the online meeting place for all who love our amphibians and reptiles |
|
Terrapins |
Post Reply | Page 12> |
Author | |
Madfossa
Senior Member Joined: 28 Aug 2011 Location: Essex Status: Offline Points: 79 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Posted: 14 May 2012 at 1:41am |
I saw these today in a pond in EF. Are they Red eared terrapins? and are they quite commonly seen in west essex? Ive seen other photos from nearby ponds.
Edited by Madfossa - 14 May 2012 at 3:03am |
|
herpetologic2
Forum Coordinator Joined: 15 Jun 2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1511 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
I would say sliders rather than pond terrapin
|
|
GemmaJF
Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 Location: Essex Status: Offline Points: 4359 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
I would say red eared, hard to tell with the lighting in the picture. Sliders are very similar, but lack the red markings on the head, many were imported in batches of red eared terrapins. They are very common throughout Essex as many were released in ponds and lakes when they grew too large for pet owners to keep at home. My nearest one is less than a mile away at the local farm for example.
|
|
liamrussell
Senior Member Joined: 13 Jan 2005 Status: Offline Points: 100 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
The shape of the yellow marking on the head of the left one looks like a yellow-bellied slider Trachemys scripta scripta to me. The one on the right looks a bit more like a red-eared slider/terrapin Trachemys scripta elegans. It's hard to be certain for either from this photo and intergrades have been recorded too.
Edited by liamrussell - 14 May 2012 at 4:29pm |
|
GemmaJF
Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 Location: Essex Status: Offline Points: 4359 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
I couldn't see any yellow on the head of the left one on my monitor, so I've enhanced it a bit:
and would now agree, it looks very much like a yellow bellied slider on the left and red eared on the right.
|
|
Robert V
Senior Member Joined: 06 Aug 2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1264 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Yeah, it's the new eat all policy at EF to go with the ornate "Land Scraping".
Conversation in the manager's office.
"ere guv, how can we get rid of every reptile and amphibian in the forest?"
"How about we take away all the cover, then wehn they all dive in the ponds we ambush them with ninja terrapins that love nothing better than to munch on the odd frog or snake."
"Good idea guv, I'll get right on it."
Ian, i think these are the ones at WVL. I "snapped" these, (get it!) last year a bit clearer. The log floats around a bit, so just wait for it to get a bit closer to the shore line to get close ups.
|
|
RobV
|
|
GemmaJF
Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 Location: Essex Status: Offline Points: 4359 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Well I'll go back to what I said at first then, red ears lol.
|
|
liamrussell
Senior Member Joined: 13 Jan 2005 Status: Offline Points: 100 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Yes Rob's are certainly both red ears, but one of madfossa's is a yellowbelly
|
|
GemmaJF
Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 Location: Essex Status: Offline Points: 4359 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
I kind of thought it was the same two animals in both sets of pictures? How many are there in this pond Rob?
Edited by GemmaJF - 15 May 2012 at 3:51pm |
|
Robert V
Senior Member Joined: 06 Aug 2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1264 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Hi Gemma,
I've counted five, but one of those is a dinner plate that looks to be a lot darker, maybe a european species (?) but that doesn't come out of the over flowpipe until a lot later in the year when the water's warmed up.
R
|
|
RobV
|
|
Post Reply | Page 12> |
Tweet
|
Forum Jump | Forum Permissions You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum |