July 3, 2015
(This is part of a 365 project
during my 70th years where I write and illustrate a blog on each
day’s gift.)
Today I was
driving out of my neighborhood when I saw something in the
road. I stopped, backed up and got out of the car to find that it was a box
turtle trying to cross the street. It has been many years since I’ve seen a turtle meandering about
although, at the Downs Park pond, I frequently see resident giant snapping
turtles poke their heads up to the surface in search of food. These snapping
turtles like to live in muddy water and are not especially attractive.
On the other
hand, box turtles like this one have beautiful patterns on their shells. Unlike their
cousins, they can pull their legs and heads entirely into their shell. I was
concerned that the turtle I saw might be crushed by a car on the busy street. I
reached to pick it up and it retreated into its shell with a hiss. I have never
heard a turtle hiss and at first thought it was an aggressive action and
quickly put it down in some nearby grass.
Upon further
research, I discovered that turtles cannot hiss because they do not have vocal
cords. What sounds like a hiss happens when the turtle is frightened and
retreats into its shell, quickly expelling air to make room for its head and
legs. It has no control over the sound—it’s just the physics of air
displacement as its body retreats inside. I learn something new every day.
My gift today is turtle-inspired
trivia.
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You can find links to my other posts on this project here:
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