What genus does the turtle belong to? Types of land turtles. Types of small turtles

Number of sources used in this article: . You will find a list of them at the bottom of the page.

If you have a turtle, it may be helpful to know what gender it is. However, unlike many mammals, turtles (which are not actually mammals) do not have external genitalia. This makes sex determination a more difficult task, but it can still be done. It will be easier for you to determine the sex of a turtle if you take two turtles of different sexes for comparison. If you only have one turtle, you will need to study as many characteristics of the male and female turtles as possible to determine the sex.

Look at the turtle's shell. Turtles' shells, or shells, differ slightly depending on the sex. The shell of an adult male has a more elongated shape compared to the shell of an adult female.

• When determining the sex of a turtle, this method can be quite limited because you must ensure that the turtle has reached sexual maturity. You may think it is a male, but in fact it turns out that the turtle has not yet reached sexual maturity.
• There may be differences in size between a large male and a small female, which may make it impossible to determine the sex, especially if you have one individual.

1. Examine the turtle's plastron. The plastron is the lower (ventral) part of the shell. To examine the plastron, carefully turn the turtle over so the plastron is facing up. They don't like to be upside down and may try to bite, so hold the turtle by the edges of its shell near its tail so it doesn't reach you. Carefully turn the turtle over and look at the plastron. The male's plastron is slightly concave (bends inward), while the female's is flat.

   • The concave plastron of the male turtle allows the animal to rest on the female during mating.
   • The flat shape of the female plastron is associated with the need to bear eggs.

2. Check to see if the turtle's tail has a notch. The male turtle has a V-shaped notch in the back of his shell. The notch for the tail is necessary for the turtles to mate. Otherwise, the tail may be pressed against the plastron.

   Look at the species features. Some types of turtles have characteristic sexual differences in color:

   • American Box Turtle: In 90% of cases, males have red or orange irises, while females have brown or yellow irises. Additionally, females have a taller, domed, rounded shell, while the male has a more flattened, oval or oblong-shaped shell.
   • Painted turtle: if the turtle's plastron of blue color, it is a male, and if the plastron is a color other than blue, then it is a female.

   Detailed Features

   1. Examine the turtle's claws. Male turtles use their claws when mating with females. They also use their claws to fight and defend their territory. Thus, the claws on the front paws of males tend to be longer than those of females. Again, this is more obvious when you have two turtles of different sexes to compare against each other.

      • The red swamp turtle has a pronounced difference between the claws of the male and female.

   2. Look at the turtle's cloaca. Males and females have a hole located at the bottom of the tail. It is called the cloaca; its location depends on gender.

      • The female's cloaca is rounder and star-shaped. It is located close to the body, almost under the shell.
      • The male's cloaca is longer and larger. It is located in the last third of the tail towards its tip.
   3. • To determine the sex of a turtle using this method, you must know the size of the tail of the male or female. Otherwise, this method may not be reliable.

   4. Combine multiple features to make a conclusion. You can fairly accurately determine the sex of a turtle if you evaluate all the characteristics described above and analyze them together. Keep in mind that some signs are less reliable than others for determining the sex of a turtle.

   • Drawings or photographs will help you analyze the cloaca. For this, for example, there is a very convenient and good book “Turtles. Contents, diseases and treatment” by D. Vasiliev.
   • There are many species of sea turtles (including Atlantic ridleys, Kemp's sea turtles, and others) that do not have external sexual characteristics. Talk to a marine veterinarian to find out what gender your turtle is.

   Warnings

   Sources

   Article information

   This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and the care of companion animals. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in Veterinary Medicine and Surgery. He has been working at the same animal clinic in his hometown for over 20 years.

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 often more active, and in mating season They are distinguished by their aggressiveness towards their opponent and towards the “lady of their 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)

minor representative 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 round shape and is colored yellowish-brown with darker spots indeterminate form. 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 skin color 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. Next to the eyes on the head there are two spots of yellow, orange or red. This feature gave the species its name. lives in the USA, Canada, the northwest South America(in the north of 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 measures up to 0.9 m in size. Upper layer The shell is painted in brown tones with a pattern in the form 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. Lives green turtle in tropical and sub tropical waters Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

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:

1. Hidden-necked turtles with necks folded into an "S" shape
2. 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
• Freshwater 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 the Pacific Ocean), the sea turtle is a symbol of the marine 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 make epic migrations, presumably guided by the Earth's magnetic field, 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 a huge number of enemies, primarily birds of prey, await her. 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 of 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 group in terms of 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).

