Turtles, belonging to the anapsid subclass, constitute the most deviant branch of reptiles. They have developed a kind of passive defense organ - a bone shell in which the torso is enclosed. The upper shield of this shell, called the carapace, is formed by bony plates of skin origin, with which the expanded spinous processes of the vertebrae and ribs usually merge. The carapace plates are always arranged in a certain order: in the middle there is a longitudinal spinal row, on its sides there is a paired lateral row, and the entire carapace is surrounded by numerous marginal ones. records . The lower shield, or plastron, consists of four paired bone plates and one unpaired one, wedged between the anterior pair. The unpaired plate is homologous to the episternum, the anterior pair to the clavicles, and the rest, apparently, to the abdominal ribs. Both the carapace and the plastron are covered on top with horny scutes (in one group - soft skin), the boundaries of which usually do not correspond to the boundaries of the bone plates, which helps strengthen the shell. Shoulder girdle formed by only two bones - the scapula and the coracoid. The scapula with its dorsal end is connected by means of a ligament to the inner surface of the carapace and is equipped with a large abdominal process, which, like the coracoid, ends freely. The pelvis, like that of crocodiles, is pierced by the obturator foramen magnum. The limbs have a typical structure. In contrast to the fixed body section, the caudal and cervical sections are very mobile, and the cervical vertebrae are distinguished by the different structure of their articular surfaces: the anterior ones are opisthocoelous, the posterior ones are procoelous, and between them lies a vertebra, both surfaces of which are convex.
There are a number of transitions from forms with a poorly developed secondary palate to forms in which it is well developed. There is no parietal foramen. The jaws are devoid of teeth and covered with horny sheaths. The tongue is fleshy. The esophagus gradually passes into a thick-walled stomach, which is sharply separated from the intestine itself. The cloaca opening is round or in the form of a longitudinal slit. Large lungs, like those of crocodiles, have a complex spongy structure. Due to the immobility of the chest, the act of breathing is performed in turtles by pumping air through the bottom of the oral cavity (convergent similarity with amphibians), but, in addition, the shoulder and pelvic muscles take part in this act: when the limbs are retracted, the lungs are emptied, when extended, they expand and filled with air. U water groups There are also additional respiratory organs in the form of pharyngeal ridges or two anal bladders. In the genitals, the unpaired copulatory organ of the male, which has a structure similar to the copulatory organ of crocodiles, deserves special attention.
All turtles have exceptional resilience, both in terms of surviving wounds and in terms of starvation. For example, there are cases when these animals lived for years without any food. Most turtles hibernate during favorable times of the year. They reproduce by laying eggs, which usually have a hard calcareous shell, less often a parchment-like shell.
According to their way of life, turtles are divided into 2 ecological groups, which only partly correspond to the systematic ones: firstly, land-dwelling, slow-moving, predominantly herbivorous, and secondly, aquatic, mobile, predominantly predators. Modern turtles, of which there are about 330 species, are grouped into 4 suborders: 1) sea turtles, 2) soft-skinned turtles, 3) cryptonecked turtles, 4) side-necked turtles.
Suborder sea turtles. Inhabits tropical seas. The front paws are very large and flipper-shaped. The body is flattened, so that the head and limbs cannot be retracted under the shell. The bony base of the carapace is greatly reduced, and only a ring remains of the plastron, and numerous lateral openings are formed in the carapace. Excellent swimmers, capable of diving to depths of up to 150-200 m, with the front legs serving as the main organs of movement, hind legs act as a steering wheel. Sea turtles feed on fish, mollusks, and crustaceans. To breed, they come to the sandy shores of sparsely populated islands, where they lay several hundred eggs. Some types like bissa, have long been mined for the horny plates of the shell, and soup turtle, reaching a weight of 450 kg, is eaten.
Suborder soft-skinned turtles. They live in freshwater basins of Africa, North America and Southeast Asia. One type - Chinese turtle found here in the Ussuri region. Representatives of the suborder differ from other turtles in that their bony shell is covered not with horny scutes, but with soft skin. The muzzle is elongated into a long, movable proboscis. The bony shell of these turtles, like those of sea turtles, is greatly reduced, but what remains of the plastron is not a ring, but a bridge widened in the center. The organs of movement in water are not so much the front legs as the hind legs, equipped with membranes. Turtles dive well, move quickly along the bottom and are able to stay under water for several hours. This is facilitated by additional respiratory organs in the form of special glands in the pharynx, rich in capillary blood vessels. They feed on mollusks, crustaceans and fish. Several dozen eggs are laid in the sand on the shore of a reservoir. They are hunted everywhere for their meat.
Suborder of cryptonecked turtles. They are characterized by the fact that when the head is pulled under the shell, the neck bends S-shaped in the vertical plane. These are the most numerous, widespread, diverse in structure and biology of turtles; only available in Australia. Among the cryptonecked turtles there are both terrestrial and aquatic forms.
Land turtles, which include ours Central Asian And Caucasian, elephant turtle Galapagos and many other species are herbivorous. They have a particularly strongly developed shell, which allows them to feed all day without the threat of being attacked by predators. Adult land turtles have almost no enemies, which determines their longevity. Relatively small Central Asian turtles live up to 20-25 years in the wild; Caucasian - 35-40 years, and very large elephants, reaching a weight of 200 kg - up to 100 years or more. Turtles that live in deserts, like our Central Asian turtles, when the vegetation burns out, fall into summer hibernation, which can go directly into winter. In the spring, turtles lay eggs in the sand among a few dozen, usually in two or three clutches. After 2-2.5 months of development, soft-shelled turtles hatch from the eggs. Being defenseless, they do not appear on the surface of the earth for a long time; In our species, young turtles usually come to the surface only next spring.
