Preferred body temperatures in five nearctic freshwater turtles: A preliminary study

Abstract

1. 1. The preferred body temperature of five freshwater turtle species was determined in a thermal gradient. 2. 2. There was no significant difference between the mean preferred temperatures (MPTs) of Pseudemys rubriventris, Clemmys insculpta, and Graptemys geographica. 3. 3. The MPT of Trachemys scripta elegans was significantly higher ( P < 0.05) than the MPT of Emydoidea blandingi and both were significantly lower ( P < 0.05) than the MPTs of the other three species. 4. 4. No intraspecific or interspecific correlation between body wt and MPT was found.