Blanding's turtle

There are differences of opinion as to the genus for this species; both Emys and Emydoidea occur in published sources in 2009, 2010, and 2011.

Both the specific name, blandingii, and the common name, Blanding's turtle, are in honor of American naturalist Dr. William Blanding (1773–1857).{{cite book|vauthors=Beolens B, Watkins M, Grayson M|year=2011|title=The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles|location=Baltimore|publisher=Johns Hopkins University Press|pages=xiii + 296|isbn=978-1-4214-0135-5}} (Emydoidea blandingii, p. 27).

Blanding's turtle is a medium-sized turtle with an average straight carapace length of approximately {{convert|18|to|23|cm|in|abbr=on}} with a maximum of {{convert|25.5|cm|in|abbr=on}}.{{cite web|date=30 July 2007 |title=Status Assessment for the Blanding’s Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) in the Northeast |url=https://www.blandingsturtle.org/uploads/3/0/4/3/30433006/embl_status_assessment_30jul07.pdf}} A distinguishing feature of this turtle is the bright yellow chin and throat. The carapace, or upper shell, is domed, but slightly flattened along the midline, and is oblong when viewed from above. The carapace is speckled with numerous yellow or light-colored flecks or streaks on a dark background. The plastron, or lower shell, is yellow with dark blotches symmetrically arranged. The head and legs are dark, and usually speckled or mottled with yellow. Blanding's turtle is also called the "semi-box" turtle, for although the plastron is hinged, the plastral lobes do not shut as tight as the box turtles'.{{cite web|access-date=2024-10-18 |date=2017-08-12 |first=Stacey |language=en |last=Cole |title=Stacey Cole's Nature Talks: Have you seen a Blanding's turtle this summer? |url=https://www.unionleader.com/nh/outdoors/stacey-coles-nature-talks-have-you-seen-a-blandings-turtle-this-summer/article_fd4c7f80-e0c6-5b79-8b7c-11edb0b51ed9.html |website=UnionLeader.com}}

Blanding's turtle takes 14–20 years to reach sexual maturity. Mating probably occurs in April and early May with nesting beginning in early June and lasting throughout the month.{{cite journal|vauthors=MacCulloch RD, Weller WF|title=Reproduction in a Lake Erie population of Blanding's Turtle, Emydoidea blandingii |journal=Canadian Journal of Zoology|date=1988|volume=66|issue=10|pages=2317–2319|doi=10.1139/z88-345}} Clutch size varies from region to region. In New York, the clutch size ranges from five to twelve eggs, with an average of eight.

Blanding's turtle overwinters under or near water, in mud, or under vegetation or debris. This is known as brumation. During the nesting season, a female Blanding's turtle may be found more than a kilometer from where it hibernated. It is omnivorous, eating crustaceans (including crayfish), insects (such as dragonfly nymphs and aquatic beetles), snails and other invertebrates, fish, fish eggs, frogs, carrion, berries, seeds, and vegetable debris.{{cite web |first1=Evan |last1=Grey |title=Emydoidea blandingii |url=https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Emydoidea_blandingii/|website=Animal Diversity Web |publisher=University of Michigan |access-date=18 August 2024}} It will eat coontail, duckweed, sedge, and bulrush. It is capable of catching live fish. Based on the extreme lack of aging symptoms and lack of age related decline, this turtle is considered a negligibly senescent species.{{Cite news|url=http://www.clarecanfield.com/emydoidea-blandingii/|title=Emydoidea blandingii |date=2016-10-30|newspaper=The Moirai – Aging Research|language=en-US|access-date=2016-12-13|archive-date=2018-09-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180903014920/http://www.clarecanfield.com/emydoidea-blandingii/|url-status=dead}}

Blanding's turtle is a timid turtle and may plunge into water and remain on the bottom for hours when alarmed. If away from water, the turtle will withdraw into its shell. It is very gentle and rarely attempts to bite. It is very agile and a good swimmer.

File:Minson Blandings - Flickr - USDAgov.jpg

The geographic range of E. blandingii centres on the Great Lakes, and extends from central Nebraska and Minnesota (where it twice failed to become the state reptile){{cite web|title=Minnesota State Symbols—Unofficial, Proposed, or Facetious|url=http://www.leg.state.mn.us/leg/unsym.aspx|publisher=Minnesota State Legislature|access-date=2011-02-25}} eastward through southern Ontario and the south shore of Lake Erie as far east as northern New York. In Nebraska, this turtle is uncommon in the eastern portion of the state, but common to abundant in the Sand Hills region lakes, ponds, and streams. There are also isolated populations in southeastern New York (Dutchess County), New England, and Nova Scotia.{{cite book|vauthors=Ernst CH, Barbour RW, Lovich JE|year=1994|title=Turtles of the United States and Canada|publisher= Smithsonian Institution|location=Washington|page= 242}}

Its general habitat is wetlands with clean shallow water. It is known to bask on logs, and will wander far from water, particularly when nesting. It generally nests in sunny areas, with well drained soil. Younger turtles may bask on sedge and alder hummocks. Young will often travel far in search of mating sites, new habitat, or new food sources, as do elder turtles.

