Eastern Mud Turtle

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Eastern Mud Turtle

March 15, 2020 by Mike Powell

On Friday I spotted this small turtle as it was crossing one of the trails at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. It is not a species that I see very often, but I think it is an Eastern Mud Turtle (Kinosternon subrubrum) Appropriately enough its back half appears to be covered in mud.

I generally think of turtles as being slow-moving, but this one was scrambling so quickly across the trail that it was a challenge to keep in within the camera’s viewfinder after I had zoomed in all the way with my telephoto lens. In case you are curious, Eastern Mud Turtles are only about four inches in length (10 cm).

Posted in Nature, Photography, Reptiles, spring, turtle, Winter | Tagged Canon 50D, Eastern Mud Turtle, Kinosternon subrubrum, Kinosternon subrubrum subrubrum, mud turtle, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Southeastern Mud Turtle, Tamron 150-600mm, Woodbridge VA | 7 Comments

7 Responses

on March 15, 2020 at 9:01 am | Reply Ted Jennings - TPJ Photography

Not sure I have ever seen one. Thanks.
on March 15, 2020 at 9:21 am | Reply shoreacres

It’s amazing how quickly these critters can move. I passed one on a boardwalk last year, then thought to myself, “I need a photo of that.” By the time I’d retraced my steps — perhaps fifteen feet — that guy was gone. I never could have imagined it.
on March 15, 2020 at 10:09 am | Reply Jet Eliot

Thanks for introducing me to this unique creature, Mike…gives me a smile to know a turtle can go fast.
- on March 15, 2020 at 11:04 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Jet. Speed is relative, I guess, depending on what you are trying to do. 🙂
on March 15, 2020 at 11:15 am | Reply dianaed14

Like all the detail
on March 15, 2020 at 7:59 pm | Reply Eliza Waters

Another cutie! Must be their breeding season.
on March 16, 2020 at 4:24 am | Reply carylbeach

Great images.Thanks for sharing.