Aquatic turtles, which include swamp turtle, living in the steppe zone of the European part of Russia, Crimea, the Caucasus, and Caspian turtle stay along the banks of water bodies. They swim and dive well, finding refuge in the water at the slightest danger. Turtles feed on aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates, amphibians and fish. The Caspian turtle, in addition, eats juicy aquatic plants. On the banks of reservoirs they lay 2-3 dozen eggs in the soil. During the winter they hide at the bottom of reservoirs, where they hibernate.
Suborder side-necked turtles. They are characterized by the fact that, retracting the neck, they bend it in a horizontal plane, and the head is placed on the side between the plastron and the carapace. They are distributed only in southern hemisphere: Australia, South Africa and South America. Both externally and biologically similar to aquatic and semi-aquatic cryptonecked turtles. The most famous of them Arrau, forming large clusters on the shallows of the Amazon and Orinoco rivers. Millions of these turtle eggs are collected by local residents.
A common representative of the reptile class is marsh turtle. The body length of this creature is from 12 to 35 cm, weight is about one and a half kilograms or a little less.
As seen in photo,swamp turtles it is not difficult to distinguish from relatives by the structure of the rounded, low shell, connected on the sides to the lower part of the body by elastic ligaments; as well as by the absence of a beak on the reptile’s muzzle and the following external signs:
- the color of the shell can be black, brown or olive;
- leather covered yellow spots, It has green tint;
- pupil orange or yellow eyes usually dark;
- their legs with swimming membranes and long claws;
- the tail, which acts as a rudder when moving through water, is quite long.
Representatives of the genus of marsh turtles are distributed throughout Europe; they can be found in the Middle East, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, the Caucasus, as well as in the northwestern regions of Africa.
They inhabit forests, forest-steppes and mountainous areas, trying to settle close to bodies of water, they live not only in swamps, as the name suggests, but in rivers, streams, canals and ponds.
Character and lifestyle of the marsh turtle
These animals, belonging to the freshwater family, are active during the day and sleep at the bottom of reservoirs at night. They feel great in aquatic environment, where they can stay for about two days.
But they also feel great on land, so the marsh turtle can be found on large lawns, where these cold-blooded animals love to bask in the sun, thus feeding their body with energy.
The bog turtle feels great both in water and on land
They try to find other suitable places for sunbathing, often using driftwood and stones protruding from the water. Reptiles tend to move closer to the sun even on cloudy days, cool days, despite the sky covered with clouds, trying to catch the ones breaking through the clouds, Sun rays.
But when the slightest danger arises, the reptiles immediately flop into the water and hide in its depths among the underwater vegetation. The enemies of these creatures can be predatory animals and.
Also, they often do not have to expect anything good from humans, and in some eastern countries it is customary to eat them, which causes significant damage to the numbers of the swamp turtle genus.
The sense of smell and vision of such reptiles is well developed. Moving on the ground quite quickly, they swim beautifully and quickly, and strong limbs help them in their movements in the water.
The paws of swamp turtles are equipped with large claws, which gives them the ability to easily burrow into a layer of leaves or muddy soil. In the wild, these reptiles hibernate in cold weather. This usually occurs in early November and continues until the end of April.
Considered quite rare, marsh turtles ended up in Krasnaya. And although the total number of such animals is quite stable, they have completely disappeared from some habitat areas where they were previously found.
Types of marsh turtles
A prominent representative of this genus is considered European marsh turtle. She is the owner of a smooth carapace, which has a round or oval shape.
Its color can be greenish-yellow or black with a pattern, dotted with various combinations of rays and lines, as well as white or yellow spots. When wet, the shell changes color as it dries, from shiny in the sun to gradually becoming matte.
The turtle's head is pointed and large, and its skin and paws are dark, dotted with spots. The reptiles weigh about one and a half kilograms and reach approximately 35 cm in size. Moreover, the largest individuals live in Russia.
European marsh turtles are divided into 13 subspecies with different habitats. Individuals differ in appearance, size, color and some other parameters.
Pictured is a European marsh turtle
In Russia, where five subspecies of such reptiles are common, black turtles are mainly found, and individuals with a greenish-yellow shell live under the hot sun of Sicily.
The genus of reptiles described includes another species - the American marsh turtle, which has a carapace 25-27 cm long. The main background of the shell is dark olive, and small light spots are clearly visible on it.
Representatives of the fauna of this species have significant similarities with European marsh turtles in appearance and behavior. For a long time These two types of animals were considered by scientists to be of the same type, but a deeper study of genetics and the structure of the internal skeleton led to the identification of significant differences in these reptiles, which gave reason to now consider them separate species of marsh turtles.
Care and maintenance of a marsh turtle at home
These reptiles are often kept as pets in their own homes. You can easily buy them or catch them yourself in their habitats, for which summer ones are very suitable warm months.
Domestic swamp turtles are usually smaller in size than individuals living in wildlife. Their unpretentiousness allows anyone, even the most inexperienced owners, to keep them and even have offspring from their pets.
Swamp turtle at home unable to fully live without sunlight. That is why it is quite possible to let adult healthy individuals go for a walk in the courtyard of their own dacha in warm summer weather, especially if there is a small artificial pond there.
