Map Turtles

Northern Map turtle basking against deep shadow, Snake Island, Toronto Islands

Sidelight Stretch

A northern map turtle basks on the feet of the Snake island bridge.

Map turtle covered in poplar fluff, Doughnut Island, Toronto Islands

Fluff Camouflage

Apparently we’re not the only ones cursed with poplar fluff.  Even map turtles basking in the Doughnut Island environs are susceptible.

Northern Map Turtle, Snug Harbour, Toronto Islands

Map Coordinates

The distinctive shell of a northern map turtle, basking on a log in Snug Harbour.


Northern map turtle, Snug Harbour, Toronto Islands

Map Time

2013 was a very good year for map turtles, their numbers have increased significantly.  Here a tiny turtle, about four inches long, basks on a log in Snug Harbour.

Baby and adult northern map turtles, Doughnut Island, Toronto Islands

Size Differential

Northern map turtles show the size differential between young and old, basking on a log near Doughnut Island.  The 2011 season was a great one for map turtles.

Baby map turtle, Snake Island, Toronto Islands

Pagoda Baby

A baby map turtle, only about four inches long, basks on a log off of Snake Island.


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