Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Baby Midland Smooth Softshell Turtles bury themselves in the sand, finishing with a shimmy...

…along the banks of the Great Miami River herpetologist Paul Krusling found several baby Midland Smooth Softshell turtles (Apalone mutica mutica). I videoed them burying themselves in the sand, capturing the little "shimmy" they perform when they are finished digging. When they decide it's time to go underground, they move fast...



Baby Midland Smooth Softshell turtles bury themselves in the sand. You can identify these as Midland Smooth Softshells (Apalone mutica mutica) by the dot and dash pattern that shows in the carapace.

For photos of Apalone mutica click here.
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21 comments:

  1. Carole M.November 15, 2011 at 6:47 AM

    amazing little creature; really different to any I've ever seen. Sweet video clip; thanks for sharing

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  2. Kerri FarleyNovember 15, 2011 at 6:55 AM

    Now that is soooooo cool! Love their little "shimmy" :)

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  3. Mary Howell CromerNovember 15, 2011 at 8:06 AM

    Very neat! I have a little land turtle, now 4 years old, getting ready any day now to bury itself for 4th hibernation~

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  4. RoyNovember 15, 2011 at 8:14 AM

    Heh, heh! Back in Newport I once watched a baby Snapping Turtle bury just its head; I guess it was working on the principle that if it couldn't see me then I couldn't see it.

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  5. Kathy A. JohnsonNovember 15, 2011 at 9:40 AM

    Adorable--I can't believe how quick that first one was. Great video.

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  6. TexWisGirlNovember 15, 2011 at 9:42 AM

    oh, that made me smile!

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  7. Carol MattinglyNovember 15, 2011 at 9:53 AM

    OMG! That is so amazing. They're there and then gone in a flash of a few seconds. Carol

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  8. Bob BushellNovember 15, 2011 at 11:21 AM

    A beautiful video, and, superb creature.

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  9. holdingmomentsNovember 15, 2011 at 1:46 PM

    I loved watching that video Kelly.
    They certainly move quick.

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  10. UnknownNovember 15, 2011 at 2:45 PM

    loved the video
    ... shake your booty turtles

    too cute

    - KAT -

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  11. GuyNovember 15, 2011 at 2:47 PM

    Hi Kelly

    A great post, I have really enjoyed your turtle series.

    Guy

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  12. Betsy Banks AdamsNovember 15, 2011 at 9:17 PM

    Hi Kelly, Don't think I've ever seen a softshell turtle before... Great picture/video.
    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  13. Tammie LeeNovember 15, 2011 at 11:53 PM

    that is so amazing to see! Thank you for sharing the art of turtle burrowing!

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  14. Gillian OlsonNovember 16, 2011 at 12:11 AM

    I have never seen these before, it was a real treat. Thanks.

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  15. MontanagirlNovember 16, 2011 at 12:15 AM

    That's pretty cool, Kelly. He sure can disappear into that sand in a hurry. I've never seen of these before - except on your blog! Thank you.

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  16. Judy BirminghamNovember 16, 2011 at 7:50 PM

    So much for the Tortoise and the Hare story--these little turtles are FAST!

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  17. Debbie Miller @HooootOwlNovember 16, 2011 at 8:28 PM

    Adorable!!!!!!!

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  18. CubyNovember 17, 2011 at 7:07 AM

    This is a great piece of video footage.These little fellas are so cute I have watched this twice already. Thank you.

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  19. Marco LuijkenNovember 17, 2011 at 3:52 PM

    Hello Kely,
    A very funny movie. V
    ery nice to see how this animal goes under the sand.

    Greetings, Marco

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  20. Banjo52November 19, 2011 at 9:59 PM

    The video is really fun. AND educational.

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  21. KellyNovember 21, 2011 at 12:10 AM

    ...thank you, everyone! Weren't these little smooth soft shells fun! I love watching them dig in quickly and then finish burying themselves with a shimmy!

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