nasty things.
Ernest was discovered first on May 9 2008, and then again May 17. Both of these images are of Ernest at these two times.
A coupla more males, although I’m not exactly sure of the sex of the second one - apparently I didn’t check the plastron. The first one doesn’t have much spotting at all on his neck and legs. The second one does.
I doubt I’m going to get to the point of recognizing turtle faces as I do human faces, or even cat faces. There are the analytical features that are easy to note in an objective way - spotting and coloration, shape and size of eye and nose or mouth appearance, and so forth. But we don’t use a checklist when recognizing a human face; it’s a much more subjective thing that happens automatically below the level of consciousness. I suppose that if I kept a bunch of box turtles in a pen and got to know them I’d achieve that level of recognition, but I’d probably discover that they were pretty unhappy about the arrangement.
As you may know, I have instituted the presumptuous tradition that upon rediscovery, a turtle receives an actual name.
So 042206m joins the venerable Sylvia, first observed May 12 2006 and then again Oct 3 2006; as well as the rambunctious Ernest, first observed this year May 9 and then again May 17. Glenn and I both independently came up with the name “Gustav,” but in the end decided maybe that wasn’t such a great idea at present. However the notion of taking the name of significant tropical storms of the point in the season seems like a neat one.
So this is Ivan. He’s the third rediscovery among a total of 15 box turtles documented. There have been six males and nine females.
 | Above, Ivan yesterday, at a location about 200 feet from his location two and a half years ago, left. Box turtles don’t like to travel either! To get to his current position he had to traverse a fairly significant gully that runs between the two points of discovery. Who knows how long that took! Or, maybe he’s done it many times. |
And a couple of requisite thumbnails for documentation purposes:
One of the peculiarities of Ivan, besides his magnificent skin pigmentation, is his very prominent beak. I can’t tell if that’s just the way it is or if it’s been broken in some way.
That did get me to thinking - it’s been my gradually increasing awareness that the box turtles I’ve run across have different faces. So I thought it would be fun to do a comparison.
Now not all 15 turtles have been cooperative in this regard - some are very shy and so we don’t see them here. But four males and five females allowed varying degrees of opportunity for recording their facial features.
 | Ladies first. Here is Sylvia, first discovered May 12 2006 and then rediscovered Oct 3 2006, about 300 feet away. She’s a gray old thing with faded yellow pigmentation spots. Notice the nose and beak aren’t nearly as prominent as Ivan’s above. |
Four other females. These first two are much more colorful than poor Sylvia.
These two females were in the process of eating slimy nasty things.
Ernest was discovered first on May 9 2008, and then again May 17. Both of these images are of Ernest at these two times.
A coupla more males, although I’m not exactly sure of the sex of the second one - apparently I didn’t check the plastron. The first one doesn’t have much spotting at all on his neck and legs. The second one does.
I doubt I’m going to get to the point of recognizing turtle faces as I do human faces, or even cat faces. There are the analytical features that are easy to note in an objective way - spotting and coloration, shape and size of eye and nose or mouth appearance, and so forth. But we don’t use a checklist when recognizing a human face; it’s a much more subjective thing that happens automatically below the level of consciousness. I suppose that if I kept a bunch of box turtles in a pen and got to know them I’d achieve that level of recognition, but I’d probably discover that they were pretty unhappy about the arrangement.
