Factors affecting basking in a northern population of the common snapping turtle, Chelydra serpentina

Busking behavior was studied in an Ontario population of the common snapping turtle. Atmospheric basking was more common than previously reported in this species. The number of atmospheric-basking turtles was positively correlated with total daily solar radiation and with maximum air temperature and was negatively correlated with total daily amount of precipitation. Maximum water temperature had little influence on the number of atmospheric-basking turtles. Turtles usually basked alone on offshore logs. Mean (27.6 °C) and maximum (34.0 °C) cloacal temperatures of atmospheric-basking turtles were significantly above ambient air temperatures.