#Snake shell

[qoppybirdie]

it the mgs2 day

[muisley]

[theshitpostcalligrapher]

i put a snreature before you

behold him

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Abroad with the Broad Shelled Turtle

Chelodina expansa, more commonly known as the broad shelled turtle, is one of the largest freshwater turtles in Australia. The length of their shells can reach up to 50 cm (19.6 in), and their neck accounts for an additional 60-80% of their total length. Because of this length, C. expansa tucks its head in sideways as opposed to pulling it directly into its shell. At maximum, females reach a mass of 6 kg (13.2 lbs), while males only typically weigh about 4 kg (8.8 lbs). The top of the shell, or carapace, is dark brown or green, while the underside is a light cream; the same is true for the broad shelled turtle's head, neck, and legs. The feet are webbed, and have large claws which help adults to dig or fend off predators.

While they spend the winter buried in the mud, the broad shelled turtle is most active during the summer months, from November to March. During this time they are almost entirely aquatic, rarely emerging from the water even to bask. This species lives throughout the river basins of eastern Australia, and can be found in rivers, dams, lakes, and wetlands with plenty of vegetation cover. C. expansa is entirely carnivorous, feeding on crustaceans, aquatic insects, fish, and frogs via ambush, and carrion whenever it can find it. To locate prey, they have a keen sense of smell. Adults are not usually predated upon due to their thick shells and sharp claws, but eggs and juveniles are often prey for foxes, dingos, birds, rakalai, and large fish.

C. expansa nests in the winter, beginning in late February or March. Outside the mating season, individuals are generally solitary, but aggressive territoriality has not been observed. When mating time roles around, males seek out females to mate with; following the encounter, the female climbs out onto the bank and digs a nest for a clutch of anywhere from 5 to 28 eggs. To seal the nest, she then slams her body into the re-piled sand and mud, compacting it into a plug that will remain intact until the following year.

Incubation takes about 360 days, though some nests have been recorded as hatching at 500 days; this process is exceptionally slow due to the two periods of diapause, or developmental delays, that embryos pass through in order to survive the winter. Juveniles hatch in the spring, and emerge from the nest at the first heavy rain. It's unknown how long these turtles can live in the wild, but given their slow growth rate and adult invulnerability it's likely that they can live in excess of 20 years.

Conservation status: The IUCN consideres the broad shelled turtle to be Near Threatened, due primarily to habitat loss and high rates of nest predation by introduced foxes.

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Photos

Claire Treilibs

Catherine Heuzenroeder

Shanna Bignell via iNaturalist

[mushroom-the-trauma]

I'm in really bad place, so drawing my goofy beloved Hermes to distract myself and procrastinate 🫶

[katarinanavane]

Curio collection earrings! Just listed a backlog of earrings (link in bio if you want one!) Featuring doll eyes, snake bones, beetle shells, sea urchin spines, and more!

[corythesaxon]

Other pictures from snake road.

The tree had a nose.

[hitwiththetmnt]

Snaky bois what is ur reaction?

(raph was a fail I need redraw him)

Love when people make cool alt animal or species AU’s!

[coiledqueen]

Responding to a related ask, but I should mention: despite having little interest in Pokemon contests, Lucy is absolutely cracked at making Pokeblocks. She stumbled upon the 'art of blending' after learning how to evolve her Feebas into Milotic.

It helps when your city is home to the Master Rank Contest Hall, and it also helps when you're lucky enough to get a few pointers and mix-sessions in with the Blend Master himself.

She's even been known to enjoy a Green Pokeblock herself from time to time. Can't beat that bitter flavor... 💚

[sunmoontruth-stiles]

I need a completely rewritten teen wolf series with Derek Hale as the main character. I think it would heal me.

[snakeandfriends]

The boys are having a discussion What day is tomorrow? Does anyone remember?

[rururaragaga]

snake man

[tecchan]

Starting a collection

[ferronickel]

Only good purchases at the spirit halloween

[lezbiansolidsnake]

ygo panel redraws for my mgs yugioh au :o)

[katarinanavane]

Making lots of curio collection earrings lately, mostly heading for a local event but the first pair with doll eyes and jewel beetle shells is in my shop, link in bio! And feel free to message me to claim one or request a custom pair