In the photo there is a baby marsh turtle
Such reptiles can be kept in pairs, but care behind swamp turtle requires the presence of an aquarium with a volume of at least one hundred liters, as well as a heating place illuminated by an ultraviolet lamp, which heats the environment to 30 °C and provides the animals with a twelve-hour daylight hours.
Living at home, swamp turtles do not hibernate, and animal owners should know this and not worry about this. To the disadvantages keeping a swamp turtle refers to her immense aggressiveness. Reptiles are pugnacious to such an extent that they are capable of injuring each other and even biting off their tails.
They are no friendlier to other pets, not tolerating rivals in the house, especially when it comes to fighting for food. They are capable of being cunning and can, if not carefully, be dangerous to small children. However, turtles are quite smart and reward those who feed them with gratitude.
The photo shows a marsh turtle in a home aquarium
Swamp turtle nutrition
The lifespan of such reptiles remains largely a mystery to scientists, and so far there is no consensus on this matter. But, like all representatives of the turtle genus, they are long-livers. Experts usually give a figure of 30-50 years, but some biologists believe that marsh turtles, in in some cases, can live up to 100 years.
Many animals live in glass containers: turtles, fish, lizards and crustaceans. Home terrariums usually contain a terrestrial species of turtles, from which freshwater and land animals emerge.
Reptiles with webbed swimming limbs. Most aquatic turtle species inhabit bodies of water with low water movement. Mobile carnivorous reptiles, but herbivorous species are also found.
red-eared
Brown-green turtle. Also called . Lives in shallow ponds in Mexico, South and Central America and Africa. It got its name because of the red spots in the ear area; there are species with bright yellow spots. There are rich green stripes on the head and paws. Young individuals are less intensely colored than mature ones. Carapace ( top part shell) females up to 30 cm, males up to 15 cm, have claws. The diet of young individuals is dominated by animal food. Sedentary and non-conflict pets.
Trionix Chinese or Far Eastern
Turtles up to 20 cm in size with a soft leathery shell. The nose is oblong in the form of a trunk. These three-toed inhabitants of Asian reservoirs are very active and aggressive. They can injure a person with sharp plates located on their jaws. To keep these predators at home, a newborn individual is purchased. entered the Red Book and is prohibited for sale. It is caught by smugglers and supplied to stores.
Caspian
Omnivorous turtles with a flat oval shell up to 30 cm in length. The color consists of alternating yellow and green stripes. Individuals love salty or fresh water with a temperature of 18–22 degrees and a large number of vegetation near the reservoir. Found in Southern Europe and Central Asia. In nature, they climb high into the mountains. They live for 30 years. In this species of freshwater turtle, sexual differences are clearly visible: the tail of males is more powerful and longer, the carapace is concave.
Silt loggerhead
Aquarium turtles with a small shell up to 18 cm and a disproportionately large body. Though harmless in appearance, reptiles are capable of injuring with their false teeth. Come from Northern and South America. They live in shallow streams and swamps with abundant vegetation. A container of 60–100 liters is suitable for keeping at home. They feed on animal food and dry food.
European marsh
Dark green turtles up to 35 cm. The body is covered with light spots. Big and a long tail, webbed feet and sharp claws. Reptiles live near lakes and ponds. listed in the Red Book. Kept at an air temperature of about 30 degrees.
Types of small
According to scientific classification, small turtles are considered freshwater species, the average size of which does not exceed 13 cm. A terrarium with a capacity of 100 liters is suitable for pets.
Three-keel
Small reptiles up to 13 cm. Color from reddish-brown to black, carapace with three keels. Easy to care for, an aquarium up to 100 liters is suitable. They inhabit the countries of South Asia and lead a completely land-based lifestyle in forests. They are omnivores, eat fruits and vegetables, and are not averse to eating fish. In some countries they are prohibited for home keeping.
musky
Turtles get their name from the musk glands under their shells. The length of the oval carapace is 7–13 cm. There are light inclusions on the dark head and carapace. Young turtles are distinguished by three longitudinal ridges on the carapace, which disappear over the years. They feed on mollusks, insects, and small fish. Range: Canada to South America. IN natural environment are reservoir nurses. Turtles swim well; the terrarium should have an island and a pond.
Spotted
Amphibious pets up to 12 cm in length. The carapace is black, without projections. Light yellow spots are evenly distributed on the shell, head and limbs. There are also color variations with orange and reddish splashes. They live at room temperature. For convenience, place shelters in a glass container and aquatic plants in a pond. The turtle is diurnal. Diet type: insectivores. Juveniles feed exclusively on animal food. Plants are rarely eaten. In nature, they live in marshy and damp areas.
Pond Reeves
A turtle with a shell length of 13 cm. The carapace is colored brown. There are olive, gray-green and black body colors, with yellow stripes. Females are lighter than males and have a shorter tail. Temperatures not lower than 22 degrees are allowed. It is known that turtles can survive freezing temperatures.
Closing
Domestic turtles are endowed with a peculiarity: in case of danger, the gap between the plastron and the carapace closes. The genus of closures consists of species:
- reddish mud turtle;
- mud red-cheeked;
- mud walleye;
- musk common;
- musky keel.
Flat
The carapace of these 9-centimeter turtles is slightly extended forward and has a slight convexity. Color ranges from olive to brown depending on the breed. The forelimbs have scales and 4 or 5 toes. The muzzle is oblong. Females are larger than males. Carnivorous species, eats fish, mice and shrimp.
