Painted Turtle

Description:

smooth and attractive shell with red, yellow, and/or black patterns; carapace (top of shell) is unique due to the large scutes which lay in straight rows across its back and is about 8 inches in length;

Habitat:

found in large pond at Ribbonwalk Nature preserve where I'm sure they can find lots of aquatic vegetation and invertebrates to feed on

Notes:

There were lots of these basking or sunning on downed trees in the water; we saw at least 16; these were seen in winter - they can be seen any month of the year; it is interesting that they are the only known reptiles that can withstand freezing.