Habitat of turtles. Central Asian turtle. Does a turtle have teeth

The land animal has lived on earth for more than 210 million years. Translated from Latin, the name of the animal means clay vessel or brick. In Russian, the name has ancient Slavic roots and its meaning is “shard”.

Land turtle - description and structure

The main characteristic of turtles is their shell. Its main purpose is protection from enemies. It is so strong that it can withstand a load of 190 times the weight of the animal itself. The shell consists of parts:

• Carapace. It is divided into internal armor, which is based on bone plates, and an outer layer, represented by horny scutes. In some animals, the armor is covered with a dense layer of skin.
• The plastron is formed by ossification and fusion of the abdominal ribs, clavicle and sternum.

The animals have a medium-sized, streamlined head. These features make it possible to quickly remove it when threatened. But there are species whose heads are very voluminous, practically not fitting into the carapace. In a number of reptiles, the end of the muzzle resembles a trunk with nostrils at the end.

The eyes of animals that live on land are always directed downwards. Most often, the neck of reptiles is short, but there are species in which it is the same length as the shell.

The beak replaces teeth for turtles. This is what animals use to chop and bite off food. The surface of the beak is covered with convexities that are rough to the touch. They are the ones that replace teeth. In herbivorous reptiles, the protrusions are jagged along the edges.

Archaeologists have discovered ancient turtles. They had real teeth, which were reduced over time.

Animals have a short tongue that never sticks out. It is needed solely for swallowing food.

A tail is present in almost all representatives of the species. In times of danger, the animal hides it under its shell. Sometimes the tail ends in a spike.

Reptiles have colored vision. It helps them when searching for food. Hearing is well developed. Thanks to him, the animal hears the appearance of the enemy.

Molting is typical for turtles. In land species, it slightly affects the skin. A small amount of transparent scutes peels off from the shell.

Under unfavorable conditions: drought or frost, turtles hibernate. Its duration sometimes reaches up to six months.

Dimensions

The weight and dimensions of the animal vary depending on the species. The weight of the largest representatives sometimes reaches 890 kg, and their size is often over 2.6 meters. The smallest turtles have a mass of no more than 126 g and a length of up to 11 cm.

How long does a land turtle live?

In freedom, the reptile can live up to 200 years. But on average they live about 20-30 years.

Gender

Animals have poorly developed sexual dimorphism. Therefore, determining their identity can be extremely difficult. However, if you look closely at the behavioral characteristics and structure of reptiles, you can find out:

• the shell is elongated in the female;
• The plaston is concave in males and flat in females - this makes the mating process easier;
• The tail of males is thicker, often curved downwards;
• The cloaca in females is located closer to the end of the tail, looks like an asterisk, and in males it looks like a slit;
• boys have a V-shaped notch next to the tail;
• males are distinguished by their aggressiveness not only towards perceived rivals, but also towards females. They chase the partner, nodding their heads and biting her.

Animal Species

Based on the way reptiles climb into their shells when in danger, two suborders are distinguished:

• Side-necked. The head is hidden in the direction of one of the paws.
• Hiddencervical. The neck is folded in an S-shape.

Experts identify several varieties of turtles living on land:

• Elephant (Galapagos). The weight of the animal sometimes reaches 390 kg, length 1.8 meters. The size of reptiles depends on the climatic conditions of their habitat. In arid areas, the shell is saddle-shaped and the limbs are long. In areas with high humidity, the carapace is dome-shaped.

• Egyptian. The smallest turtle. The size of males is no more than 12 cm. Females are larger. The shell has a brownish tint. Habitat: Middle East.

• Land Central Asian tortoise. Body about 19 cm. Carapace yellow with spots, round. The forelimbs have four toes. This is the most popular type for home maintenance. The land turtle lives up to 49 years. Habitat: India, Syria, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan. Due to capture for sale, the population has practically disappeared.

• Panther. The length of the animal's shell is more than 0.8 m, weight is about 49 kg. The carapace is dome-shaped and tall. Its color is yellow-sandy. Young turtles have a clearly visible dark brown spotted pattern. As the animal grows, it disappears. Habitat: Africa.

• Speckled Cape. The smallest turtle on Earth. The size of the shell is no more than 9 cm, weight from 96 to 164 grams. Lives in Namibia and South Africa.

Turtles live everywhere. The exceptions are: Greenland, Antarctica, Arctic, New Zealand.

What does he eat in the wild? The basis of nutrition is plant foods. To maintain the required protein balance, animals eat small insects and snails. Reptiles obtain the necessary moisture from succulent plants, but if there is a source of water, they never miss the opportunity to drink it.

Representatives of box turtles eat poisonous mushrooms. This makes their meat inedible.

Reproduction in reptiles occurs at different times. It depends on the location and type of animal. But all members of the class have similar traits. For the right to fertilize a female, males enter into battle with each other. Land turtles try to turn over or force their opponent to retreat by striking them with their shells. After the competitor leaves the battlefield, the winning male begins courtship. At the same time, he tries to ensure that the female takes the best position for mating.

To attract a mate, the male strokes her face with his limbs or sings.

Females dig holes in the sand to lay eggs. They also often use crocodile nests or their own burrows. The masonry is securely covered with soil from above, and then compacted with light blows of the shell.

The surface of the eggs is covered with a leathery membrane or shell. There are up to 190 of them in the clutch. The incubation period is 91 days. The female lays several clutches during the mating season.

Turtles are solitary reptiles. They look for a mate only during the mating period.

Keeping at home

Today it is one of the most popular pets. Maintaining and caring for them takes little time. These animals are unpretentious, so even children can keep an eye on them. When choosing a pet, you should keep in mind that some species can reach very large sizes.

To create optimal living conditions for an animal, you need to purchase terrariums or aquariums equipped in a certain way. They can create a microclimate that will best suit the animal. Two thermometers are installed where the reptile will live. They are needed to control temperature. For safety reasons, alcohol devices are used.

