The Rouge River Project
Bringing the river back to life!
Additional InformationPhylum: Chordata Turtles are the oldest living group of reptiles, dating back to the time of the earliest dinosaurs. The Box Turtle is a rather small turtle with a length of 5 inches in the upper shell. The male of the species has bright red or pink eyes, and the female usually has dark red, yellow or brown eyes. The back of this turtle is high and arched, with an overall height of 2 1/4 inches, with a blunt middle ridge. The overall appearance of the box turtle is uniformly dark brown or black with yellow spots and streaks. The range of the Box Turtle extends from the eastern United States from Maine to Georgia, west to Tennessee and western Illinois and northward to central Michigan, with related species extending the range farther west and south. These turtles are generally found in open brush-covered country, often remaining for years in relatively restricted areas. The female Box Turtle produces between three and eight eggs, similar to hen's eggs with thin, flexible, white shells. The eggs are laid in a cavity in the ground and hatch in 3 months. The young have yellow underparts and it takes 5 years for the shell to reach 5 inches at full maturity. These turtles can live up to 40 years. The food of the Box Turtle consists of plant material, worms, slugs, snails, and insects. These animals are protected by their shells, which close so tightly that a pencil cannot be forced between the shells to reach the soft tissue. They will hibernate in soft soil below the frost line, often reaching down two feet. These turtles may also take cover in mud in very hot weather. Information adapted from: Palmer, E. Laurence and H. Seymour Fowler. A Fieldbook of Natural History.@ Second Edition. New York: McGraw-Hill, Inc., 1995. Phylum: Chordata Turtles are found throughout most of the temperate and tropical world. Turtles are the oldest living group of reptiles, dating back to the time of the earliest dinosaurs. The snapping turtle is one of the larger species of turtle and can reach lengths up to 3 feet. The female of the species is considered the larger of the two, and has a vent near the end of the tail which the male lacks. The upper shell of this turtle reaches 1 foot in length, whereas the lower the shell is only 8 inches in length and does not cover the legs, neck and tail. These turtles can reach weights up to 86 pounds. The range of the Snapping Turtle extends from eastern North America to southern Canada to the Gulf of Mexico, and west to the Rocky Mountains. This species can also range from tributaries of the Mississippi River and south to Ecuador. They generally live in slow rivers, shallow ponds, and mud-bottomed lakes. This turtle does not sun itself on a log like most turtles. The reproductive period for the Snapping Turtle ranges from April to October. The female leaves the water to dig a nest on shore where she will deposit 24-30 spherical, white, thin parchment- like hard shelled eggs. The young hatch in 90 days, or depending on when the eggs were deposited, may over winter and hatch in the spring. These turtles may live more than 25 years. The food of the Snapping Turtle varies greatly with the conditions in which it lives. Usually they eat large animal matter, but they will also eat plant material. They seek food both in the day and at night. These turtles generally move very slowly, but they can attack with lightening speed. If bothered, they can severely injure a human and are dangerous to be kept as a pet. During the winter this turtle will hibernate in the mud under water. Information adapted from: Palmer, E. Laurence and H. Seymour Fowler. A Fieldbook of Natural History.@ Second Edition. New York: McGraw-Hill, Inc., 1995. Phylum: Chordata Opossums have been on the earth for around 70-80 million years, which makes them one of the earth's oldest living mammals. It is also the only North American marsupial. Opossums are about the size of a house cat and can reach lengths up to 40 inches, with a 15-20 inch ratlike prehensile tail. Their weight ranges from 4-14 pounds. Their general appearance is furry grayish-white, with large dark eyes that are very conspicuous on their white face. The ears of this marsupial are naked and it has black feet, with five toes on each foot that make a starlike track. Some interesting features of this marsupial include a hind toe that is opposable and the females have brood pouches where they raise their young. These marsupials are common in wooded areas where they can establish dens in hollow trees and where food is conveniently found. The opossum is found from New York west to Iowa, south through central Mexico, and along the coast of middle Florida and southern New England. This animal has also been introduced on the coast of Washington, Oregon, and California where it has been well established. The female can produce up to 20 young, which are born 12-13 days after mating. Each of the young are smaller than a honeybee and the entire litter may be held in a teaspoon. After the young are born, they make their way to the brood pouch and attach