# turtle sunbathing ontop of another

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turtle-sunbathing-ontop-of-another/236860>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 28, 2004, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turtle-sunbathing-ontop-of-another/236860 "2004-03-28T03:54:40Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![paul\_smars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3be4f8/32.png) [@paul\_smars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paul_smars)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2004, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turtle-sunbathing-ontop-of-another/236860/21 "2004-03-29T16:56:34Z")

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> [@lissener](#):
>
> They instintively climb higher; doing so consistently ensures they’ll always get the most sun available.
> 
> There’s no such thing as a turtle with a solid, one=piece carapace. What you probably saw was a Painted turtle ([_Chrysemys picta_](http://www.pcs.k12.va.us/vtrail/pb-2.jpg)), whose scutes are pretty well flush and can seem like a single smooth piece from a distance; and a Red-Eared Slider ([_Trachemys scripta_](http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/wildlife/Images/reps_herps/redear.jpg)), whose scutes can appear more distinct.
> 
> Depending on where you were, of course; those are the two most common terrapins in the US.

oops, I should have said looks like one piece. Central West cost Florida.

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**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2004, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turtle-sunbathing-ontop-of-another/236860/22 "2004-03-29T18:03:10Z")

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No one has addressed the, to me, obvious bit of weirdness here: Why does the larger turtle TOLERATE a small turtle climbing on top of it? I see why the small turtle goes where it does, but why does the large turtle allow it?

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**Author:** ![paul\_smars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3be4f8/32.png) [@paul\_smars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paul_smars)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2004, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turtle-sunbathing-ontop-of-another/236860/23 "2004-03-29T18:11:27Z")

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> [@toadspittle](#):
>
> … I see why the small turtle goes where it does…

Why?

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**Author:** ![netscape\_6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/8c91f0/32.png) [@netscape\_6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/netscape_6)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2004, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turtle-sunbathing-ontop-of-another/236860/24 "2004-03-29T19:17:58Z")

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> [@toadspittle](#):
>
> No one has addressed the, to me, obvious bit of weirdness here: Why does the larger turtle TOLERATE a small turtle climbing on top of it? I see why the small turtle goes where it does, but why does the large turtle allow it?

The larger one probaly does notice it’s there. I don’t think they have much feeling on their shells. Also if it does notice the smaller one I bet it would more trouble then it’s worth to remove it.

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**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2004, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turtle-sunbathing-ontop-of-another/236860/25 "2004-03-29T19:35:38Z")

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> [@paul'smars](#):
>
> Why?

More sun, could care less that the other turtle’s not a rock, etc. Little turtle just climbing higher; happens to climb another turtle.

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