A land turtle at home needs daily water treatments. Bath the animal in warm water. Add a small amount of baking soda to it. The procedure is needed to remove soil and food debris from the body.

A land turtle at home cannot sharpen its claws on its own. Therefore, they must be periodically shortened with a nail file.

In winter, animals lack sun. To replenish vitamin D in the body, turtles need to be irradiated with a quartz lamp. It is important to ensure that the rays from it do not reach the eyes of animals.

The domestic land turtle loves to dig holes. To make the animal feel comfortable in the terrarium, soil should be poured onto its bottom. It is better not to use sand for these purposes, as the reptile often swallows it, which can cause intestinal blockage. The soil should be moist. Only in this case will the domestic turtle be able to dig a hole for itself. Smooth, medium-sized stones should also be placed at the bottom of the terrarium. The house serves as a shelter for the animal. You can buy it at a pet store or make it yourself. There should be a container of water in the aquarium.

The domestic land turtle is a territorial animal. This should be taken into account when placing two individuals in one terrarium.

What does it eat in captivity? Experts consider the best products to be:

• dandelions;
• vegetables;
• greenery;
• snails;
• earthworms;
• grass;
• strawberry.

All food must be cut into small pieces. A turtle eats from a shallow large saucer.

Interesting facts about the land turtle

- one of the oldest inhabitants of the Earth. Their unique nature allowed them to survive in difficult conditions and preserve their identity. There are interesting facts about these animals:

• The sex of future offspring depends on the ambient temperature. If the incubation period is cool, then males hatch; if it is warm, females hatch.
• An amazing event happened at the Dnepropetrovsk museum that amazed all its employees. The exhibit eggs lay on the shelves for a long period, and in 2013 turtles hatched from them.
• Some states have images of these reptiles in their heraldry.
• Turtles almost never harm humans. But during mating, caimans sometimes mistake people for rivals and attack. Leatherback turtles sometimes confuse swimmers with females, swim up to them, grab them with flippers and drag them under water.
• Animal meat is considered a delicacy. It is subjected to heat treatment and eaten raw.
• Expensive, beautiful accessories are cut from the shell to decorate women's hairstyles.

Land turtles are amazing animals, among which there are both giants, reaching a length of about a meter, and pygmies, measuring no more than 9 cm. The behavioral features of these reptiles have won the hearts of people. The domestic turtle is a kind of silent pet that causes virtually no trouble to its owner.

A turtle is an animal of the chordate type, class Reptiles, order Tortoise (Testudines). These animals have existed on planet Earth for more than 220 million years.

The tortoise got its Latin name from the word “testa”, meaning “brick”, “tile” or “clay vessel”. The Russian analogue came from the Proto-Slavic word čerpaxa, which in turn came from the modified Old Slavic word “čerpъ”, “shard”.

Turtle - description, characteristics and photographs

turtle shell

A characteristic feature of turtles is the presence of a shell, which is designed to protect the animal from natural enemies. turtle shell consists of a dorsal (carapace) and abdominal (plastron) part. The strength of this protective cover is such that it can easily withstand a load exceeding the weight of the turtle by 200 times. The carapace consists of two parts: internal armor made of bone plates, and external armor made of horny scutes. In some species of turtles, the bony plates are covered with thick skin. The plastron was formed due to the fused and ossified sternum, clavicles and abdominal ribs.

Depending on the species, the size and weight of the turtle vary significantly.

Among these animals there are giants weighing more than 900 kg with a carapace size of 2.5 meters or more, but there are small turtles whose body weight does not exceed 125 grams and whose shell length is only 9.7-10 cm.

Head and eyes of a turtle

Turtle head It has a streamlined shape and medium size, which allows you to quickly hide it inside a safe shelter. However, there are species with large heads that fit poorly or not at all into the shell. In some representatives of the genus, the tip of the muzzle looks like a kind of “proboscis” ending in nostrils.

Due to the peculiarities of the way of life on land, the turtle's eyes look at the ground. In aquatic representatives of the order they are located closer to the top of the head and directed forward and upward.

The neck of most turtles is short, however, in some species it can be comparable to the length of the carapace.

Does a turtle have teeth? How many teeth does a turtle have?

To bite and grind food, turtles use a hard and powerful beak, the surface of which is covered with rough bulges that replace teeth. Depending on the type of food, they can be razor-sharp (in predators) or with jagged edges (in herbivores). The ancient turtles that lived 200 million years ago, unlike modern individuals, had real teeth. The tongue of turtles is short and serves only for swallowing, and not for capturing food, so it does not stick out.

Limbs and tail of turtles

A turtle has a total of 4 legs. The structure and functions of the limbs depend on the animal’s lifestyle. Species that live on land have flattened forelimbs adapted for digging and powerful hind legs. Freshwater turtles are characterized by the presence of leathery membranes between the toes on all four paws that facilitate swimming. In sea turtles, during the process of evolution, the limbs have been transformed into a kind of flippers, and the size of the front ones is much larger than the back ones.

Almost all turtles have a tail, which, like the head, is hidden inside the shell. In some species it ends in a nail-shaped or pointed spine.

Turtles have well-developed color vision, which helps them find food, and excellent hearing, which allows them to hear enemies at a considerable distance.

Turtles molt, like many reptiles. In land species, molting affects the skin in small amounts; in aquatic turtles, molting occurs unnoticed.

During molting, transparent shields peel off from the shell, and the skin from the paws and neck comes off in rags.

The lifespan of a turtle in natural conditions can reach 180-250 years. When winter cold or summer drought sets in, turtles go into hibernation, the duration of which can exceed six months.

Due to the weakly expressed sexual characteristics of turtles, it is very difficult to determine which of the animals is a “boy” and which is a “girl”. However, if you approach the issue carefully, having studied some of the external and behavioral characteristics of these exotic and interesting reptiles, then finding out their gender will not seem such a difficult matter.

