Tolerance of hatchling painted turtles to subzero temperatures

We measured temperatures inside seven natural nests of painted turtles (Chrysemys picta) at our study site in north central Nebraska during the winter of 1987–1988. Although the lowest temperature recorded in some nests was only slightly below 0 °C, the minimum temperature measured in other nests was as low as −6.2 °C. Viable hatchlings were present in all of the nests at the end of the winter, however, which indicates that hatchling painted turtles can withstand exposure to low temperatures that would kill hatchlings of other species.