Painted Turtle

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Turtles are omnivores, which eat both plants and animals. They cannot move their tongues, so they are incapable of swallowing their food when not in the water.

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Turtles are cold-blooded animals, so they cannot control their body temperature internally. They raise their body temperature by basking in the sun to absorb warmth and vital UV rays. Heat is then radiated to their bodies from their shells. They often stretch out their legs to collect additional heat. The Painted Turtle is the turtle species seen most frequently at Mill Creek Park, usually basking in the sun on a log or boulder.

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Painted turtles can be legally taken in Iowa with a valid fishing license. Frequently, they are harvested to be eaten.

Painted Turtle - The Animal Facts - Appearance, Diet, Habiat, Behavior(opens in new tab)
Everyone's Favorite Turtles! - YouTube(opens in new tab)
Painted turtle on a rock with yellow striped legs and colored shell.
Painted Turtles on branch in lake

Resources:

1 and 3: https://www.iowadnr.gov/About-DNR/DNR-News-Releases/ArticleID/66/6-Things-You-Might-not-Know-About-Iowas-Turtles

2:  https://crewtrust.org/wild-file-qa-why-do-turtles-spread-their-legs-and-feet-out-when-they-rest-on-logs/#:~:text=A%3A%20Turtles%20are%20cold%2Dblooded,legs%20to%20collect%20additional%20heat

3: https://eatdelights.com/turtle-taste/

4. Top pic, Timmy the Turtle at the Prairie Heritage Center.