Chicken turtle facts for kids
The chicken turtle (Deirochelys reticularia) is a cool freshwater turtle that lives in the southeastern United States. It's easy to spot because of its super long neck and a brownish shell. This shell often has neat yellow lines that look like a net! Their shells are usually about 10 to 15 centimeters (4 to 6 inches) long.
Contents
What Does a Chicken Turtle Look Like?
Chicken turtles have a special look. Their shells are oval-shaped and can be brown or olive green. The yellow lines on their shell make a pattern that looks like a net or web. This is why their scientific name, reticularia, means "net-like."
Shell Features
The top part of their shell is called the carapace. It's usually smooth. The bottom part, called the plastron, is often yellow. Sometimes, the plastron has a dark blotch in the middle. This blotch can be different shapes, like a butterfly or a T-shape.
Long Neck and Legs
One of the most amazing things about the chicken turtle is its very long neck. It's almost as long as its shell! This long neck helps them catch food. They also have webbed feet, which are perfect for swimming in water.
Where Do Chicken Turtles Live?
Chicken turtles love to live in quiet, shallow waters. You can find them in ponds, swamps, and ditches. They prefer places with lots of plants and soft muddy bottoms. These places are often found in the coastal plains of the southeastern U.S.
Their Favorite Homes
They like water that doesn't move too fast. This includes cypress swamps, like those found in First Landing State Park in Virginia. They also enjoy pine flatwoods and Carolina bays, which are special oval-shaped wetlands.
Staying Safe in Their Habitat
Chicken turtles spend a lot of time in the water. They are good at hiding among the plants. Sometimes, you might see them basking, which means they are lying in the sun. They do this to warm up their bodies.
What Do Chicken Turtles Eat?
Chicken turtles are omnivores, which means they eat both plants and animals. They are very good at hunting for food in the water.
Their Diet
Young chicken turtles mostly eat insects and other small creatures. They love to munch on dragonfly nymphs, which are baby dragonflies that live in the water. As they get older, their diet changes a bit. Adult chicken turtles eat more plants. They also eat crayfish, tadpoles, and small fish. Their long neck helps them snatch food quickly!
Life Cycle of a Chicken Turtle
Chicken turtles have an interesting life cycle. They are active during the day and often hide at night.
Laying Eggs
Female chicken turtles lay their eggs on land. They dig a nest in soft soil, often in sandy areas. They can lay eggs from late winter to early spring, which is unusual for turtles. A female turtle might lay between 4 and 15 eggs in one clutch. The eggs hatch after about two to three months.
Baby Turtles
When the baby turtles hatch, they are very small. They quickly make their way to the water to find food and shelter. It takes several years for a chicken turtle to become an adult.
Conservation Status
In some places, chicken turtles are becoming rare. For example, in Virginia, there are only about 30 adult chicken turtles left. This means they are an important species to protect.
Why Are They Important?
Like all animals, chicken turtles play a role in their ecosystem. They help control insect populations and are part of the food chain. Protecting their habitats helps protect many other animals too.
Images for kids
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Drawing accompanying Latreille's 1801 description of Testudo reticularia
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The plastron of the eastern chicken turtle (D. r. reticularia) sometimes features an indistinct splotch of color
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Large adult chicken turtle with the reticulated pattern on the carapace clearly visible
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Cypress swamp in First Landing State Park, Virginia—it is unclear whether chicken turtles are still present here
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Chicken turtle basking
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Adult chicken turtle laying eggs, Florida
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Dragonfly nymphs are a favorite food of the chicken turtle
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Chicken turtle in Virginia, where only around 30 adults are thought to remain
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See also
In Spanish: Deirochelys reticularia para niños