• Carapace

In the female it usually has a more elongated, elongated shape compared to the male.

• Plastron (lower part of the shell)

Turn the turtle over and look at it carefully - the shell on the side of the abdomen closer to the anus in female turtles is flat, in males it is slightly concave (by the way, this nuance facilitates the mating process).

• Tail

Male turtles have a tail that is slightly longer, wider and thicker at the base, most often curved down. The tail of the “young ladies” is short and straight.

• Anal opening (cloaca)

In females it is located somewhat closer to the tip of the tail, shaped like an asterisk or a circle compressed on the sides. In male turtles, the anus has a narrow oblong or slit shape.

• Claws

In almost all species, except the leopard tortoise, the claws of males on the forelimbs are longer than those of females.

• Notch at the tail

Males have a V-shaped notch in the back of their shell, which is necessary for turtles to mate.

• Behavior

Male turtles are most often more active, and during the mating season they are distinguished by their aggressiveness towards their rival and towards the “lady of the heart”, they chase her, trying to bite her, and nod their heads funny. At this time, the female can calmly watch the “courtship”, hiding her head in her shell.

• Some species of turtles have specific differences between females and males, such as color, size or head shape.

Types of turtles - photos and descriptions

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 shape of the Latin letter “S”;
• Side-necked turtles, hiding their head towards one of their front legs.

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)
  • Land turtles
  • Freshwater turtles

In total, there are more than 328 species of turtles, forming 14 families.

Types of land turtles

• Galapagos tortoise (elephant) (Chelonoidis elephantopus)

The length of the shell of these turtles can reach 1.9 meters, and the weight of the turtle can exceed 400 kg. The size of the animal and the shape of its shell depend on the climate. In arid areas, the carapace is saddle-shaped, and the limbs of the reptile are long and thin. The weight of large males rarely exceeds 50 kg. In a humid climate, the shape of the dorsal shell becomes dome-shaped, and the size of the animal increases significantly. The elephant tortoise lives in the Galapagos Islands.

• Egyptian tortoise (Testudo kleinmanni)

a small representative of land turtles. The size of the carapace of males barely reaches 10 cm, females are slightly larger. The color of the shell of this type of turtle is brown-yellow with a small border along the edges of the horny scutes. The Egyptian tortoise lives in northern Africa and the Middle East.

• Central Asian tortoise (Testudo (Agrionemys) horsfieldii)

a small reptile with a shell size of up to 20 cm. The carapace has a rounded shape and is colored yellowish-brown with darker spots of uncertain shape. These turtles have 4 toes on their forelimbs. The most popular type of turtle for home keeping, lives about 40-50 years. Lives in Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Syria, northeastern Iran, northwestern Pakistan and India.

• Leopard tortoise (panther tortoise) (Geochelone pardalis)

The carapace length of this turtle exceeds 0.7 m, and the weight can reach 50 kg. The shell of this type of turtle is high and dome-shaped. Its color has sandy-yellow tones, on which in young individuals a spotted pattern of black or dark brown is clearly visible, disappearing as they grow older. This species of turtle lives in African countries.

• Cape speckled tortoise ( Homopus Signatus)

the world's smallest turtle. The length of its carapace does not exceed 10 cm, and its weight reaches 95-165 grams. Lives in South Africa and southern Namibia.

Types of freshwater turtles

• Painted turtle (decorated turtle) (Chrysemys picta)

A rather small species of turtles with individual sizes ranging from 10 to 25 cm. The upper part of the oval dorsal shell has a smooth surface, and its color can be either olive green or black. The skin has the same color, but with different stripes of red or yellow tone. They have leathery membranes between their toes. Lives in Canada and the USA.

• European marsh turtle (Emys orbicularis)

The size of individuals can reach up to 35 cm and weight 1.5 kg. The smooth, oval carapace is movably connected to the plastron and has a slightly convex shape. Representatives of this species have a very long tail (up to 20 cm). The color of the upper shell is brown or olive. The color of the skin is dark with yellow spots. The turtle lives in European countries, the Caucasus, and Asian countries.

• Red-eared turtle (yellow-bellied turtle) (Trachemys scripta)

The shell of these turtles can be up to 30 cm long. Its coloring is bright green in young individuals, over time it turns into yellow-brown or olive. There are two yellow, orange or red spots on the head near the eyes. This feature gave the species its name. lives in the USA, Canada, northwestern South America (northern Venezuela and Colombia).

• Snapping turtle (biting) (Chelydra serpentina)

A characteristic feature of a turtle is a cross-shaped plastron and a long tail, which is covered with scales with small spines, as well as the skin of the head and neck. The shell dimensions of these turtles can reach 35 cm, and the weight of an adult animal can be 30 kg. The snapping turtle waits out unfavorable conditions in hibernation. This turtle lives in the USA and southeastern Canada.

Types of sea turtles

• Hawksbill turtle (true carriage) (Eretmochelys imbricata)

The carapace of these turtles is heart-shaped and up to 0.9 m in size. The upper layer of the shell is painted in brown tones with a pattern of multi-colored spots. In young individuals, the horny plates overlap each other like tiles, but as it grows, the overlap disappears. The front flippers of the animal are equipped with two claws. The hawksbill lives both in the latitudes of the northern hemisphere and in southern countries.

• Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)

this is the largest turtle in the world. The span of its front flipper-like limbs reaches 2.5 meters, the mass of reptiles is more than 900 kg, and the dimensions of the shell exceed 2.6 m. The surface of the upper shell is covered not with keratinized plates, but with dense skin, for which the species received its name. The turtle lives in tropical areas of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans.