Types of land
Central Asian
Popular home view pets At home, they grow up to 10–18 cm. Turtles have a light shell with dark scutes and four-fingered limbs. Once a week you can have a swim. They do not like to be disturbed; they prefer peace and regularity. Provide animals with air at 30 degrees and sandy soil in which they can dig.
Star or Indian
Beautiful pets with unusual shape shell. The scutes are convex, slightly pointed, with a striking star pattern. The shell is dark, the pattern is yellow. The turtles are medium in size, females reach 25 cm, males - 15 cm. The varieties living in Sri Lanka and South India have 5-7 rays in color. Individuals from northern India have 7–9 thin “star” rays. They eat plant foods.
Mediterranean
Color and maintenance preferences differ among subspecies. The color can be plain or dark with yellow splashes. The front legs of domestic turtles have 5 toes, and the hind legs have spurs. There is a bump of horny tissue on the back of the thigh. Sizes up to 35 cm.
Egyptian
The shell size reaches 12 cm, females are smaller than males. The shell is sand-colored with black spots. They are whimsical in their contents and susceptible to diseases. Herbivores, in nature they feed on plants of the genus Artemisia. Calcium and D3 are added to the diet. The opportunity to determine sex in this species is available at 15 years of age. They are kept in groups of their own species in a spacious tank.
Balkan
The shell size is up to 20 cm. In external features it resembles a Mediterranean turtle. The shell is light brown with a dark pattern. Over the years, the color fades to yellowish-gray. The tail has a horny tip. They feed on peas, beans, clover and fruits. Supplement the diet with slugs and snails. Mobile pets are especially active in the warm season.
Conclusion
Some species of domestic turtles are small in size and also relatively unpretentious. Even for such animals you will need a spacious and long aquaterrarium, UV lamp and a water filter. Take a responsible approach to keeping your pet turtle, and then it will delight you with the opportunity to observe it for a long time.
Turtles are very ancient creatures. To some extent, they are descendants of some species of dinosaurs.
There are a huge variety of turtles. They are divided into species, subspecies, orders, suborders. Many are already extinct, and some are on the verge of extinction. Some turtles can be kept in the house, but some are simply not meant for this.
Today we will try to understand all the diversity and types of turtles.
There are a huge variety of turtle species. In total there are more than 328 species, which are included in 14 families.
The tortoise order consists of two suborders, divided by the way the animal retracts its head into its shell:
- Hidden-necked turtles, folding their necks in the form Latin letter"S"
- Side-necked turtles with their head tucked toward one of their front legs
This is the simplest division. I will not give an official division into all types and subspecies here. For this we can read Wikipedia. The purpose of this article is not to confuse you, but to give the most convenient and simple classification. Therefore, we will divide turtles by habitat.
According to the habitat of turtles, there is the following classification:
- Sea turtles (live in seas and oceans)
- Terrestrial turtles (live on land or in fresh water)
In turn, terrestrial turtles last for:
- Land turtles
- Fresh aquatic turtles
Types of sea turtles
Sea turtles are inhabitants of salt waters. Unlike their earthly relatives they differ large size. They live in warm tropical waters, practically never visiting cold latitudes.
Sea turtles have remained virtually unchanged for millions of years since they appeared on the planet. They are characterized by developed forelimbs, used as flippers, and hind legs that are almost not involved in movement. Also, in sea turtles, the limbs cannot be retracted into the shell. Moreover, some species, such as the leatherback turtle, have no shell at all.
Despite the popular belief that turtles are slow animals, this is only the case on land, where they really look clumsy. However, in the water they are transformed, becoming examples of speed and superior navigator qualities. Even in Fiji (a state in Pacific Ocean) sea turtle is the symbol of the maritime department. This is no accident - nature really rewarded these animals with qualities that allowed them to become excellent swimmers.
In addition, scientists have not fully figured out why, but turtles have amazing navigational abilities:
- Firstly, they accurately determine the place of their birth, and return exactly there to continue their offspring. And even after many years they remember the place of their birth.
- Secondly, sea turtles undergo enormous migrations, presumably guided by magnetic field Earth, which prevents them from getting lost.
- And thirdly, some sea turtles, for example, the Ridley turtle, gather to lay eggs in the sand only on one day a year. Scientists suggest that only those individuals that were born in this particular place and were lucky enough to survive gather on the beach. Locals call this day "invasion" when thousands of turtles emerge from the water. This behavior suggests a collective consciousness among turtles.
When the turtle lays her eggs, she very carefully buries the eggs with sand, compacts it, and makes it invisible. Looking at such care for the eggs, it is difficult to imagine that the mother turtle does not experience any maternal feelings, and having done her job, returns to the ocean without waiting for the eggs to hatch.
The hatched turtle will likely live less than 10 minutes. Having got out of the sand, she rushes to the water, on the way to which she is waiting for great amount enemies, especially birds of prey. But even after reaching water, most of them will be eaten sea predators. Only one in a hundred turtles born will reach adulthood and return to this beach to continue their lineage.
Based on materials from: inokean.ru
The most famous representatives sea turtles:
- Leatherback turtle
- Green (soup sea turtle)
- Loggerhead sea turtle (false carriage turtle)
- Hawksbill sea turtle (true caretta)
- ridley (olive turtle)
Types of land turtles
Terrestrial turtles make up the largest large group by the number of species included in it. This includes the land turtle family, which has 37 species, as well as the two largest families of freshwater turtles (85 species).