The primary threat to Blanding's turtle is habitat fragmentation and destruction as well as nest predation by unnaturally large populations of predators. It is listed as an endangered species on the IUCN Red List as endangered in some U.S. states, and as either threatened or endangered throughout Canada, though in the U.S. it has no federal status. International trade in Blanding's turtle is restricted, as the species is listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) meaning that international trade is regulated by the CITES permit system.

This species can also be adversely affected by prescribed burns. During fall and late spring hatchlings move overland and it is recommended that prescribed burns should be avoided during these times.{{Cite journal |vauthors=Refsnider JM, Linck MH|date=2012 |title=Habitat use and movement patterns of Blanding's Turtles (Emydoidea blandingii) in Minnesota, USA: a landscape approach to species conservation |url=https://herpconbio.org/Volume_7/Issue_2/Refsnider_Linck_2012.pdf|journal=Herpetological Conservation and Biology |volume=7 |issue=2 |pages=185–195 |access-date=24 February 2024}}

The U.S. states in which it is considered endangered are Indiana,{{Cite web|author=Indiana Legislative Services Agency|year=2011|title=312 IAC 9-5-4: Endangered species of reptiles and amphibians|work=Indiana Administrative Code|access-date=28 Apr 2012|url=http://www.in.gov/legislative/iac/}} Illinois, Missouri,{{cite web|title=Endangered Species in the Field Guide|url=http://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/endangered-species/endangered-species-field-guide|website=Discover Nature Field Guide|publisher=MO Dept. of Conservation|access-date=4 September 2015}} Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and South Dakota.{{Cite web|url=http://pubstorage.sdstate.edu/agbio_publications/articles/ec919.pdf|title=A Field Guide to South Dakota Turtles|publisher=South Dakota State University|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021133339/http://pubstorage.sdstate.edu/AgBio_Publications/articles/EC919.pdf|archive-date=2013-10-21|url-status=dead}} It is considered threatened in New York and Iowa.{{Cite web |title=Study tracks reclusive, threatened turtle species to better understand habitat needs |url=https://www.iowadnr.gov/About-DNR/DNR-News-Releases/ArticleID/4176/Study-tracks-reclusive-threatened-turtle-species-to-better-understand-habitat-needs |access-date=2023-06-09 |website=Iowa Department of Natural Resources |language=en-US}}{{cite web|title=Blanding's Turtle Fact Sheet|url=http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7166.html|publisher=New York State Department of Environmental Conservation|access-date=22 May 2015}} In Michigan, Blanding's turtle is also fully protected as a special concern species,[https://mnfi.anr.msu.edu/species/description/11490 Blanding's Turtle (Emys blandingii)]. Michigan Natural Features Inventory. making it unlawful to kill, take, trap, possess, buy, or sell.{{cite web|title=Michigan's Rare Animals|url=https://mnfi.anr.msu.edu/species/animals|access-date=2020-04-12}} In Lake County, Illinois, a long-term species recovery program has been underway since 2009.{{cite web |title=Lake County celebrates World Turtle Day with release of 100 endangered Blanding's turtles |website=Chicago Tribune |date=23 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210801040902/https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lake-county-news-sun/ct-lns-world-turtle-day-st-0524-story.html |archive-date=2021-08-01 |url-status=live |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lake-county-news-sun/ct-lns-world-turtle-day-st-0524-story.html}}

In Canada, the Great Lakes–St. Lawrence River population in Ontario and Quebec is federally threatened,[http://www.sararegistry.gc.ca/species/speciesDetails_e.cfm?sid=846 Blanding's Turtle Great Lakes / St. Lawrence population] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130610232130/http://www.sararegistry.gc.ca/species/speciesDetails_e.cfm?sid=846 |date=2013-06-10 }}, Species At Risk Public Registry and the Nova Scotia population is endangered.[http://www.sararegistry.gc.ca/species/speciesDetails_e.cfm?sid=276 Blanding's Turtle Nova Scotia Population] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130610224620/http://www.sararegistry.gc.ca/species/speciesDetails_e.cfm?sid=276 |date=2013-06-10 }}, Species At Risk Public Registry.