• Green turtle (soup turtle) (Chelonia mydas)

The weight of the turtle ranges from 70 to 450 kg, and the size of the shell is from 80 to 150 cm. The color of the skin and carapace can be either olive with a green tint or dark brown with various spots and stripes of white or yellow. The turtle's shell is short and oval in shape, and its surface is covered with large horny scutes. Due to the large size of their heads, these reptiles do not hide their heads inside. The green turtle lives in tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

The turtle is a beautiful animal belonging to the order Reptiles. Turtles are considered the oldest creatures that were among the first to appear on earth. In the wild, these animals live in the tropics, as well as in places with a predominant temperate climate. Turtles can live both on land and in water.

Today, terrestrial species have become actively used as pets. Let's look at the main types of domestic turtles.

Terrestrial turtles are divided into two types:

• land;
• freshwater

Types of land turtles

Central Asian tortoise

Among the species of domestic turtles, this animal is considered the most popular. These are exactly the creatures that people most often see when visiting their friends and acquaintances. These are very clumsy animals that are characterized by extremely slow movement. It is worth noting that this turtle is listed in the Red Book, which means that its sale is prohibited by law. However, pet stores do not pay attention to this. In the wild, the main habitat is Central Asia.

The turtle has a light shell with dark scutes. The limbs are characterized by the presence of four fingers. To keep this species in a terrarium, it is necessary to maintain a temperature of about 30 degrees. It is also worth keeping in mind that from a psychological point of view these animals do not like enclosed spaces, it is this fact that explains the rapid death of turtles.

This species has about 20 subspecies, which are characterized by living in completely different climatic conditions. These turtles love warmth and direct sunlight. Each subspecies has its own characteristics: the size and color of the shell. The maximum size reaches 35 cm. On the back of the thigh of this turtle you can see a mound of horny tissue. The front paws have five toes, the hind paws have spurs. Keeping them in a terrarium involves maintaining a temperature of about 25-30 degrees.

Egyptian tortoise

These animals are extremely small. The maximum size of the shell is 12 cm. The color is yellowish with scutes bordered by a dark stripe. There are no spurs on the hind legs. In the wild they live mainly in Egypt, Israel, and Libya. Like most other species, the temperature in the aquarium is required within 24-30 degrees. These turtles have some peculiarities in behavior. So, for example, when any danger approaches, the animal immediately buries itself in the sand.

Balkan tortoise

This species can be confused with Mediterranean turtles by its external features. The main difference is the small size of the shell, about 15-20 cm. The color of the shell is light brown with dark spots. The younger the turtle, the brighter its color. Another distinctive feature should be considered conical spike, which is located at the end of the tail. The main habitat in the wild is Southern Europe, namely the Mediterranean coast. It is worth noting that turtles that live to the west are much smaller than those located in the east. At home, keeping the species is possible at a temperature of 26-32 degrees.

Types of freshwater turtles

European marsh turtle

This species has 13 subspecies. The turtle's shell is low and smooth. The length of the animal is about 35 cm, the average weight of individuals is approximately one and a half kilograms. The color of the shell of turtles is dark green. The head, neck and paws are covered with light spots. The fingers have large, sharp claws and webbing. View characterized by a fairly large tail, the length of which is ¾ of the length of the turtle’s entire body.

In the wild, these animals can be found in different regions of Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Georgia, etc. Ideal habitat conditions for the species are lakes and ponds. Individuals are most active during the day. The species is one of those listed in the Red Book. Keeping it at home requires a temperature of 22-25 degrees and air temperature of about 30.

Pond slider

Of all the species, city dwellers most often breed this one in their aquariums and terrariums. All 15 subspecies of red-eared turtles are classified as so-called decorated. They received this name because of the red or yellow spots that are located near the ears. The size of individuals is about 18-30 centimeters. Young turtles have a lighter color shell. The head and paws are decorated with stripes of rich green color. The species has sexual differences: males have a more powerful tail and nail plate.

In the wild they are found in Mexico, America, the USA, and less often in Australia, Spain, Great Britain, and Israel. The optimal habitat is marshy shores of water bodies and ponds. Individuals of the species are very lazy, slow and inactive. At home, turtles must be kept at a water temperature of about 28 degrees, air temperature of 32.

Far Eastern turtle

Another name for the species is Chinese trionix. These individuals are the exception to all the rules. The fact is that, unlike the usual hard shell, these turtles have a soft “house”. Dimensions reach 20 cm, the surface of the shell is leathery, soft, without scutes, green in color.

This is not to say that the shell is the only part that can surprise this species. A little It’s unusual to see a trunk instead of a nose and observe the presence of only three toes on the paws. If somewhere in China a small trunk sticks out of a pond, you need to remember that this is a feature of Far Eastern turtles. At first glance, this species is very cute and completely defenseless, but they have a secret here too. Trionix's jaws have special sharp edges, thanks to which the animal can grab prey. In addition, it is worth noting the increased mobility of individuals and the speed of reaction.

For humans, these turtles are also very dangerous, as they often show aggression, bite and are very difficult to tame. The only option to find a common language with individuals is to raise them in captivity from birth. The main habitats are China, Japan, and the Russian Far East. The most popular habitats are bodies of water characterized by weak currents. Chinese and Japanese The meat of these turtles is highly valued and consider it a delicacy. Closed terrariums for keeping at home require maintaining a water temperature of about 26 degrees and an air temperature of 32.

Caspian turtle

Individuals of this species have a flat, oval shell with an average length of 30 cm. The color is dark green with yellow stripes. Stripes can also be noted on the head and limbs. Also the species has sexual differences: Males have a concave carapace and a thicker, longer tail.

In the wild they are found mainly in Southern Europe, the Arabian Peninsula, the Caucasus, Iraq, and Iran. The most favorable habitat conditions are bodies of water with both fresh and salt water, with the presence of coastal vegetation. This species of turtle has the unique ability to climb mountains to great heights and live for about 30 years. To keep them at home, a certain temperature is required: water -18-22 degrees, air - 30-32.

• ultra-violet rays;
• required water and air temperatures;
• terrarium or aquarium;
• the ability of aquatic turtles to come onto land.

