We had some sun yesterday for the first time in awhile. Although the sunshine played peek-a-boo, our painted turtles were out basking in force. We had five PTs in our main pond, alone.
Basking is critical behavior for freshwater turtles. Being cold-blooded, they need to warm up to function normally and dry out and receive beneficial ultraviolet rays to prevent fungal infections. Absorbing vitamin D also helps keep them in condition, especially their shells, according to reports. Here’s one basking between two dragonflies that are also warming up on a heated rock:
Painted turtles (Chrysemys picta) have existed and presumably been basking for at least 15 million years, according to fossil records. These common natives to the United States evolved into four geographical subspecies during the last glacial age, which ended almost 12 thousand years ago. Maine’s subspecies, shown here, is the Eastern painted turtle, Chrysemys picta picta. (Images taken in Brooklin, Maine, on June 19, 2023.)