Ditto land turtles There are many families, including 1-2 species.
Spread throughout the roast and temperate zone(except Australia). Swamp turtles live in the steppe zone of Russia and the Caucasus.
Includes 5–7 species inhabiting the Mediterranean, the Balkan Peninsula, the Caucasus, Asia Minor and Central Asia.
Terrestrial turtles are herbivores. This is one of the few examples of the development of only plant foods among turtles. Serves them as food green grass and vegetation, with which they receive the necessary portion of water. In the habitats of many species, food and water are available only for short periods.
In such places turtles most They spend their lives in hibernation. Thanks to this slow metabolism, the life expectancy of turtles is very long, up to 100 - 150 years.
The most famous representatives of land turtles:
- Galapagos elephant tortoise
- Elastic turtle
- Steppe tortoise
- Elephant turtle
- Wood turtle
Types of land turtles
Land turtles, like freshwater turtles, belong to the species of terrestrial turtles.
Let's start with the land ones - a family of turtles with 11-13 genera, including about forty species.
Land animals with a high, less often flattened, shell, with thick columnar legs. The toes are fused together, and only the short claws remain free. The head and legs are covered with scutes and scales.
Among land turtles there are both small species, about 12 cm long, and giant ones, up to a meter or more in length. Gigantic species live only on a few islands (Galapagos, Seychelles, etc.). Specimens are known that have reached about 400 kg of live weight in captivity.
Compared to freshwater turtles, land turtles are very slow and clumsy, so in case of danger they do not try to escape, but hide in their shells. Another method of protection used by many land turtles- sudden emptying of a very capacious Bladder. When in danger, the Central Asian turtle hisses like a viper.
They are distinguished by phenomenal vitality and longevity. Life expectancy different types ranges from 50 to 100 years, sometimes up to 150.
Land turtles are primarily herbivores, but their diet must include a certain amount of animal food. They can go for a very long time without water and food, and in the presence of succulent vegetation they do not need water at all, but they drink it willingly, especially in the heat.
The most popular are the Central Asian and Mediterranean turtles. It's better to take a young turtle. This can be easily determined by the size of the shell (it is small) and behavior (reaction, better in young turtles).
Based on materials from: so-sha.narod.ru
The most famous representatives of land turtles:
- Panther turtle
- Yellow-footed turtle
- Yellow-headed turtle
- Red footed turtle
- Radiant turtle
- Steppe (Central Asian) turtle
- Mediterranean (Caucasian, Greek)
Types of freshwater turtles
Freshwater turtles are the largest family of turtles, comprising 31 genera and 85 species. These are small and medium-sized animals, the shell of which in most cases is low and has a rounded oval streamlined shape.
Their limbs are usually swimming, have more or less developed membranes and are armed with sharp claws. The head is covered on top with smooth skin, only sometimes there are small shields on the back of the head. Many species have very bright, beautiful colors of the head and legs, and often the shell.
The family is distributed unusually widely - in Asia, Europe, North Africa, North and South America. There are two main nodes in their geography. Main, most ancient center lies in Southeast Asia, where more than 20 genera are concentrated; the second center apparently formed later in eastern North America, where 8 genera of freshwater turtles are found.
Most species are aquatic inhabitants, inhabiting bodies of water with weak currents. They move deftly both in water and on land, and feed on a variety of animal and plant foods. Only a few species switched to living on land for the second time, which affected their appearance and behavior. Although carnivory is characteristic of aquatic turtles, some species are strict vegetarians.
Just like land animals, they should be kept in terrariums, but only in special ones. You need a heated lamp, a “bank” where the turtle should go out to warm up, and actual water.
Trionix is a representative of the family, soft shell turtles.
It inhabits the Amur basin within Russia (which is the extreme northern limit of its range) almost from the mouth and south to the western part of Primorye, Eastern China, North Korea, Japan, as well as Hainan Island, Taiwan. Introduced to Hawaii.
Lives in fresh water bodies. Most active at dusk and at night. During the day it often basks on the shore. In case of danger, it instantly disappears into the water, burying itself in the bottom silt. It feeds on fish, amphibians, insects, mollusks and worms.
Also very popular red-eared turtles. Representatives of the genus can be found south of North America, South and Central Europe, South Africa, South-East Asia.
The turtle got its name from the two elongated bright red spots behind its eyes. This spot may be bright yellow in the Cumberland turtle subspecies or yellow in the yellow-bellied turtle subspecies. The plastron is oval, usually dark in color with yellow lines and a yellow edging around the edge.
The most famous representatives of freshwater turtles:
- Side-necked turtle
Unofficial division of turtles
These divisions are not included in the official ones, but I believe that it is worth dividing them according to these criteria to make your choice easier.
Types of pet turtles
Here again we will divide for convenience into land and freshwater turtles.
Land pet turtles
The most common type of turtle. Those turtles that we are used to seeing among our friends, acquaintances, and relatives. Moves slowly and a little awkwardly, waddling.
By the way, it is officially listed in the Red Book and prohibited for sale. But, as we see, most pet stores circumvent this ban.
In nature, it lives in the southern, warm regions, in the agricultural and desert areas of Central Asia. The sizes are medium, the shell is 20-30 centimeters long, yellow-brown in color with dark zones on the scutes. The limbs have four fingers.