Thus, today there are quite a lot of species of domestic turtles. Each of them requires certain care and has its own characteristics. The choice always remains with the person, who has the right to choose which pet will delight the eye every day.

Evgeniy Sedov

When your hands grow from the right place, life is more fun :)

Content

Exotic pets are a popular trend. A land tortoise kept at home will not bring any special worries to its owners if the proper conditions are initially created, and then the diet is monitored and care procedures are carried out for the animal. These reptiles make virtually no noise or smell, and with proper care they live for several decades.

Who is a land turtle

The animal received its name for its strong shell; it comes from the Latin Testudinidae - brick, tile. The hard shell covers the back (carapace) and belly (plastron). The shell serves as protection and can withstand a load that is 200 times the weight of the turtle. The size of the individual depends on the species. There are both very small representatives up to 10 cm long, and giants up to 900 kg. The limbs are shaped to fit compactly inside the shell. Almost all species have a tail, and at its end there is a spur. Reptiles have well-developed hearing and color vision, which helps them get food.

The main types of land turtles:

1. Leopard - reaches a weight of 50 kg, the high shell has a spotted color.
2. The Central Asian tortoise is a small reptile, reaching a length of up to 20 cm. Its shell has a rounded shape of yellow-brown tones. The most common option for home maintenance due to its ease of care. It is also called the steppe tortoise.
3. Asian - has two subspecies: the depressed and brown turtle.
4. Mediterranean - common in Europe, up to 35 cm long.
5. Radiant - named for the characteristic geometrically regular yellow lines on the coal shell, a rare species from the Madagascar Islands.

Where does he live?

Land species prefer steppe, desert and semi-desert areas. They can be found in the following geographical areas:

• savanna and desert Africa;
• in North and South America;
• Asian and European countries: India, Greece, Uzbekistan, Russia, Kazakhstan and others;
• in Australia and nearby islands.

How long does he live?

The lifespan of a reptile depends on living conditions and species. When answering the question of how long land turtles live, it is worth mentioning that in natural conditions some individuals reached an age of over 100 years. At home, everything depends on the conditions of detention. The more varied the diet and the better care, the longer the pet will live. Age can reach more than 30 years.

Photo of a land turtle

Land turtle at home

To keep a reptile indoors, it is important to create a comfortable environment by organizing a terrarium. It is worth considering the features of the life of turtles:

• animals molt, peeling of the old coat occurs in small quantities on the skin;
• may hibernate. Under natural conditions, this occurs due to changes in temperature and lack of food;
• They don’t like drafts and can easily catch a cold.

What to feed

In the wild, the steppe tortoise feeds on plant foods, supplementing its diet with protein elements: snails, worms, slugs. Feeding in an unnatural environment should be as close as possible to the regular menu. When considering what to feed a land turtle at home, create a diet so that it includes not only grass, vegetables and fruits, but also feeding it with protein foods - small insects and meat.

The summer menu may include fresh seasonal products: clover, mushrooms, zucchini, dandelions, cucumbers, radishes, berries, sorrel, pumpkin. In winter, the basis of nutrition becomes steamed straw and available vegetables: cabbage, carrots, beets. Pets also need to be given fruit so that the body receives a sufficient amount of vitamins. The menu should contain special products with calcium. This could be bone meal or ground eggshells. Land pets satisfy their need for water from succulent food. Feeding is carried out once a day.

How to care

It won't require much effort. Caring for a land turtle at home is simple. For comfortable living, it is necessary to arrange a terrarium where it will stay most of the time. Periodically let your pet go for a walk around the apartment. Turtles are famous for their slow movement on land, so you can easily follow her movements.

When considering how to care for a land turtle, keep in mind that the reptile molts. During the period of coat change, it is necessary to bathe the animal with a weak soda solution. It is worth trimming the claws using a special nail clipper. In winter, turtles may not have enough ultraviolet radiation; to do this, they are irradiated with quartz lamps, avoiding the rays getting into their eyes.

Terrarium for a turtle

The reptile is not allowed to remain permanently on regular flooring. You can organize an enclosure for walking by fencing the area. A turtle terrarium is an aquarium with a special substrate. The ratio of the length and width of the base should be selected based on the size of the largest individual. Dimensions should be 2-3 times larger than the reptile. The minimum length of an adult steppe tortoise is 20 cm, so sizes start from 100x50x30 cm.

The pan is filled with gravel, sawdust or sand, which will have to be changed as it gets dirty. It is important to arrange a bathing area on the territory of the terrarium so that your pet can take a bath. Maintain an acceptable temperature range of 25-35 degrees and sufficient lighting with a daylight lamp. If there is a lack of warmth, the reptile may go into hibernation. The humidity in the aquarium should be low, and the turtles themselves should be sprayed with a spray bottle once a day.

House for a turtle

It is worth organizing a shelter for your pet in the terrarium. It is intended for overnight stays. To do this you can:

• cut a hole in a plastic non-toxic box;
• build a house from boards;
• use half a flower pot.

Diseases of land turtles

Most pets get sick due to improper care or maintenance errors. The most common diseases, manifestations and how to treat them:

4. Conjunctivitis is manifested by tearfulness and redness of the eyes. Avoid drafts, and if you get sick, use drops.

Reproduction

Procreation in turtles requires special conditions. Mating is carried out in the spring, when the reptile has completed wintering. Successful breeding involves keeping one male and several females. They are kept separately; for reproduction, individuals of the two sexes need to be placed together so that they get used to their companion. Reptiles lay eggs from which offspring are produced. The incubation period is from 2 to 6 months, depending on the species.

Price

You can find out how much a land turtle costs by deciding on the species. The cheapest thing to buy is a Central Asian reptile. Exotic species of turtles will cost more. The price of such a pet ranges from 500 to 2000 rubles. Sales are offered by both specialized stores and private individuals who are engaged in breeding.

