Trivia question for Aug-22-2011

Carter recently saw the posts on FB about the ridiculous Snapperfest which is held each year in Ohio County, Indiana.  So Carter decided to dedicate his trivia to these cool turtles.

Common habitats are shallow ponds, shallow lakes, or streams. Some may inhabit brackish environments, such as estuaries. Common Snapping Turtles sometimes bask—though rarely observed—by floating on the surface with only their carapace exposed, though in the northern parts of their range they will also readily bask on fallen logs in early spring. In shallow waters, Common snappers may lie beneath a muddy bottom with only the head exposed, stretching their long necks to the surface for an occasional breath (note that their nostrils are positioned on the very tip of the snout, effectively functioning as snorkels). Snapping turtles are omnivores, consuming both plant and animal matter, and are important aquatic scavengers; but they are also active hunters that prey on anything they can swallow, including many invertebrates, fish, frogs, reptiles (including snakes and smaller turtles), unwary birds, and small mammals.

So here are Carter’s questions: Tell us what determines the sex of the hatchlings and where their mothers like to bury them?  Also, tell us what Native Americans used to do with dried snapping turtle egg shells?

Good Luck 😉

If your interested in learning more about the Snapperfests, we encourage you to google the event.  During this event, a turtle is systematically brutalized, his tail and neck are pulled and ripped and his body is slammed repeatedly to the ground, all while he is fully conscious, subjecting him to what can only be considered excruciating pain and prolonged suffering and fear. Obviously, we did not allow the kids to view the videos of the event but we wanted them to know what the events do. As an organization, we have signed the petitions which are trying to show support from those who agree these events are ridiculous. If your interested in signing, here is there link: http://www.change.org/petitions/stop-snapperfest

Thanks for caring 😉

Answer:

Congratulations to our friend Carmel from FL for sending us the correct answer so quickly and we are also glad to hear that you signed the petition as well.  The Turtle we featured is the Snapping Turtle.  The common snapping turtle is a large freshwater turtle. Its natural range extends from southeastern Canada, southwest to the Rocky Mountains as far east as Nova Scotia and Florida. This species and the larger alligator snapping turtle are both widely referred to as snapping turtles or snappers (though the common snapping turtle, as its name implies, is much more widespread overall).

These guys bury their eggs in a bowl-shaped nest, 3-7″ deep in the soft sand to be heated by the sun; incubation temperature determines the sex of the hatchlings.  Incubation temperatures of about 74-degrees produce males and temperatures at around 84-degrees or warmer typically produce females.

Dried snapping turtle shells, with corn kernels inside, were used as rattles by many Native Americans.  Here is more on these prehistoric looking turtles: Snapping Turtles

Thanks for playing along 😉