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State Symbols
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Official state symbols represent the cultural heritage
and natural treasures of each state or the entire United States |
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Michigan Symbols
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Michigan State Reptile
Painted Turtle
(Chysemys picta)
Adopted in 1995.
In 1995, the Painted Turtle, Chysemys picta, was chosen as the state reptile after a group of Niles
fifth graders discovered that Michigan did not have a state reptile.
Turtles are among the longest
living animals on earth. Several species of turtles can live for several
decades. With this longevity also comes a negative side. It takes several
years for turtles to sexually mature (4 to 10 years for a Painted turtle, 14
to 20 years for a Blanding's or Wood turtle, and 15 years for a Snapping
turtle). Non breeding turtles are often the targets of predators,
automobiles, and pet seekers. In addition, the longer life span allows
turtles to build up environmental toxins in their tissues. These toxins can
have serious affects on a turtle's health and breeding ability.
Description:
Painted turtles are brightly marked. They have a smooth
shell about 90 to 250 mm long. Their shell acts as protection, but since the
ribs are fused to the shell, the turtle cannot expand its chest to breathe
but must force air in and out of the lungs by alternately contracting the
flank and shoulder muscles. The painted turtle has a relatively flat upper
shell with red and yellow markings on a black or greenish brown background.
Males mature at about 70 to 95 mm plastron (lower shell) length, usually at
3 to 5 years of age. Females at take longer (6 to 10 years) and are larger
at maturity (c. 100 to 130 mm plastron length). The growth rate, for both
sexes is rapid during the first several years of the of their lives. Turtles
continue to grow slowly after maturity, and this species may reach 250 mm
carapace (upper shell) length and live for many decades.
Behavior
Painted turtles bask in large groups on logs, fallen trees,
and other objects. The sunning helps rid them of parasitic
leeches. In many areas turtles hibernate during the winter
months by burrowing into the mud and allowing their bodies
to become very cold. Because of their small body size, they
can move easily. Turtles dive quickly at the first hint of
danger. Painted turtles are diurnal; that means they are
active during the day. At night they will rest on the bottom
of a pond or on a partially submerged object, such as a
rock. During the day, painted turtles will bask in the sun,
sometimes as many as 50 on one log, stacked on top of each
other.
Habitat
The turtles' environment includes a unique blend of niches
from wetlands, to uplands, to sand sites. Each niche is
important to satisfy the separate living, breeding, and
feeding requirements of Michigan turtles
Reproduction
Mating begins after hibernation and before feeding begins
when the water temperatures are still low. Fall mating may also occur.
Temperature is a major environmental cue for the regulation of the seasonal
gonadal cycle, but the thermal dependence of the reproductive system differs
markedly for the two sexes.
Taxonomic Hierarchy
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| Kingdom |
Animalia -- animals |
| Phylum |
Chordata -- chordates |
| Subphylum |
Vertebrata -- vertebrates |
| Class |
Reptilia |
| Order |
Testudines |
| Family |
Emydidae |
| Genus |
Chrysemys |
| Species |
Chrysemys picta
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State Symbols
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State symbols represent things that are special to a
particular state.
symbol \ˈsim-bəl\
noun
Etymology:
in sense 1, from Late Latin symbolum, from Late Greek symbolon, from Greek, token, sign; in
other senses from Latin symbolum token, sign, symbol, from Greek symbolon, literally, token
of identity verified by comparing its other half, from symballein to throw together,
compare, from syn- + ballein to throw — more at devil
Date: 15th century
1: Something that represents something else by association, resemblance, or
convention, especially a material object used to represent something invisible.
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