Notes on the Natural History of the Bog Turtle, Clemmys muhlenbergi (Schoepff), in Delaware

Abstract

Field work on the bog turtle,Clemmys muhlenbergi (Schoepff), was carried out in Delaware from June 1971 to February 1974. It is now known in this state from more than 44 specimens from 11 localities in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain. Populations are known to occur at 4 localities and extensive field work was carried out at 3 of these. Data on size, sex, habitat, activity, behavior, reproduction, mortality, and distribution and abundance were collected and compared with data in the literature. These comparisons indicate that its biology in Delaware is similar to that in other states. Field data on cloacal temperature are presented for the first time, and this turtle was found to be active at a body temperature ranging from 17 to 35 C. This study and the recent great interest in the bog turtle reveal it to be more widely distributed and common than was previously thought. Although probably not as numerous as other turtles in its range, it is more secretive than rare.