. Bulletin. Natural history; Natural history. 1 132 Illinois Natural History Survey Bulletin Vol. 28, Art. 1 Table 34.—Ontogenetic variation in carapace proportions of Illinois Emydoidea blandingi. Figures in parentheses are numbers of specimens. Carapace Length (mm.) Charactkristic Under 40(6) 40-100(3) 100-200(8) Over 200(3) Range Mean Range Mean Range Mean Range Mean Width as percentage o\ length Height as percentage of length of each carapace shield, and the entire chin i
. Bulletin. Natural history; Natural history. 1 132 Illinois Natural History Survey Bulletin Vol. 28, Art. 1 Table 34.—Ontogenetic variation in carapace proportions of Illinois Emydoidea blandingi. Figures in parentheses are numbers of specimens. Carapace Length (mm.) Charactkristic Under 40(6) 40-100(3) 100-200(8) Over 200(3) Range Mean Range Mean Range Mean Range Mean Width as percentage o\ length Height as percentage of length of each carapace shield, and the entire chin is light. The chin color encroaches onto the ventral side of the neck in the form of vermi- form markings. The keel is less evident than in hatchlings, and the tail is relatively shorter. Ontogenetic changes in shell pro- portions are given in table 34. No geographic variation has been dis- cerned for this turtle in Illinois. Individual variation, particularly in the size and dis- tinctness of the light spots on the carapace, is pronounced. In general, older specimens are more distinctly spotted than young; some young adults are shiny black, except for the light spots, which are reduced in number as well as in intensity. Occasional large examples are almost entirely black beneath. The top of the head in some indi- viduals is dark, except for small or large yellow spots, or it may be yellow-brown, re- ticulated with black. Habits.—Blanding's turtle is reportedly terrestrial as well as aquatic. In Illinois it appears to be largely aquatic; most of the individuals found on land have been mi- grating from one body of water to another. This turtle is shy and it shows no inclination to bite when handled. It is a swift swimmer. It takes both plant and animal food. Copulation in the turtle has been observed on October 15 and on November 17. Cahn (1937) found that the number of eggs laid by a single female ranged from 6 to 10 and that the leathery-shelled eggs averaged X mm
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