Conservation and recovery efforts in Nova Scotia have been in place for two decades and rely on habitat and life history monitoring based on the work of conservation practitioners, researchers, and volunteers. Habitat protection has proven crucial. The population in Kejimkujik National Park has been placed under the highest level of protection, where volunteers and Parks Canada staff carry out annual efforts to protect the turtle's nests from predation and monitor their population over time.{{Cite web|url=https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/ns/kejimkujik/activ/decouverte-tours/opportunite-benevolat-volunteer-opportunities/surveillance-des-tortues-turtle-monitoring|title = Blanding’s turtle nest monitoring Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site|date = 2024-02-29}} The McGowan Lake population was initially protected by Bowater but has since been taken over by the Province. In Pleasant River, the Nova Scotia Nature Trust protects four separate segments of critical habitat.{{cite book|author=Government of Canada|year=2017|title=Recovery Strategy for the Blanding's Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii), Nova Scotia Population, in Canada|publisher=Species at Risk Public Registry|url=http://sararegistry.gc.ca/document/doc2243p/p3_e.cfm?pedisable=false}}

{{Reflist}}

;Bibliography

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• {{cite journal|url=http://www.iucn-tftsg.org/wp-content/uploads/file/Accounts/crm_5_000_checklist_v4_2011.pdf |title=Turtles of the world, 2011 update: Annotated checklist of taxonomy, synonymy, distribution and conservation status|journal=Chelonian Research Monographs|volume=5|date=2011-12-31|author1=Rhodin, Anders G.J.|author2=van Dijk|author3=Peter Paul|author4=Iverson, John B.|author5=Shaffer, H. Bradley|author6=Roger, Bour|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120131102839/http://www.iucn-tftsg.org/wp-content/uploads/file/Accounts/crm_5_000_checklist_v4_2011.pdf|archive-date=2012-01-31|ref=CITEREFRhodin2011|url-status=dead}}

• Behler JL, King FW (1979). The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians. New York: Knopf. 743 pp. {{ISBN|0-394-50824-6}}. (Emydoidea blandingi [sic], p. 458 + Plate 291).
• Conant R (1975). A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Second Edition. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. xviii + 429 pp. {{ISBN|0-395-19979-4}} (hardcover), {{ISBN|0-395-19977-8}} (paperback). (Emydoidea blandingi [sic], p. 71 + Plates 5,7 + Map 26).
• Goin CJ, Goin OB, Zug GR (1978). Introduction to Herpetology, Third Edition. San Francisco: W.H. Freeman. xi + 378 pp. {{ISBN|0-7167-0020-4}}. (Genus Emydoidea, p. 259).
• Gray JE (1870). Supplement to the Catalogue of Shield Reptiles in the Collection of the British Museum. Part I. Testudinata (Tortoises). London: British Museum. (Taylor and Francis, printers). 120 pp. (Emydoidea new genus; Emydoidea blandingii, new combination, p. 19).
• Holbrook JE (1838). North American Herpetology; or, A Description of the Reptiles Inhabiting the United States. Vol. III. Philadelphia: J. Dobson. 122 pp. + Plates I-XXX. (Cistuda blandingii, pp. 35–38 + Plate V).
• Smith HM, Brodie ED Jr (1982). Reptiles of North America: A Guide to Field Identification. New York: Golden Press. 240 pp. {{ISBN|0-307-13666-3}}. (Emydoidea blandingi [sic], pp. 44–45).
• Stejneger L, Barbour T (1917). A Check List of North American Amphibians and Reptiles. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press. 125 pp. (Emys blandingii, p. 115).

{{Commons category|Emydoidea blandingii}}

• [https://www.herprman.com/species/turtles/blandings-turtle/ Blanding's Turtle], Herpetological Resource and Management (HRM) of Michigan
• [http://wwx.inhs.illinois.edu/collections/herps/data/ilspecies/em_blandin/ Blanding's Turtle] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180903082017/http://wwx.inhs.illinois.edu/collections/herps/data/ilspecies/em_blandin/ |date=2018-09-03 }}, Illinois Natural History Survey
• [https://www.iowaherps.com/species/emydoidea_blandingii Blanding's Turtle], Reptiles and Amphibians of Iowa

{{Emydidae}}

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Category:Fauna of the Great Lakes region (North America)

Category:Fauna of the Plains-Midwest (United States)

Category:Reptiles of the United States

Category:Reptiles of Canada

Category:Reptiles of Ontario

Category:Emydinae

Category:Reptiles described in 1838