C.T.J.- State Reptile Traditional Cache
-allenite-: As there's been no response from the cache owner to my previous note, I'm archiving it to keep it from continually showing up in search lists and to prevent it from blocking other cache placements. Please note that if geocaches are archived by a reviewer or Geocaching HQ for lack of maintenance, they are not eligible for unarchival.
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This cache is place out on the Heritage Nature trail located behind the Carl T Johnson Hunting and Fishing Center. Be sure to visit the museum (free of charge) and sign the logbook. Make a note that you were at the center geocaching. You do need a recreational passport on your liscense to park at the Carl T. however.
The Painted Turtle (Chrysemys Picta) was chosen as the state reptile of Michigan in 1995, after a group of 5th graders from Niles Michigan, discovered that Michigan did not have a state reptile.
The Painted Turtle is the most common turtle found throughout the state. They have a low smooth carapace (outer shell) which is black or olive in color, with red markings along its margins. The plastron (bottom shell) is yellow or orange with a dark central blotch. The head is yellow striped, while the neck and legs are red or yellow striped. The male is generally smaller than the female and will have longer front claws, as well as a longer and thicker tail. The male Painted Turtle will also have a concave plastron, which aids in mounting the female during conception. The carapace on a adult turtle is anywhere from 4" to 9.8" in length.
An interesting fact about the Painted Turtle is that there are no genetic males or females. (They lack sex chromosomes.) Their sex is determined by external temperatures during embryogenesis. (When the embryo first start to develop.) Colder temperatures will produce male turtles, while warmer temperatures will produce female turtles.
The Painted Turtle prefers to live in shallow, weedy, waters with mud bottoms such as ponds, marshes, small lakes, sloughs, and creeks. Most of the time they can be found basking in the sunlight on logs or rocks above the waters surface. (This aids in the removal of parasitic leeches on their bodies and shells.) They may however travel across land in search of new habitat or new nesting sites.
The Painted Turtle has very poor sound perception but makes it up with a good sense of smell and the ability to see colors. These turtles do not have teeth, but instead have horny plates in their jaws to aid in gripping food.These turtles are omnivorous - eating aquatic plants and seeds, insects, snails, tadpoles, carrion, fish, or anything else they can find.
The female Painted Turtle will nest in late May to early July. During courtship the male will use his very long claws to tickle the female. The female will lay 4 - 20 elliptical shaped, soft shelled eggs in a buried nest in a sunny location. The incubation period is 70 to 80 days but often the hatchlings will remain in the nest until early spring.
The Painted Turtle sleeps underwater, buried in the sand or mud bottom. They have the ability to breath air as well as absorb oxygen from the water. These turtles are able to withstand much colder temperatures than most cold-blooded animals but will also spend the coldest months of winter, buried in the soft mud as well. Scientists estimate the lifespan of the Painted Turtle to be about 40 years in the wild, however this is not nearly the case in captive raised turtles .
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Congrats to the top 3 cachers
Equinoxrox = First to Find
R & MJ =2nd to find
Hosta Hillbillies = 3rd to find
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
pnpur vf engrq 2.5 bayl orpnhfr bs qvfgnapr cbffvoyl bire 2 zvyr ebhaq gevc qrcraqvat ubj lbh uvxr va. npghny pnpur vf bayl n 1.5 qvssvphygl.
Treasures
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