Terrestrial turtles also include 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. Their food is 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 spend most of their lives hibernating. 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 defense used by many land turtles is the 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 in different species 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. The main, most ancient center lies in Southeast Asia, where more than 20 genera are concentrated; the second center apparently formed later in the east 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, feed on a variety of animals 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.

Trionics is a representative of the family of soft-bodied 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, Southern and Central Europe, South Africa, and Southeast 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 agricultural and desert areas 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 a closed space has a detrimental effect on the health and psychological state of the animal, and it dies early. It’s not for nothing that the Central Asian turtle was included in the Red Book!

This breed has about 20 subspecies, living in various landscapes and climatic zones. This is mainly 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 colors 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 is 25-30 degrees.

They are similar in appearance to Mediterranean turtles, but much smaller. 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. IN at a young age– bright, 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, European part Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Balearic Islands, Corsica, 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. A characteristic feature of the behavior of the Egyptian tortoise is that, 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 it this because of its main distinguishing 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.

They live naturally in the USA (Virginia, Florida, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico), Mexico and the countries of Central America and the Caribbean, and 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 regions, 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 natural environment Prefers habitat in ponds and lakes with muddy bottoms. Activity falls on daytime days. 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. The Chinese Trionix is ​​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 of the turtle order.

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. There are no big differences in the content of different breeds of 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, 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 be an ideal 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 beginning of the 20th century, more than 200,000 were destroyed Galapagos tortoises. Almost all natural habitats of elephant turtles were also destroyed.

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 in their respective areas. natural habitat. 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 to very great depths for them. In their natural habitats, water bodies are heavily clogged and turtles very often swallow various debris and die from this.

Swamp turtle. The only representative of 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 changes in natural landscapes and drainage of wetlands.

Far Eastern turtle. In most of its habitat, the Far Eastern tortoise is a common species. 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 turtle is one of the main edible species of 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 a 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 as 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 containing 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 very equipped 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 flattened human-reptile hybrids from alien horror films, soft-bodied turtles compensate for their lack of shell with a very 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 with sharp teeth. The turtle's sheer size 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 today you received a complete description of 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!

The land turtle family includes 6 genera with 37 species. All of them are terrestrial 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 you can find both small forms about 12 cm in length, and giant animals up to a meter or more in length. Gigantic species have been preserved only on a few islands.

The vast majority of land turtles live in Africa (about 20 species), the second focus is in Southeast Asia (8 species). Several species penetrate into southern Europe, three species live in South America and one in North America.

Land turtles usually inhabit open spaces, steppes, savannas and deserts; only a few species are found in damp and wooded areas. Compared to freshwater turtles, they are very slow and clumsy, so when in danger they usually do not flee, but use only passive protection, hiding inside their shell.

They eat a variety of green vegetation; only occasionally turtles eat some small, sedentary animals. Land turtles can go for an amazingly long time without food and water, and in the presence of lush vegetation they do not need water at all. However, if possible, they happily drink water, especially in the heat.

Land turtles are characterized by unusual vitality and resistance to adverse conditions. Life expectancy is very long - up to 50-100, and occasionally up to 150 years.

An original feature in the structure of the shell distinguishes African turtles cynic(genus Kinixys). The posterior third of their carapace is connected to the main part by a transverse tendon layer. Therefore, unlike all other turtles, kinixes can lower the back part of the carapace in moments of danger, pressing it to the plastron.

Jagged Kinix(Kinixys erosa) is the largest turtle of this genus, reaching 30 cm in shell length. The carapace, slightly flattened on top, has a jagged border along the perimeter, formed by sharp protrusions of the marginal scutes of the carapace. Two yellowish longitudinal stripes run along the brown background of the back. The top of the head is light yellow.

This turtle lives in the tropical rainforests of West Africa and often goes into the water. In captivity, it eats bananas especially willingly, but it also gets used to other vegetable foods. Remains active only in high humidity and plenty of heat. Another West African species (K. homeana) is equally moisture-loving.

A different way of life smooth kinix(K. belliana), widespread throughout Central and Southern Africa, as well as in Madagascar (it may have been brought here by humans). The smooth quinix inhabits dry, hilly areas with bushy areas.

One of the smallest land turtles - flat turtles(genus Homopus), 4 species of which live in the semi-deserts and dry woodlands of South Africa. One species (N. boulengeri) penetrates the B mountains up to 2400 m above sea level. The dimensions of these miniature turtles do not exceed 10-11 cm in shell length. Only the largest species, Homopus femoralis, with awl-shaped projections on the hips, reaches a maximum length of 15 cm.