How to choose a land turtle

For home breeding, Central Asian (steppe) individuals are chosen. They are small in size - up to 20 cm long. The color of the shell of a young individual is yellow with round brown spots. Pay attention to activity. The turtle is awake in the morning and evening, and rests in a shelter during the day and night. The animal must look healthy and have no skin defects.

How to determine gender

Main gender differences:

1. The shape of the shell is more elongated in the male.
2. Plastron (lower part of the shell) - in the male, near the tail, it has a concave shape, which ensures mating. In females, the plastron is straight, which is necessary for bearing eggs.
3. Male turtles have a V-shaped notch on the top of their shell near the tail.

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The turtle is rightfully considered one of the most interesting orders of reptiles. Scientists who studied ancient remains in order to find out how many years she had been living on the planet found that their existence on Earth lasted more than 220 million years. These are rare animals that can live on land and in water. The turtle is a reptile that has 328 species, grouped into 14 families.

Origin of the name

If we consider the Slavic and Latin origins of the name of the reptile, it is easy to see the commonality. Both languages ​​demonstrate a response to appearance in the word: translated from Latin “tile”, “clay vessel”, “brick”; from Slavic - “shard”.

Indeed, many turtles resemble the stone for which the people who gave them this name mistook them. Despite this etymology of the name, it also contains an indication of the unique shape and color of the hard shells.

What do turtles look like?

In the diversity of turtle species, there are common characteristics for all that unite them into one order.

The main distinguishing feature of the order is the shell, which absolutely all representatives have. It consists of a carapace (dorsal) and plastron (abdominal), connected to each other. This durable device serves, first of all, to protect the animal from enemies. When necessary, the turtle is fully capable of hiding its body and head in it, lowering its upper part and remaining protected from any attack on it.

The shells are covered with hard horny scutes, different in color and shape depending on the species. There are holes into which the paws, head, and tail extend and retract as needed.

The strength of the shell, as studies have shown, is so great that it can withstand a weight exceeding the weight of the animal by 200 times.

Reptiles molt periodically: the old skin peels off from their shell in scales, and the color becomes brighter.

How much does a turtle weigh? Turtle sizes

The turtle is a unique reptile. Some species can reach gigantic sizes - up to 2 meters, and weigh up to a ton. But there are also tiny representatives whose weight does not exceed 120 grams and size - 10 cm.

Each type of turtle has its own parameters, which we will talk about, characterizing them separately.

Paws

All species have four paws, which can be hidden in the shell if necessary.

The structure depends on the lifestyle and species. Terrestrial animals are distinguished by thickened front paws, suitable for digging soil, and powerful hind paws, which help to move along the surface. The river turtle, which lives in fresh water, has membranes between its toes. The sea turtle, evolving, acquired fins instead of paws, and the front ones are much larger than the back ones.

Tail

Almost everyone has a tail, the length of which depends on the species and lifestyle. If necessary, the tail can be retracted into the shell.

For swimming reptiles, it serves as a kind of rudder that helps maneuver in the water, and is more developed than that of its land-based counterparts.

Head and neck

All turtles have a medium-sized head with a streamlined shape. When danger arises, many representatives of this class hide their heads in their shells. But there are turtles that have a fairly large head and cannot retract it.

Depending on the species, the front of the head can be elongated or flat, but it always ends with the nostrils.

The eyes are also positioned differently: in reptiles living on land, they are directed downward, while in swimming reptiles they are directed much higher. Animals have excellent vision and see this world in color.

Some turtles have quite long necks. In other representatives they are of medium size and are perfectly retracted into the shell if necessary.

Sometimes these animals, sticking their heads out of the water, are mistaken for huge snakes.

In many representatives of the species, the oral part begins with a hard beak-shaped process, with which they easily bite off even the hardest food and are able to catch prey. The edges of these processes can be either sharp or jagged.

But they don't have teeth. The chewing movements that reptiles make are necessary in order to move food into the pharynx. Language also helps them with this.

Despite the lack of teeth, turtles have powerful jaws that can handle almost any food.

Sexual characteristics of a turtle

The sex of turtles is determined by appearance and behavior, since these animals do not have clear genital differences, and it is almost impossible to figure out the sex at first glance. However, males differ from females:

• according to the shape of the shell (in females it is more elongated);
• the lower part of the shell is slightly concave in males, flat in females;
• the tail of males is longer, wider and thicker, it is more curved down;
• according to the shape of the anus;
• in males, the claws of the front paws are slightly longer;
• a small notch in the shell in the tail area is present only in males;
• The behavior of males is characterized by activity.

In some species, gender, in addition to the indicated characteristics, is expressed by the color or shape of the head.

In nature, these reptiles are completely herbivorous, carnivorous and omnivorous. Most eat both plant and animal foods.

Lifespan

On average, turtles live about 20-30 years in the wild. But it depends on the type of reptile. There are centenarians who can reach 200 years of age. As a rule, turtles live longer in captivity, but this also depends on the species and conditions of detention.

Types of turtles

The long stay of representatives of this order on the planet allowed them to divide into 328 species, differing in external characteristics, size, habitat, nutrition and lifestyle.

The classification involves the division of reptiles, depending on how they hide their heads in the shell, into cryptonecks and side-necks. The first group presses their head into the shell by contracting the neck muscles. The second is folded to the side, under one of the front paws.

Another classification is based on the habitat of these reptiles:

• sea ​​turtle - lives in the salty waters of the seas and oceans;
• terrestrial - capable of living both on the surface of the earth and in fresh waters; this variety, in turn, is divided into freshwater and land.

This sea turtle chose the waters of the Atlantic, Pacific and even Indian oceans for its life.

There are two subspecies of these reptiles: Atlantic and eastern Pacific. Its elongated shell can be not only green, but also dark brown with yellow and white stripes or spots.

Reptiles got their name not from their external coloring, but from the color of the meat they ate.