The most comfortable temperature for keeping in a terrarium is 24-30 degrees. However, being in closed space has a detrimental effect on the health and psychological state of the animal, and it dies early. Not in vain Central Asian turtle placed in the Red Book!
This breed has about 20 subspecies, living in various landscapes and climatic zones. Basically it's North Africa, southern Europe and South-West Asia, the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus, Dagestan, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan.
Accordingly, it loves warmth and sunlight. Depending on the subspecies, it has different sizes and the color of the shell. The dimensions of the shell reach up to 35 centimeters. Color – brown-yellow with dark splashes. On the back of the thighs there is a horny tubercle. There are 5 toes on the front paws, and spurs on the hind paws. Comfortable temperature for keeping in an aquarium – 25-30 degrees.
Externally similar to Mediterranean turtles, but much less. The dimensions of the shell are 15-20 centimeters (according to some sources – 30 centimeters). The color of the shell is yellow-brown with black spots. At a young age it is bright, but fades over the years.
A characteristic feature of this species is the conical spike at the end of the tail. Individuals living in the west are smaller than individuals living in the east.
In general, this species lives in Southern Europe, along the Mediterranean coast: northeastern Spain, the European part of Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, the Balearic Islands, Corsica, the Ligurian and Tyrrhenian coasts of Italy, Sardinia, Sicily, as well as the Greek islands. Comfortable temperature for keeping in a terrarium is 26-32 degrees.
These turtles are very small. Their shell size is only about 12 centimeters. Yellow in color, shields with a dark border. There are no spurs on the hind legs.
Habitat: Mediterranean coast of Israel, Egypt, Libya. If you decide to get such a turtle, then remember that the temperature in the terrarium should be about 24-30 degrees. Feature behavior of the Egyptian tortoise - like an ostrich, it quickly buries itself in the sand when danger approaches.
Freshwater pet turtles
The most common species of freshwater turtles, which can be found in terrariums and aquariums of urban residents. It includes approximately 15 subspecies and belongs to the genus of decorated (lined, painted) turtles. They call her that because she is the main one distinctive feature– a red spot near the ears (yellow in some subspecies).
The shell is 18-30 centimeters long. In youth it has a bright green shell color, which darkens with age. There are bright green stripes on the head and limbs. Males differ from females in their larger and more massive tail and nail plate.
In nature they live in the USA (Virginia, Florida, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico), Mexico and Central American countries and Caribbean, in South America (Colombia, Venezuela).
Can also be found in Australia, South Africa, Arizona, Guadeloupe, Israel, Spain, and Great Britain. Lives in lakes and ponds with marshy shores. Leads a sedentary and lazy lifestyle. For comfortable living in your terrarium, maintain the water temperature 22-28 degrees, air temperature – 30-32 degrees.
There are 13 subspecies of the European marsh turtle. Their carapace is low, convex, and smooth. They reach a length of up to 35 centimeters and a weight of up to one and a half kilograms.
The carapace is dark green or dark olive in color, the plastron is light. Small spots on the head, neck, shell and paws (yellow specks). The claws on the paws are quite large, and there are membranes between the toes. In adult turtles, the length of the tail is up to ¾ the size of the shell, and in small turtles it is even longer!
You can meet the European marsh turtle in Russia (Crimea, Yaroslavl region, Smolensk, Bryansk, Tula, Oryol, Belgorod, Lipetsk, Voronezh, Samara, Saratov region, upper Don, Mari El Republic, Trans-Urals, central and southern regions), Belarus, Lithuania, Ukraine, Central and Southern Europe, the Caucasus, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Asia, Turkey, northern Iran and northwest Africa.
In its natural habitat it prefers ponds and lakes with muddy bottoms. Activity occurs during the daytime. The water temperature in the terrarium is 22-25 degrees, the air temperature is 30. The species is listed in the Red Book.
Reaches a total length of up to 30 centimeters (25 centimeters of which is the shell). The carapace is flat, oval, brown-green in color with yellow stripes. There are also stripes on the paws and on the head. You can distinguish a male from a female by the tail (in females it is shorter and thinner), and by the concave carapace of the male.
Caspian turtles live in southern Europe(Montenegro, Croatia, Albania, Macedonia, Greece, Bulgaria, Cyprus), Western Asia, in the north-west of the Arabian Peninsula (Lebanon, Israel, Saudi Arabia), in the Caucasus, Turkmenistan, Iran, Iraq.
In nature, it settles in bodies of water, both fresh and brackish water, near which there is coastal vegetation. And these turtles can climb mountains to heights of up to 1800 meters above sea level and live up to 30 years! In captivity, the air temperature in the terrarium is 30-32 degrees, the water temperature is 18-22 degrees.
Chinese trionix (Far Eastern tortoise). There are exceptions to any rule. Chinese Trionix is proof of this. We are all used to seeing turtles with a classic hard shell. U Chinese Trionix he's soft.
The dimensions of the shell reach 20 centimeters, it is soft, leathery, without any scutes. Green color. But this is not all that can surprise an unprepared person in this unique representative squad of turtles.
They have three toes on their paws. On the face instead of a nose there is a proboscis. And if you pass by some pond somewhere in China and see such a proboscis sticking out of the water, you know that this is a Trionix turtle sticking out to get a fresh portion of oxygen.
Despite all their vulnerability and cuteness, the jaws of the Chinese trionyx have sharp cutting edges with which they grab their prey.
The amazing qualities of this turtle also include its speed of movement and reaction. This is not your classic turtle, barely moving around the house.
