We (formerly Nashaway Trackers) are a group of loosely connected nature lovers who enjoy sharing our observations and discoveries about the fauna and flora of the northeastern US. Most of us are especially interested in mammal tracks and sign, but we also post about birds, insects, plants, etc.
Friday, June 7, 2013
Mystery wetland photo of a different sort
What happened here? Came upon this very interesting scene yesterday in a pond in Shirley, MA (in an old flooded cranberry bog).
The big lump to the left reminds me of a snapping turtle shell, and it looks like it is cracked. If that is what it is, it appears to be dead now, with the frog relaxing upon it. So maybe the turtle had an incident with a car but did not die until it reached water. I don't know what the smaller lump behind it is, though, so maybe dead snapper is totally wrong.
I agree that it looks like snapper. Perhaps the frog inadvertently came upon a tete-a-tete between two snappers and realizing that it was not in fact relaxing upon a sun-warmed rock, was strategizing its escape...
Just taking a second look at these photos, and am now convinced it's a single dead snapper - body on the left and heading (facing into the water) on the right. Frog must be delivering the eulogy.
I'm hoping the post author returns to tell us what was happening. If it is a single turtle, as Susan suggests, could it have been alive and lying in wait for prey? With that in mind, I ask what happened right after you took the photo. Did the turtle eat the frog?
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The big lump to the left reminds me of a snapping turtle shell, and it looks like it is cracked. If that is what it is, it appears to be dead now, with the frog relaxing upon it. So maybe the turtle had an incident with a car but did not die until it reached water. I don't know what the smaller lump behind it is, though, so maybe dead snapper is totally wrong.
ReplyDeleteI agree that it looks like snapper. Perhaps the frog inadvertently came upon a tete-a-tete between two snappers and realizing that it was not in fact relaxing upon a sun-warmed rock, was strategizing its escape...
ReplyDeleteNow I think the smaller lump is also a snapper, but not sure why both would be dead. And they must be dead or the frog would not be so casual.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteCould they be some sort of decomposing plant tubers? Not as intriguing a possibility as snapper carcasses, but...
ReplyDeleteJust taking a second look at these photos, and am now convinced it's a single dead snapper - body on the left and heading (facing into the water) on the right. Frog must be delivering the eulogy.
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping the post author returns to tell us what was happening. If it is a single turtle, as Susan suggests, could it have been alive and lying in wait for prey? With that in mind, I ask what happened right after you took the photo. Did the turtle eat the frog?
ReplyDeleteDef. dead snapper (shell & bloated neck area) with green frog perched
ReplyDeleteThat is correct TW
ReplyDelete