Has a strange appearance elastic turtle(Malacochersus tornieri), living in Kenya and Tanzania. Its shell, up to 20 cm long, is soft to the touch, it is formed by very thin perforated bone plates. From the ventral side, you can even distinguish the breathing movements of the turtle. The carapace is strongly flattened and cut off almost vertically at the back, and the marginal scutes protrude backwards in the form of jagged lobes. The elastic turtle inhabits dry rocky mountain slopes overgrown with bushes. She climbs beautifully and climbs between rocks, and in a moment of danger she hides in the cracks of rocks or under stones. If they try to pull it out of the crack, it becomes firmly wedged with their feet and, apparently, even swells a little.”

In the west of Madagascar, a tiny spider turtle(Pyxis arachnoides). The length of its high, round-ovoid shell does not exceed 10 cm. The anterior lobe of the plastron is movably connected to the main part by means of a transverse tendon ligament, which allows the turtle to close in front when attacked by an enemy. Each carapace scute is decorated with a light yellow median spot. The spider turtle lives in dry savanna woodlands and bushes.

The central genus of the family is land turtles(Testudo) - includes 27 species distributed in Africa, South and West Asia, Southern Europe and South America. Obviously, the most ancient species among them are the giant tortoises, which have survived to this day on the Galapagos and Seychelles Islands. In favorable conditions of island isolation, where there were no large predators, huge herds of these antediluvian giants lazily grazed in the meadows and among the thickets of bushes. Only the appearance of man put an end to their serene existence, and in a few centuries people destroyed what nature had preserved for millennia. Now the pitiful remnants of the once numerous herds huddle in remote and inaccessible corners of the islands. Only the most decisive conservation measures will help preserve these wonderful natural monuments for future generations.

At one time, taxonomists described more than ten species of giant tortoises - each island had its own special species. But subsequently, order was established in this matter, and now two species are distinguished, and populations from individual islands are rightly regarded as subspecies.

Lives in the Galapagos Islands elephant turtle(Testudo elephantopus). Its huge shell reaches 110 cm in length and 60 cm in height. Thick and powerful columnar legs support the heavy body. The weight of adult specimens is about 100 kg, and individual giants weigh up to 400 kg. The carapace descends rather steeply at the back, and almost does not bend downwards at the front, leaving a wide opening for the front legs and a long, relatively thin neck. Males are noticeably larger than females and have a longer tail. Elephant tortoises are undoubtedly the most striking attraction of the Galapagos Islands. No wonder the Spanish navigators who discovered in the 17th century. these islands gave them their name (galapago - large turtle). In those days, turtles lived there in countless numbers. The mountain slopes were literally strewn with them. Such an abundance of easily accessible food attracted whalers and pirates to these islands. Before a long journey, they filled the holds of their ships with hundreds of turtles, which provided them with fresh and tasty meat and relieved hunger and scurvy. Hardy animals spent up to 12-14 months in the holds without food or drink, without showing noticeable exhaustion. The extermination of turtles assumed gigantic proportions - according to ship logs, it is estimated that only 79 whaling ships over 36 years in the middle of the last century took 10,373 turtles from the islands. According to a rough estimate, over three centuries, sailors destroyed about 10 million of these animals. Since catching and transporting large individuals to the ship was very difficult, foragers caught mainly small and medium-sized turtles, that is, immature individuals and females. In addition, females were found more often because they descended to the sandy lowlands of the coast to lay eggs, and large males constantly stayed on the higher slopes of the mountains, with a more humid climate and lush vegetation. It is curious that when not pirates, but zoo collectors began hunting for turtles, they, on the contrary, brought almost only males. In pursuit of the most spectacular huge specimens, collectors spared no effort and time in delivering them several kilometers to the ship, and these largest specimens always turned out to be males.

Charles Darwin, who visited the Galapagos Islands in 1835 during trip around the world on the Beagle ship, he described his impressions of turtles with unusual vividness. Excerpts from his classic observations will bring real pleasure to the modern reader. “These animals are apparently found on all the islands of the archipelago and, probably, on most of them. They prefer high, damp places, but also live in low-lying and arid areas. Turtles living on those islands where there is no fresh water, or in low-lying and waterless places on other islands, feed mainly on succulent cactus. Those that are found in mountainous and humid areas eat the leaves of various trees, sour and tart guayavita berries, as well as greenish fibrous lichen, strands of which hang from tree branches.

