KimTexan Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 I found this today while I was out seeing if I could find more pieces of my bison. It was at the same level as the bison, but about 30 feet down the creek. It is turtle or tortoise, but I’m not sure what kind or if it is modern or Pleistocene. I looked through a Texas turtle database and did not find a match with any listed there. So it leaves me wondering if it could be an extinct variety. The shell patterns are so distinctive I’d think it could be ID pretty close to what it is. Here are pics. Any thoughts or or comments would be appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KimTexan Posted February 10, 2019 Author Share Posted February 10, 2019 Does anyone know anyone who is especially knowledgeable about turtles? Since I couldn’t find it in the turtle database I think it may be a species that no longer lives in the area or could even be extinct. This is the site I went to. http://www.texasturtles.org/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Tahan Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 If it’s the same level as the bison it’s probably old. It looks old! But heck what do I know I was way off the first time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M Harvey Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 Based on size and shape, it might be snapping turtle plastron. However, not sure about the scale pattern. snap turtle.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KimTexan Posted February 10, 2019 Author Share Posted February 10, 2019 I looked at all the turtles reported to live in the area and looked at the patterns of their plastrons. None matched. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Pristis Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 1 hour ago, KimTexan said: I looked at all the turtles reported to live in the area and looked at the patterns of their plastrons. None matched. Did you look at the patterns of the plastral bones, or did you see the patterns of the plastral scutes? They don't conform to one another, at least on the carapace. Bones are . . . well . . . bones; but, scutes are thin keratinous scales. The patterns you see on a turtle's carapace are the patterns of the scutes, not the bones. 2 http://pristis.wix.com/the-demijohn-page What seest thou else In the dark backward and abysm of time? ---Shakespeare, The Tempest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KimTexan Posted February 10, 2019 Author Share Posted February 10, 2019 Yes, someone explained that to me. I posted it in a Texas turtle group and a guy who works at the Amphibian and Reptial Diversity Research Center at UT Arlington invited me to bring it by and he’d ID it for me by comparing it against examples they have in their collection. Now I just have to figure out when I can do that. He said he is pretty sure it is either a red ear slider or a river cooter, but needs to compare it to examples of those. I would not have thought this creek would have had either of those. The habitat doesn’t seem well suited for them. The water is pretty shallow and very clear with no sediment on the bottom. Most aquatic turtles seem to live in murky water with abundant sediment on the bottom. I supppose it could have been washed downstream in a flood from a different environment though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ynot Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 24 minutes ago, KimTexan said: . The habitat doesn’t seem well suited for them. The water is pretty shallow and very clear with no sediment on the bottom. Was the creek the same 10,000 or 15,000 years ago? Darwin said: " Man sprang from monkeys." Will Rogers said: " Some of them didn't spring far enough." My Fossil collection - My Mineral collection My favorite thread on TFF. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Pristis Posted February 11, 2019 Share Posted February 11, 2019 31 minutes ago, KimTexan said: I would not have thought this creek would have had either of those. The habitat doesn’t seem well suited for them. The water is pretty shallow and very clear with no sediment on the bottom. Most aquatic turtles seem to live in murky water with abundant sediment on the bottom. This is a misapprehension. Clear, limestone-bottomed streams in most of Florida are loaded with cooters and sliders. http://pristis.wix.com/the-demijohn-page What seest thou else In the dark backward and abysm of time? ---Shakespeare, The Tempest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fossilus Posted February 11, 2019 Share Posted February 11, 2019 They are both common in Texas also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KimTexan Posted February 11, 2019 Author Share Posted February 11, 2019 2 hours ago, Harry Pristis said: This is a misapprehension. Clear, limestone-bottomed streams in most of Florida are loaded with cooters and sliders. That is helpful to know. Where I see most of them here are in murky water with soft silty bottoms. Usually around lakes and ponds. Strangely enough I think I have seen one turtle when out fossil hunting. It was a box turtle. I have seen them when out hiking and not fossil hunting, but none in the creeks I hunt. Not one. Not even when out fossil hunting by kayak. I see a lot more of them in Arkansas than I see in Texas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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