Blanding's Turtle

About the Blanding's Turtle

Blanding's turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) is a species of semi-aquatic turtle of the family Emydidae. This species is native to central and eastern parts of Canada and the United States. It is considered to be an endangered species throughout much of its range. Blanding's turtle is of interest in longevity research, as it shows few or no common signs of aging and is physically active and capable of reproduction into eight or nine decades of life.

There are differences of opinion as to the genus for this species; both Emys and Emydoidea occur in published sources in 2009, 2010, and 2011. Both the specific name, blandingii, and the common name, Blanding's turtle, are in honor of American naturalist Dr. William Blanding (1773–1857). The Blanding’s turtle is also known as “the turtle with the sun under its chin,” a name that comes from Indigenous oral traditions. In one Indigenous creation story, the turtle is said to have rescued the sun and returned it to the sky by carrying it in its mouth. This left the turtle with the permanent glow of the sun on its neck and chin.

Blanding's turtle is a medium-sized turtle with an average straight... Wikipedia →