themselves to 1 of 13 teats. Those that are unsuccessful die. At 4 weeks, the young will stick their heads out of the pouch, and at 5 weeks they may leave the pouch temporarily. Finally at 8 weeks old, they leave the pouch and fend for themselves. Opossums can begin to reproduce at one year old and produce one or two litters yearly. The life span of the Opossum can reach 8 years, however they usually only live 1-2 years. Opossums will eat anything organic, but their favorite foods include eggs and persimmons. Opossums clean up our neighborhoods and help our gardens by eating snails, slugs, insects, snakes, rats, carrion and overripe fruit. These animals can climb trees very easily with the help of the tail and feet. They are usually active throughout the year but mostly at night. Opossums are relatively harmless to man, in fact, they are highly resistant to diseases such as rabies. They may threaten to fight if they are cornered, but they are more likely to "play 'possum" when they are in extreme danger. This coma-like state can last up to four hours, during which time the opossum will become stiff, drool, and have extremely slow, shallow breathing. Most predators will give up the attack, believing the opossum to be dead. Information adapted from: Palmer, E. Laurence and H. Seymour Fowler. A Fieldbook of Natural History.@ Second Edition. New York: McGraw-Hill, Inc., 1995. Phylum: Chordata The eastern Cottontail Rabbit is a wild rabbit. It's general appearance is grayish brown, however all of the underparts including the tail are white. These rabbits can reach lengths of 17 inches with a 2 inch fluffy tail. Their ears are long, anywhere from 2 1/2 -3 inches. Their hind legs are long and powerful that aid them in jumping and running. Both the males and females as well as the young are colored alike, except that the young are more yellowish-brown and have shorter ears. The Cottontail Rabbit can be found east of the Dakotas, Colorado, and Central Texas. Their range can also extend to Central America and northern South America. They will live in both rural and urban areas, in heavy brush, woods and fields. They dig burrows called warrens to live in and will use their droppings to mark their territory. These rabbits, like most others, are promiscuous in mating. They breed several times a year. The mother will make the nest and produce 1-12 young which are born 30 days after breeding. At first the young are naked and helpless and will nurse for about two weeks. By two weeks old they run from the nest. A single cottontail rabbit can bring up to 35 offspring into the world each year, and they can live up to 8 years. The food of the Cottontail Rabbit consists of a variety of plants including herbs, tree bark and vegetables. They shed their fur from May to June and again in September and October. When threatened, they will remain perfectly motionless for periods up to 15 minutes to avoid being eaten by a dog, fox, or birds of prey. Information adapted from: Palmer, E. Laurence and H. Seymour Fowler. A Fieldbook of Natural History.@ Second Edition. New York: McGraw-Hill, Inc., 1995. Phylum: Chordata The Woodchuck is a species of Marmot. This large rodent can reach lengths up to 27 inches, including a 6 inch tail. The female is smaller and lighter and reaches about 22 inches in length. They have a heavy set body that can weigh between 5 and 12 pounds. Their bodies are covered with coarse, grayish brown hair which can sometimes be reddish or black. The male and female of this species are colored alike, but the young are paler than the adults. The Woodchuck can be found throughout most of Canada and the Northeastern United Sates. They generally live in open farming country but can also be found in woods and sometimes up trees, usually where it is dry. Reproduction occurs in the early spring immediately after hibernating. The female produces between 2 and 8 young which are born 31-32 days after mating. The young are blind, helpless and only about 4 inches long. There growth is rapid and the young can crawl at 3 weeks and take solid food at 4 weeks. At five weeks old the young play and then stop nursing. They are sexually mature at one year old. Woodchucks feed almost exclusively on plants, although food such as insects, mice and birds may be eaten occasionally. They are active mostly during the day, but sometimes at night as well. The Woodchuck or more commonly known as Groundhog hibernates during the winter months. According to superstition, the groundhog leaves its burrow on February 2, Groundhog Day, and returns underground for six weeks if it sees its shadow, indicating six more weeks of winter. Information adapted from: Palmer, E. Laurence and H. Seymour Fowler. A Fieldbook of Natural History.@ Second Edition. New York: McGraw-Hill, Inc., 1995. |
Last Updated: 8/31/01 Please address all comments and suggestions about the contents of this Web page to rougeweb@co.wayne.mi.us. The Rouge River National Wet Weather Demonstration Project is funded, in part, by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Grants #XP995743-01, -02, -03, -04, -05, -06, -08 and C-264000-01. |
