Figure 1 – Snapping Turtle laying eggs, Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge, Maynard, MA, (c) DE Wolf 2016.

Now we get into the question of where in the tree of life does consciousness begin? I cannot offer a complete answer. Subjectively, reptilian eyes seem a bit vacant. But I can share this photograph that I took at the Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge in Maynard, MA in the spring of 2016. This snapper was laying eggs and quite single minded about the task. I stood as close as I dared and took this image as she stared back at me. Not the most comfortable of positions for the nature photographer. But note the bug on her nose, the aftermath of excavating.

The obvious point has to be that given the turtle’s occupation it was most certainly a female and as a result answers directly Ogden Nash’s question.

“The turtle lives ‘twixt plated decks
Which practically conceal its sex.
I think it clever of the turtle
In such a fix to be so fertile.”