Homeowners have been known to have gardens on rooftops.  Some turtles had that idea long before people put out those plant pots.

Some green algae have found a turtle’s outer shell, its carapace, is just fine for living and staying wet most of the time.  The alga is an epiphyte; it probably gets no nutrients directly from the turtle, but just hangs out, reproduces, and grows there.  It is impossible for the turtle to reach around and feed on the greens.

Those algae who are not floaters, like these on a snapper’s back, have special holding cells to keep them attached.  Algae have no roots, only plants have that organ.

Described as a turtle with a temper and long tail, followed by its common name, snapping turtle, tells us most things we need to know to respect this aquatic organism with an algal garden on its back.

The snapping turtle is our heaviest and largest turtle, with a carapace (outer shell) up to 16 inches long.  The tail is equally long in most individuals.

Slow or quiet waters in ponds, lakes and backwaters are where we find snappers, unless they are crossing a road to lay their eggs in early summer.