A Key to the Eggs and Nests of Iowa Turtles

Authors

James L. Christiansen, Drake UniversityFollow
Jeffrey R. Parmelee, Simpson College

Document Type

Research

Keywords

turtles, turtle nests, turtle eggs, turtle natural history, nest predation, key

Abstract

Biologists often need to identify destroyed turtle nests where a predator has excavated and eaten the eggs. We present a dichotomous key to the eggs and nests of Iowa's turtles based on egg or nest morphology and known range of the species. Egg and nest morphology clearly separated most nests of the families Chelydridae and Kinosternidae and many of the Emydidae. However, egg morphology must be combined with known range to distinguish wood turtles (Glyptemys insculpta) from other emydids. These factors will also separate most false map turtles (Graptemys pseudogeographica) from other species. Similarities among egg morphologies, nest morphologies, and ranges make the map turtles (Graptemys spp.) and red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta) difficult to separate in southeastern Iowa.

Publication Date

September-December 2003

Journal Title

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science

Volume

110

Issue

3-4

First Page

44

Last Page

50

Copyright

© Copyright 2003 by the Iowa Academy of Science, Inc

Language

EN

File Format

application/pdf

Recommended Citation

Christiansen, James L. and Parmelee, Jeffrey R. (2003) "A Key to the Eggs and Nests of Iowa Turtles," Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS, 110(3-4), 44-50.
Available at: https://scholarworks.uni.edu/jias/vol110/iss3/5