Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,487
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Nessy
May 20, 2009 19:12:56 GMT -5
Post by Sabre52 on May 20, 2009 19:12:56 GMT -5
Howdy folks, Well, down here at the ranch one of my wife's favorite evening pastimes is going down to the creek to feed her pet geese. We hadn't been doing this long when we discovered the local turtles enjoy feeding time as much as the geese and come to devour as much food as they can get. The coolest turtle to show up at feeding time is "Nessy" a very prehistoric looking Guadalupe Spiny Softshell Turtle. These are large beasts and Nessy, being female is about 18" nose to tail with a shell about 14" or so long. Actually, they don't have a true shell with bony scutes but rather a leather covered, flat, very streamlined covering. Their legs and feet are heavily webbed due to the almost fully aquatic nature of the species, they swim very fast and are pretty savage. One strange feature is they actually have lips which hide nasty jaws and a long snorkle like snout. Overall, charmingly grotesque and fun to watch. Nessy almost climbs into your lap for a tasty treat of kitty kibble. Anyway, had the camera with me tonight so I snapped a few pics. Thanks for looking.....Mel Nessy making her approach: Profile paddling: OK, where's my dern food? Uh oh, competition: Sometimes it's good to have big floppy lips!
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Nessy
May 20, 2009 19:22:29 GMT -5
Post by stonesthatrock on May 20, 2009 19:22:29 GMT -5
mel that is so neat. its always fun to see what mel national geographic is going to bring us next. stay turned folks................. lol
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bushmanbilly
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2008
Posts: 4,719
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Nessy
May 20, 2009 19:35:06 GMT -5
Post by bushmanbilly on May 20, 2009 19:35:06 GMT -5
Great stuff Mel. Nothing like having a living fossil as a pet
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Nessy
May 20, 2009 19:37:32 GMT -5
Post by Bejewelme on May 20, 2009 19:37:32 GMT -5
Mel: Now that is sweet, I love them!!! Amber
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Nessy
May 21, 2009 8:29:33 GMT -5
Post by texaswoodie on May 21, 2009 8:29:33 GMT -5
Them is good eatin' Mel.
Curt
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Nessy
May 21, 2009 8:47:45 GMT -5
Post by sitnwrap on May 21, 2009 8:47:45 GMT -5
I love seeing the animals you come across during your walks. Nessy is so cool looking.
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Nessy
May 21, 2009 9:03:28 GMT -5
Post by Titania on May 21, 2009 9:03:28 GMT -5
Nessy is a really cool girl! I wonder how old she is.
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Nessy
May 21, 2009 10:41:25 GMT -5
Post by MyNewHobby on May 21, 2009 10:41:25 GMT -5
Now that is really cool!!!
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,487
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Nessy
May 21, 2009 13:22:31 GMT -5
Post by Sabre52 on May 21, 2009 13:22:31 GMT -5
*LOL* Curt, I swear the hardest thing to get used to about Texas is what you natives don't eat, ya run over with your truck. Or heck, sometimes y'all eat what ya run over with your truck. Being the son of a taxidermist, I've had my fill of wild food. I like my meat packaged in plastic, not it's skin *L*. Besides, turtles are excellent intermediate host for liver flukes. I like my food parasite free too.....Mel
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onewomanarmy
has rocks in the head
Carpe Silicis!
Member since January 2007
Posts: 645
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Nessy
May 21, 2009 15:50:48 GMT -5
Post by onewomanarmy on May 21, 2009 15:50:48 GMT -5
Oh wow - I'd hate to be wading through a creek and cross her path. Does anyone remember Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom? I used to love that show and always thought it would be so cool to actually know Marlin Perkins (I think that was his name). Now I feel like I almost do when I see Mel's posts about his Wild Kingdom. ;D Mel, I think you need to come up with a theme song or something!
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Nessy
May 22, 2009 9:02:31 GMT -5
Post by texaswoodie on May 22, 2009 9:02:31 GMT -5
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,487
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Nessy
May 22, 2009 13:39:42 GMT -5
Post by Sabre52 on May 22, 2009 13:39:42 GMT -5
Curt: Oh neat! Armadillos can carry leprosy. What a yummy treat. Want to make sure that well done for sure *L*....Mel
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Nessy
May 23, 2009 12:04:43 GMT -5
Post by texaswoodie on May 23, 2009 12:04:43 GMT -5
Mel, That ain't your regular old armadillo. That was run over by an 18 wheeler on Hwy 42 and was sun ripened before it was packaged.
Curt
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