Lingering effects of rainstorms two days ago still oblige Llano Estacado reptilians to traverse the prairie in search of sustenance. It’s been a thrill to share several mornings with an unexpectedly fleet-footed and feisty Ornate Box Turtle. I’ve dubbed him The Hulk. This twelve to thirteen-year-old mature male has a greenish head and claws. The moderate early autumn temperatures suit this ectotherm’s foraging activities. He is an omnivore.
Cooper and I cannot resist interrupting the terrapin’s daylight forays. We have the same inquisitive nature. The Hulk’s first reaction is to slip back into the safety of his armored mobile home--his fortified castle--and raise the hinged plastron (lower shell). He is as curious as we are and plays peek-a-boo to gauge the threat level. I persist in coaxing him into action. I scratch at his carapace (upper shell) and he emerges. Forget the image of a short-legged, lumbering land turtle. The Hulk displays astonishing agility in navigating the matted prairie straw. He responds with short hisses and snaps his rigid beak in defiance of every attempt to lift him off the ground. His red eyes glare with irritation and annoyance at our unwelcome intrusion--he sees red.
I snap a few images and we part ways.
© Ilija Lukić 2011
Cooper and I cannot resist interrupting the terrapin’s daylight forays. We have the same inquisitive nature. The Hulk’s first reaction is to slip back into the safety of his armored mobile home--his fortified castle--and raise the hinged plastron (lower shell). He is as curious as we are and plays peek-a-boo to gauge the threat level. I persist in coaxing him into action. I scratch at his carapace (upper shell) and he emerges. Forget the image of a short-legged, lumbering land turtle. The Hulk displays astonishing agility in navigating the matted prairie straw. He responds with short hisses and snaps his rigid beak in defiance of every attempt to lift him off the ground. His red eyes glare with irritation and annoyance at our unwelcome intrusion--he sees red.
I snap a few images and we part ways.
© Ilija Lukić 2011
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| The Hulk |
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| Seeing Red |
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| Surfing The Sea Of Straw |
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| Welcome To My World |
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| Defensive Tuck |
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| Ornate Peek-A-Boo |
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| Let's Rock-N-Roll |
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| Terrapene Ornata Ornata |
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| Life In The Fast Lane |
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| Combat Crawl |
Fantastic pictures of T. ornata! I'd like to ask permission to use one of them on our website rgttc.info. Could you contact me at colinbarnett88@gmail.com. Thank you.
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