It is dangerous for humans due to its nature: Trionics turtles are quite aggressive, bite painfully and are rarely tamed. Unless they are raised in captivity from a young age. You can meet Trionix in China, Vietnam, Korea, Japan, on the islands of Hainan and Taiwan, in Russian Far East, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Hawaiian and Mariana Islands, Micronesia.
They prefer to live in rivers with weak currents, lakes and canals. In eastern countries - China, Japan, Korea - it is highly valued for its meat and served as a delicacy. In captivity, the water temperature in the terrarium should reach 26 degrees, the air temperature - 30-32.
Based on materials from: gerbils.ru
Types of aquarium turtles
You can look at aquarium turtles in a photo or in their natural form in a store, and choose a pet based on your aesthetic preferences. Big differences in content different breeds There are no such amphibians.
Types of aquarium turtles that are most often found in aquaterrariums:
- Swamp turtle
- Long-necked turtle
- Mud turtle
The last one is the smallest. An adult reaches only 10 centimeters. Accordingly, she will need a comparatively smaller home. The rest grow 2-3 times larger at home. All these amphibians have good eyesight, react to movement, and distinguish smells and tastes. At the same time, turtles are somewhat deaf, their ears are covered with folds of skin.
Keeping turtles in aquariums
When thinking about how to care for aquarium turtles, you should consider that they need both water and dry land to live a full life. Well, it’s not for nothing that biologists called them amphibians! Minimum dimensions The aquaterratio should be 160 centimeters long, 60 centimeters wide and 80 centimeters high. For a musk turtle, these dimensions can be halved.
Caring for an aquarium turtle will require the arrangement of three zones: a pond, land and “shallow water”. Dry land should occupy up to a third of the area of the aquaterrarium. Cute amphibians climb onto it to warm themselves. The shallow water area (depth 3-4 centimeters) may be quite small, but it is definitely necessary. Turtles use it for thermoregulation.
Based on materials from: akvarym.com
Types of small turtles
The little turtle will the perfect pet for those who are short on time.
Little turtles are very popular exotic pets. All over the world, millions of people choose these cute, funny animals that do not require complex care and maintenance as pets.
Advantages of small turtles over other pets
The little turtle is ideal for both small city apartments and spacious private houses. Small, leisurely, requiring virtually no care and very unusual in appearance, turtles will become loyal friends to both restless children and calm elderly people.
If you don’t have the time or desire to walk your dog three times a day in any weather, brush your cat every week, or spend a whole day every month cleaning an aquarium with fish, purchasing a turtle would be an ideal option.
For small turtles, a 100-liter aquarium or a terrarium prepared with your own hands from a large box or old suitcase (if the turtle is an amphibian) is quite enough.
Which turtles are small
Small turtles include species of turtles that do not grow in length by more than 12-13 cm. Turtles with a body length exceeding 13-15 cm are considered large and require more complex care and maintenance conditions. There are several species of small turtles.
Flat-bodied (flat) turtles. The body length of representatives of this species varies between 6-8.5 cm, weight reaches 100-170 g. Such miniature sizes allow the turtle to feel comfortable in a small aquarium, and the fact that these turtles feed mainly on small succulents (plants containing a lot of moisture), makes caring for them very simple.
Locking turtles. Locked turtles live naturally in parts of Africa, as well as in Mexico and the United States. There are four subspecies of reclusive turtles. Yellow snapback turtles and Sonoran snapback turtles typically grow to 7.5-13 cm. Striped snapback turtles and reddish mud turtles reach 7.5-11 cm.
Musk turtles. Another type of small turtles that can be kept at home. Adults reach a maximum length of 15 cm. The genus of musk turtles has four species. The keeled musk turtle reaches 7.5-15 cm in length. The common musk turtle and the small musk turtle grow to 7.5-12.5 cm. Sternotherus depressus is 7.5-11 cm long.
Spotted turtles. This is a semi-aquatic species of turtles reaching 7.5-13 cm in length. Since this turtle is a semi-terrestrial animal, in addition to a small water aquarium, a dry aquarium or terrarium is perfect for it.
Chinese three-keeled turtles. The average body length of representatives of this species of turtle is 13 cm. The three-keeled turtle is an excellent choice for people who are purchasing a turtle for the first time, as it is a very calm and unpretentious animal.
Small turtles do not require large expenses for their maintenance, do not need any special care and do not take up much space in the apartment - a small 100-150-liter aquarium will be quite enough for them.
Despite the enormous popularity of these small exotic animals as pets, keeping them in captivity is illegal in some countries.
Based on materials from: vitaportal.ru
Endangered turtle species
At the moment, there are several species of turtles that are either extinct or on the verge of extinction.
Galapagos tortoise or elephant tortoise. By the early 20th century, more than 200,000 Galapagos tortoises had been exterminated. Almost all natural habitats were also destroyed. elephant turtles.
This is due to the fact that agriculture began to actively develop and places were needed for raising livestock. Many types of livestock were also introduced, which competed with turtles for food.
Since the early 20th century, much effort has been made to restore the elephant turtle population. Captive-bred turtles were released into their natural habitats. Today the number of such turtles is more than 20,000 individuals.
Leatherback turtle. About 30 years ago, there were more than 117 thousand females of such turtles. Now their number has decreased to about 25 thousand.
This is due to the fact that leatherback turtles feed on jellyfish and dive very deep for them. greater depth. In their natural habitats, water bodies are heavily clogged and turtles very often swallow various debris and die from this.
