Western Pond Turtle( Smiling)

Description:

The western pond turtle (Actinemys marmorata or Emys marmorata), or Pacific pond turtle is a small to medium-sized turtle growing to approximately 20 cm (8 in) in carapace length. It is limited to the west coast of the United States of America and Mexico, ranging from western Washington state to northern Baja California. In May 2002, the Canadian Species at Risk Act listed the Pacific pond turtle as being extirpated in Canada.Western pond turtles occur in both permanent and intermittent waters, including marshes, streams, rivers, ponds, and lakes. They favor habitats with large numbers of emergent logs or boulders, where they aggregate to bask. They also bask on top of aquatic vegetation or position themselves just below the surface where water temperatures are elevated. Individuals display aggressive behavior toward one another while sunning. Western pond turtles will rapidly dive off basking sites when approached by humans, even at distances of over 50 m. Consequently, this species is often overlooked in the wild. However, it is possible to observe resident turtles by moving slowly and hiding behind shrubs and trees. Western pond turtles seek refuge in deep water, under submerged logs and rocks, in beaver burrows and lodges, and by "swimming" into deep silt. They are extremely difficult to detect under these conditions. Turtles can be encouraged to use artificial basking substrate, or rafts, which allows for easy detection of the species in complex habitats.Western pond turtles are omnivorous and most of their animal diet includes insects, crayfish and other aquatic invertebrates. Fishes, tadpoles, and frogs are eaten occasionally, and carrion is eaten when available. Plant foods include filamentous algae, lily pods, tule and cattail roots.Some hatchings overwinter in the nest, and this phenomenon seems more prevalent in northern areas. Winter rains may be necessary to loosen the hardpan soil where some nests are deposited. It may be that the nest is the safest place for hatchlings to shelter while they await the return of warm weather. Whether it is hatchlings or eggs that overwinter, young first appear in the spring following the year of egg deposition. Individuals grow slowly in the wild, and their age at their first reproduction may be 10 to 12 years in the northern part of the range. Western pond turtles may survive more than 30 years in the wild.

Notes:

http://www.birdmom.net/wildlife.html This turtle obviously had a reason to smile!According to the link the smile is fake!!