Creature from the Algae Lagoon

[yourlibrarian]

Spotted a long dark shape in the lake and figured it was a fish coming up, as they sometimes do in hot weather. No idea what this is but reminds me of those blobfish.

Comments

[xerimorph]

A snapping turtle! Very cool, I've never seen one in the wild.

[yourlibrarian]

That was the general consensus at Pillowfort too, though the body seems rather elongated. We also have never seen a snapping turtle around the lake and surely they come out sometimes?

[xerimorph]

Hmm, I don't know much about their habits on land. That second picture did make me doubt, but it seems they can extend their necks quite a bit: example 1 example 2

I could be totally wrong of course, just my best guess!

[yourlibrarian]

That's very stretched out alright!

[scytale]

Omg, that's so exciting! (Especially if it's a snapping turtle - I read a book about them recently but have never got to see one in person)

[yourlibrarian]

Given how long we've lived here it's remarkable that we keep having new sightings!

[redsixwing]

Oh coooool!

[yourlibrarian]

It was very unexpected!

[pauraque]

I agree with snapping turtle. We do get them here and they look just like this with their necks stretched out!

[yourlibrarian]

The crowdsource vote is in 🙂

[twistedchick]

Definitely a snapping turtle. Depending on the type of snapper, the shell can be arched so it has a little at the surface of the water and a great deal more underneath -- and they swim with their tails stretched out also.

[yourlibrarian]

I've changed the tag accordingly 🙂

[weird]

They’re lovely! So shiny!

[yourlibrarian]

Surprisingly so

[zenigotchas]

Turtles are such cuties oh my gosh

[yourlibrarian]

It's been a while since we had a turtle post!

[shirebound]

What a marvelous creature sighting.

[yourlibrarian]

I keep wondering where it's been hiding all this time and how it got here.

[adafrog]

Cool.

[yourlibrarian]

and unexpected!

[turlough]

What a cool sighting! I would never have guessed it was a turtle, but then we don't have them here in Sweden.

[yourlibrarian]

Oh interesting! Though I guess it makes sense as it's not a welcoming climate for reptiles.