Map Turtle and Snapping Turtle

Description:

Map turtle and common snapping turtle maneuvering for optimal basking spots. Once they got situated, they basked together for quite a while. The big snapping turtle was the first to go back into the water.

Habitat:

One of the ponds at Ritter Springs, north of Springfield, MO

Notes:

Snapping turtles aren't known for basking like pond turtles and sliders. But at this location, the water is fed from a cool-spring, so the snappers have to bask to stay warm.