Put an ear out the back window.
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There's a sound coming from the pond or the woods that might remind you of a broken train whistle,
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or the quiet whisper of two leaves having a quarrel over who will pay the bill,
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or it may sound to you like something that isn't a sound at all,
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like the texture of ants on a log or the blinding taste of sunlight on the hood of a truck.
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Following are some of the most familiar and some of the rarest songs heard from a great variety of North American turtles:
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Eastern Fighting Turtle.
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The aggressive snarl of the Eastern Fighting Turtle can carry for up to 5 miles across still water.
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Even this is not a safe distance away, for this turtle is a very fast swimmer and will attack without provocation.
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Tudlow.
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On a summer evening, the song of the Tudlow can be heard; its characteristic gasping is both a mating call and a cry for help.
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The number of gasps follows the Fibonacci sequence, often reaching as high as 55 or 89 gasps before the animal loses consciousness.
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Downy Tortuga.
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The song of the Downy Tortuga can be easily recognized, for it seems to be repeating the word unclean. Unclean.
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Zombie Turtle.
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The beautiful call of the Zombie Turtle is said to hypnotize her mate for up to an hour.
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Human listeners are likewise entranced, often forgetting responsibilities and losing muscular control.
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Mudflail.
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The Mudflail is identifiable both by its song and by the strong odor that emanates from its shell,
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which is in a constant state of decomposition.
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Its soft and rancid body is both a weakness and a natural protection against predators.
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Turtle Songs Of North America
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| They Might Be Giants |