The green turtle is one of the largest species. The length of its shell can reach up to 2 m, and its weight can reach 400 kg.

Young individuals live exclusively in water, where they feed on small fish, mollusks, and jellyfish. Adult reptiles come ashore, where they begin to feed on plant foods, which over time become their main diet.

The tasty meat of these animals was traditionally used for food (they are even called soup animals), which led to a decline in the population. Hunting them is currently prohibited in many countries.

The onset of puberty occurs after 10 years, sometimes much later. Reptiles mate in water, but lay their clutches on the shore, in the same places where their predecessors laid eggs. They dig very large holes in which they place up to 200 eggs. Small turtles, hatching, run towards the water. If they managed to get there, they will spend many years in the ocean, until the moment comes when they themselves have to go ashore to give birth.

If your pet is a sea turtle, keep in mind that caring for it at home is much more difficult than for land-based ones, since you need to have spacious aquariums with water adapted for the reptile.

Another name for this species is Chinese trionix, or Chinese tortoise. The Far Eastern turtle prefers to live on the silt-covered bottom of large lakes and rivers with gently sloping overgrown banks. Their habitat is Primorye, the southern part of the Amur in Russia, Vietnam, China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan.

The Far Eastern turtle is green-brown or green-gray in color with pale yellowish spots. Its usual size is about 30 cm, but there have been specimens up to 40 cm and weighing more than 4 kilograms. They have fleshy lips covering strong jaws.

The shell of these animals in young individuals has a rounded shape. It becomes flatter with age. A distinctive feature of young individuals is their bright orange abdomen, the color of which becomes pale over time.

The Chinese turtle is capable of hunting both in water and on land, where it goes out to bask in the sun. These reptiles hibernate by burying themselves in the mud.

The diet of these predatory reptiles consists of fish, shellfish, amphibians and insects. The Far Eastern turtle can guard its prey for a long time by burying itself in the mud.

At the age of 6-7 years, the Far Eastern tortoise becomes sexually mature. Usually in July they lay eggs at a short distance from the water. During the season, the female makes several clutches, from which about 70 turtles emerge. After 1.5 - 2 months, babies appear, the size of which is no more than 3 cm. They quickly run to the water and hide for a long time in coastal vegetation and between stones.

The Far Eastern tortoise has a fairly aggressive character and can strongly bite its attacker.

If this turtle lives in a house from an early age, it easily gets used to a person and can even feed from his hands.

Living in the southeast of Eurasia, this steppe loves wet areas in river valleys, foothills, agricultural lands, sandy and clay semi-deserts. Animals dig holes or occupy empty ones.

Observations shed light on how many years this turtle lives. It turns out that life expectancy depends on its activity. At home in a closed terrarium, it is unlikely to overcome the 15-year mark, when in the wild it can live for 30 years. Not in a natural environment, the Central Asian tortoise, even if care and nutrition are as close as possible to natural ones, lives much shorter.

The Central Asian tortoise does not grow more than 20 cm, while males are slightly smaller in size than females.

This steppe turtle hibernates quite early: at the beginning of summer, immediately after laying eggs. This is due to the fact that this particular time in their habitat is the driest. Lack of food in sufficient quantities forces them to wait out in a state of sleep.

The Central Asian turtle has a very beautiful shell - reddish-olive with dark round spots.

Reptiles of this species are dark brown, dark olive, almost black in color with small yellow streaks or spots. A distinctive feature is a very long tail and the absence of a beak.

The habitat of these animals is unusually wide: they can be found in the European part of Russia, the Caucasus, Bashkiria, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and even in northwest Africa. They prefer forest, forest-steppe and steppe areas, the banks of slow-flowing rivers, and wetlands.

These reptiles are found in mountainous areas at altitudes of up to 1500 meters above sea level.

It is impossible to say that this is an aquatic turtle. She prefers to get out onto land quite often and moves relatively quickly along it.

The diet of representatives of this species is unusually wide: it eats worms, mollusks, small reptiles, fish, and chicks of waterfowl. She does not disdain carrion.

Depending on the region, they become sexually mature at the age of 5-9 years. Eggs are laid near water bodies. The sex of the offspring depends on temperature. When the levels are high, females are born, while when they are low, males are born.

Unfortunately, the clutches are attacked by predators (foxes, raccoons, otters, crows), who are happy to feast on both the eggs themselves and the small turtles.

Another name for these reptiles is directly related to their habitat - the Seychelles giant tortoise. This terrestrial animal is endemic to Aldabra Island.

The size of the shell of this large animal reaches a meter. It flaunts clearly defined shell segments, has fairly large legs that help it move on land, and a relatively small head.

Given its size, the reptile is a herbivore. Everything a turtle eats grows around it. She happily eats all low-growing bushes and grass.

There are currently only 150,000 left in the wild, so the reptile is protected. On the island where they live, not only hunting is prohibited, but also any economic activity.

Reptiles lay eggs from May to September, and they are able to regulate the population size: if there was not enough food, their clutches will contain only 5-6 eggs.

He is the largest representative of his squad. These reptiles live only on the Galapagos Islands and are not found anywhere else. Their weight sometimes exceeds 400 kg, and the length of the shell reaches 2 m. They have fairly muscular paws, which have sharp claws (5 on the front and 4 on the hind). In case of danger, they pull their head and limbs into the shell.

At the end of the 20th century, the population of these animals decreased to 3,000 individuals, which became critical, so a decision was made to protect the reptiles.

Currently, there are two varieties of these reptiles, differing in habitat (relatively small individuals live in arid areas), size, color and shape of the shell.

Scientists actively studying the life of Galapagos endemics have identified interesting facts about turtles of this species: for example, the fact that they can eat poisonous plants that no other animal eats. In some cases, they are able to live for several months without food or fresh water.

Mating and laying of eggs of these giants occurs at any time of the year, but peaks of activity occur in certain seasons.