Turtles love water very much; they drink it little by little and willingly, lying in the mud. Springs are found only on larger islands, and even those are always located in the interior of the island, at a considerable altitude. Therefore, turtles living in low-lying areas are forced to make long journeys to quench their thirst. Thanks to this, wide trampled paths were formed, diverging in all directions from the springs to the seashore, and the Spaniards, following them, discovered sources of fresh water. When I landed on Chatham Island, I could not imagine what kind of animal was passing so methodically along certain paths. These huge creatures presented an interesting sight at the springs, where they came in large numbers: some, stretching out their necks, impatiently hurried forward, others, having drunk enough, returned back. When the turtle approaches the source, it, not paying attention to the audience, plunges its head into the water up to its eyes and greedily drinks in large sips, taking about ten sips per minute.

Local residents consider these animals to be completely deaf; they really do not hear the steps of the person walking behind them. It always gave me pleasure to overtake one of these huge monsters, calmly walking along the road: at the moment when I passed by, it retracted its head and legs and, emitting a low whistling sound, fell heavily as if struck to death. Often I would climb onto their back, and after hitting the back of the shield several times, they would rise and crawl away, but it was already difficult for me to maintain my balance.

The meat of this animal is widely consumed both fresh and salted, and a remarkably clear oil is obtained from its fat. When a turtle is caught, a person cuts the skin near its tail to see if the layer of fat under its dorsal shield is thick enough. If there is little fat, the animal is released, and they say that it will soon recover from such an extraordinary operation.”

During the time of Charles Darwin, the extermination of turtles proceeded with maximum intensity, but subsequently interest in them dropped markedly. Turtle stocks were greatly depleted, with the advent of steam engines, whaling sharply declined due to a decline in whale populations, and the number of pirates also decreased. And then canned food was invented, refrigerators appeared on ships, and the need for turtle food disappeared altogether.

But the troubles of the Galapagos tortoises did not end there. Ecuadorian settlers brought dogs, cats, pigs, goats and horses to the islands. Some of them went wild and settled on the slopes of the mountains. Dogs, cats and pigs began eating turtle eggs and juveniles, and goats, cows and horses, destroying vegetation, deprived adult turtles of available food. And finally, the last sad page of history was the turtle oil fishery that the settlers took up. They catch mainly large males, from which a lot of valuable fat can be rendered. The oil is then sold to Guayaquil for $9 per 100 pounds.

Each island is home to a different subspecies of elephant tortoise. A total of 10 subspecies have been described, some of which have apparently already been completely exterminated. The situation is most favorable with the population on the island of Santa Cruz, where about a thousand heads of Testudo elephantopus nigrita are still preserved. Quite a few turtles also remain on Isabela Island, where the nominal subspecies (i.e. elephantopus) lives.

The egg-laying period for elephant turtles lasts from November to April. Females make long-distance migrations to coastal areas in search of suitable places to lay eggs. Having dug a pitcher-shaped hole about 40 cm deep with its hind legs, the turtle lays there from 2 to 22 white, almost spherical eggs. Each of them has a diameter of 5-6 cm and weighs about 110 g. After about 6-7 months, young individuals weighing up to 70 g emerge from the eggs.

Elephant tortoises are taken to many zoos around the world, where they live for a hundred years or more. Unpretentious animals only need sun, warmth and plenty of green food. They especially love tomatoes. Having become accustomed to this delicacy, they rush to any red object, hoping to find their favorite food.

Due to the threatening situation for turtles in their native places, it is very important to achieve their constant reproduction in captivity. Such work is being successfully carried out at the San Diego Zoo, where about twenty young turtles have already been hatched.

Another area of ​​the globe where giant tortoises were common is Madagascar, Mascarene Islands, Rodrigues Island, Seychelles, Isabela Island. Until two centuries ago, various geographical forms were found on all these islands gigantic turtle(Testudo gigantea). It is easily distinguished from the elephant tortoise by the presence of a neck scute. The length of the shell of adults is up to 123 cm (in a straight line). The longevity of these turtles is also remarkable: individuals are known to have been caught as adults and then lived in captivity for 150 years.

Unfortunately, hunting turtles for their meat has led to their extinction on most islands. Now they can only be found on Aldabra Atoll. The Italian zoologist F. Prosperi, who visited there in 1953, describes his observations this way: “We got out of the mangroves and walked along the dry and uneven soil of the island itself. Oxorwood and pandanus, low trees bent by the wind, bizarrely twisted and squeezed between whitish rocks, stood under the scorching rays of the sun. This was the kingdom of giant turtles.