Swamp turtle. Sole representative turtles in Belarus. Females are distinguished by larger body sizes and a comparatively thinner tail at the base.
Protected in many European countries. The species is listed in the Red Books of Belarus and many other CIS countries.
The decline in turtle numbers in Belarus is associated with the transformation and reduction in the area of natural habitats that followed the changes natural landscapes and drainage of wetlands.
Far Eastern turtle. In most of its habitat, the Far Eastern tortoise is normal look. But in Russia, this rare view, whose numbers are rapidly declining in this part of its range.
This is due to the fact that the Far Eastern tortoise is one of the main edible species turtles. Therefore, many poachers catch, kill and sell them. Local residents also destroy the nests and take away the eggs of Far Eastern turtles.
Poisonous turtles
Along with pet turtles, there are some species that can cause irreparable harm to your health.
Leatherback turtle. The leatherback turtle is the largest of all turtles, sometimes reaching over 2.5 meters in length. These 2,000-pound omnivores are arguably the widest-growing vertebrates on Earth, but their populations are declining every year due to industrial development, pollution and being caught as bycatch.
These turtles are usually quite gentle giants, however if disturbed they can bite and their bite can break bones as they are very strong and powerful. In one strange case, a huge leatherback turtle, likely weighing more than 680 kilograms, directed its aggression towards the small boat and rammed it. Shortly before, the turtle was being chased by a shark, so it considered the boat a potential threat.
Fringed turtle (mata-mata). The Amazon of South America is famous for its incredible and sometimes creepy creatures. In the same river with piranhas and river dolphins lives a bizarre fringed turtle.
What will happen if a person steps on a fringed turtle is unknown, but this strange river reptile has an elongated, snake-like neck and a strange mouth, which contains two sharp plates that resemble human teeth fused together. This uniquely creepy carnivore's lunch menu includes waterbirds, fish and other reptiles.
We can only imagine what will happen to a person who reaches out from the boat to touch the strange lump visible from the water...
Big-headed turtle. The big-headed turtle is a bizarre-looking creature with a long, snake-like tail that is almost as long as its body. This turtle is endemic to Southeast Asia, where it hunts a variety of prey in rivers.
The large head does not retract into the shell, and is equipped with very powerful jaws. If a turtle feels threatened, it will not hesitate to use its beak, which can crush bones, so it is better to keep your distance from them. Incredibly, this creature, living in Asia, is able to climb trees, where it can sit like a bird. Unfortunately this amazing creature is endangered due to poaching, which must be constantly combated.
Soft-bodied turtles. Looking like flat human-reptile hybrids from alien horror films, soft-bodied turtles compensate for their lack of shell by greatly strong bite. Among the many species of soft-shelled turtles from around the world, the most feared is the large Cantor's soft-shelled turtle, endemic to China.
She hides in the sand, waiting for prey, and then jumps out and bites the prey. sharp teeth. Huge size turtle and the force of its bite can cause horrific injuries. However, this species is unfortunately currently endangered. However, more common species of softshell turtles, such as the evil trionix, can be found throughout the world and are quite capable of biting an unwary fisherman.
Based on materials: bugaga.ru
I hope you received today Full description what types of turtles there are. We figured out all their diversity and have already planned a pet for the future. Well, I say goodbye to you.
Kawabanga, friends!
Turtles are one of the most amazing views reptiles, as they are perhaps the longest-living animals on Earth. Some representatives of this reptile species can live more than 200 years. In nature, there are 2 types, 14 families, which include 328 species and 124 subspecies.
Turtles live on all continents except Antarctica, and also in warm seas and oceans. This reptile species is famous for its longevity, slow movements and thick shell.
The vast majority of turtle species are herbivores.
Depending on the species, the shell may have different shape, but always performs the same function - protects tender body turtles from attacks. In case of danger, the animal hides its head and legs, almost completely hiding inside its armor, which prevents the enemy from attacking again.
With their tough shells, turtles are considered one of the most protected animals that exist today. They also have massive paws ending in claws on the toes.
One of the most famous species of tortoises is the Galapagos tortoise. Even 200 years ago, the waters around the picturesque islands were teeming with the famous giant turtles. Today, due to uncontrolled human activity, this reptile species is endangered.
Turtles appeared on Earth about 255 million years ago.
The largest turtles whose remains have been discovered date back to the Late Cretaceous. This is an Archelon sea turtle, which lived in North America, and whose skeleton was about 4.5 meters in length.
The span of the front legs was approximately 5.25 m, and the body weight was more than 2.2 tons. This is slightly less than that of Stupendemys geographicus turtles, which belong to the pelojedusa turtle family. The fossilized remains of a representative of this reptile species were found in Venezuela. These giants lived on the territory of a South American river about three million years ago. Presumably, they could be up to 3 meters in length and weigh about 2 tons.
The giant Aldabra tortoise is one of the largest in the world Did you know that turtles:
- are the only vertebrates in the world with an external skeleton;
- This is a cold-blooded species of reptile;
- according to reliable data Galapagos giant turtles from the Seychelles could live 200 years or more;
- The largest species, the leatherback turtle, is close to extinction. It can reach up to 2 m in length and weigh more than 1 ton;
- the speed of movement depends on the ambient temperature;
- at marine species paws in the form of flippers;
- land species move with maximum speed 3 mph;
- have no teeth, but instead have sharp horny stripes on the edge of the jaw;
- May 23 is World Turtle Day.
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