This reptile is also called the yellow-bellied reptile. The water turtle received its original names solely for the bright accents in its color: there is a red spot on its head, and its abdomen is yellow.

There are 15 subspecies of these reptiles belonging to the American freshwater family.

The size of the animal depends on the subspecies and gender - from 18 to 30 cm, with males slightly smaller than females.

Its main habitat is America, but its presence is also noted in Europe (Spain and England), northern Africa, and Australia. For their life, they choose swampy areas with low banks, since this river turtle loves to get ashore and bask in the sun.

In Australia, the water turtle is considered a pest and its numbers are controlled.

The water turtle lays its eggs on land, where it digs out a spherical nest and places up to 20 eggs there. Reptiles of this species do not care about their offspring.

The water turtle feeds on insects, small fish, and worms. She chews her food with her head completely immersed in the water. If you have a water turtle living in your home, care and feeding should be consistent with its natural needs.

We have long found out how many years a turtle lives at home. If the maintenance and care are natural, it can easily live for half a century. In nature, this age is somewhat less.

One of the subspecies is the yellow-eared turtle. As the name suggests, its main decoration is the bright color of the shell and the yellow spot in the area of ​​the auricle.

The yellow-eared turtle differs from its red-eared counterparts only in color. Their habitat, diet and reproduction are identical.

The yellow-eared turtle thrives at home. Maintenance and care do not require much time and do not cause much trouble for the owners.

Small in size (the maximum length of the shell is no more than 13.5 cm), the reptile has chosen the American continents.

Its dirty-brown shell has three longitudinal ridges, and light stripes are visible on its head.

It lives in small rivers with silted banks, where this river turtle hunts and lays eggs.

When the water temperature drops below 10 degrees, the reptile begins to dig a hole for hibernation. Unlike many species, muskies can sleep in groups. The period of sleep itself depends not on the season, but on the temperature: in the southern regions, where there are no low temperatures, this reptile is active throughout the year and does not hibernate.

If you have a musk turtle in your home, keeping it alone is not advisable. It is better to have several individuals at once. This will affect how many years the turtle lives at home.

The musk turtle is quite common in home aquariums; keeping, feeding and caring for it does not require much effort.

Where do turtles live? Habitat

Reptiles of this order live on almost all continents of the world. The only exceptions are Antarctica and desert areas, the climate of which is completely unsuitable for these animals. Any coast - be it the oceans or small rivers and lakes - can boast of its own view, or even more than one.

They find food almost everywhere: it can be insects, worms, small fish, crustaceans and vegetation. Its unpretentiousness in food makes the reptile able to survive in almost any place.

Even in reservoirs located in large cities, you can find these animals. They go ashore to bask in the sun. During the breeding season, you can come across clutches of their eggs on deserted beaches.

A turtle is a reptile that has long settled in homes, becoming a favorite pet. Home care for this reptile is insignificant, so many people choose them for their home.

How many years a turtle lives at home, first of all, depends on the species, age of the animal that comes to you, and the conditions in which it will live. Comfortable existence and feeding as close as possible to natural habitat conditions will allow your pet to live long enough. If the turtle feels good in the house, and the maintenance and care are appropriate, then it can live up to 50 years.

Which turtle is best for a home?

Usually river reptiles become pets. A river turtle, once at home, adapts quite quickly. Its maintenance does not require an overly spacious aquarium, but it is very important to equip it correctly, creating a swimming area and dry land for your pet to go to when necessary.

• water (red-eared and yellow-eared);
• European (swamp);
• Central Asian (steppe);
• Far Eastern;
• musk turtle.

Keeping sea turtles in home aquariums is very problematic. Even young individuals require special water, reminiscent of ocean water. And for older ones, very spacious tanks are needed, since in limited spaces the animal will not be able to be active enough, and this also determines how many years a turtle lives at home.

Before purchasing an animal, get acquainted with useful information about it. Temperature, nutrition and care, activity and the ability to live alone or in pairs are very important for the reptile.

What does a turtle prefer to eat at home?

If you have a pet turtle, its nutrition, maintenance and care should resemble its natural lifestyle. Before adopting a pet, study what it eats in nature and during what periods it is active.

Young individuals, as a rule, consume 70 percent of live food (food worms, insects, small crustaceans). Growing up, they switch almost entirely to plant foods. Suitable for feeding:

• vegetables and their tops (tomatoes, peppers, pumpkin, carrots, and occasionally cucumbers);
• berries (strawberries, wild strawberries, watermelon);
• fruits (plums, peaches, apples, bananas).

Do not overfeed the animal! If you see that there is food left after feeding, be sure to remove it and subsequently reduce the portions.

If you have a turtle at home, caring for it must necessarily include cleaning the aquarium. Be especially attentive to leftover food: stale food can lead to intestinal upset, which will affect how many years a turtle lives at home.

• Representatives of this order of amphibians can boast that they have left their mark on the history of astronautics. Two individuals of the Central Asian tortoise species were the first among animals to fly around the Moon and return alive to Earth.
• The meat of these animals is a delicacy. But some species are not recommended for consumption. This happens because sometimes this turtle eats poisonous mushrooms or jellyfish. They do not eat the meat of box turtles, leatherback turtles and hawksbill turtles.
• Reptiles of this order can swim well and move on land. But the European tortoise can also be called a jumping tortoise. She can jump into the water from three-meter mountain ledges.
• Turtles have their own long-lived lives. So in 2006, the oldest turtle, Advaita, died, whose age, according to experts, was more than 150 years.
• Many people wonder how long a turtle can live without food. In the natural environment, determining this time is quite difficult. But for pets, this is a maximum of 3 weeks, taking into account the fact that the animal is hibernating. In nature, the sleep period can last several months. It is believed that at this time the reptile does not eat at all.
• During the period of courtship and mating, sea turtles stick their heads out of the water and make drawn-out sounds similar to howls.