Soon we saw them themselves among the stones and bushes. Huge, black, they lay in hundreds next to each other, enjoying themselves in the shade of the trees. With slow, calm movements they stretched out their wrinkled necks. And so great was their thirst for coolness that some turtles climbed under their neighbors to hide from the sun. In their watery eyes and in the entire expression of their muzzles covered with dried skin, we seemed to read unbearable suffering. Their appearance was extraordinary - the appearance of creatures who, by some whim of nature, continue to exist in an era not intended for them.

According to our calculations carried out throughout the atoll, their number reaches approximately eighty thousand. They feed on roots, rare grass and dry leaves and therefore seem to be specially created for this infertile land and dry bushes.

However, currently the natural conditions on the atoll have changed and these rare creatures are in serious danger. The goats that were once brought here have bred on the island, and the natural balance has undergone profound upheavals. More mobile mammals took over the reptile pastures. When there is no grass, which grows here only in winter, goats eat leaves from the lower branches of trees. Therefore, the poor turtles can no longer reach the leaves and during the long months of the dry period they feed only on those leaves that sometimes fall from the trees... Despite all the laws protecting turtles, the hour of death of this species has already struck.”

The picture drawn by the eyewitness is very alarming, but I don’t want to agree with his sad conclusion. If a reserve is created on Al-Dabra and the feral goats are completely killed, the disturbed balance will be restored.

Although the two species described above are unsurpassed giants among land turtles, other representatives of the genus Testudo can reach impressive sizes. These are the spurred and panther turtles that live in Africa. Both of them have a shell up to 70 cm long. Panther turtle(Testudo pardalis) is distributed from Sudan to the southern tip of the mainland. Its tall, rounded shell is light brown with small black spots. Coloring spurred tortoise(T. sulcata) monotonous, brownish-yellow. This species lives in the desert regions of Central Africa from Senegal to Ethiopia.

Gorgeous coloring Madagascar radiated tortoise T. radiata, reaching half a meter in length. Its strongly convex black carapace is decorated with bright yellow rays radiating from the center or corner of each scute. This turtle is numerous on the island and is caught in large numbers for its tasty meat. In addition to the radiated tortoise, two other species live in Madagascar - Madagascar beaked tortoise(T. yniphora) and flat turtle(T. planicauda). The latter is remarkable for its dwarf size - adult individuals do not exceed 12 cm in length.

The South African is just as tiny knobby turtle(T. tentoria). Each scute of her dorsal shield rises in the form of a pyramid, decorated with bright yellow radial stripes. Equally colorful ocellated turtle(T. oculifera). Light rays diverging from the center of each scute form bright diamonds and ocellated spots on its back. This tiny turtle (up to 12 cm) lives in the sandy deserts of South and South-West Africa. Two larger species, up to 25 cm long, also inhabit the southern regions of the mainland. This beaked turtle(T. angulata), with a strongly projecting anterior edge of the plastron, and geometric turtle(T. geometrica), the tuberculate scutes of which are painted with light radial lines. Bushmen readily use South African tortoise shells as snuff boxes.

Unlike South Africa, which is so rich in the diversity of land turtles, the northern regions of the mainland are inhabited by only two species of the genus Testudo. The tiny Egyptian tortoise (T. kleinmanni), only up to 12 cm long, yellow in color with dark spots, lives in the deserts of Northeast Africa. When in danger, she quickly buries herself in the sand.

Mediterranean turtle(T. graeca) has a wide range. It lives in North Africa from Morocco to Egypt, southern Spain, eastern Balkan Peninsula, in Asia Minor, the Caucasus, the Eastern Mediterranean countries and Iran. In the Soviet Union, the Mediterranean turtle is distributed on the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus, in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Dagestan.

The Mediterranean tortoise is often called the Caucasian and Asia Minor, as well as the Greek. The last name, like the Latin name, is completely unfortunate, since it is in Greece that this species is absent, being replaced there by another, close species - Balkan turtle(T. hermarmi).

The shell of the Mediterranean tortoise is convex, smooth, slightly jagged along the posterior edge, up to 30 cm long. The head is covered on top with large symmetrical scutes. Large overlapping scutes cover the outer surface of the front legs; there is one large conical tubercles on the hips. The tail is blunt and short. The coloration above is yellowish-brown, usually with dark spots on the scutes. The habitats of this turtle are varied: dry steppes, semi-deserts, mountain slopes covered with bushes, dry sparse forests. It is quite common in the lowlands, but also penetrates into the mountains up to altitudes of about 1100 m above sea level. Willingly visits gardens and fields in search of tasty fruits. It feeds on all kinds of juicy greens, sometimes diversifying its diet with worms, snails and small insects.

Turtles spend the winter hibernating, climbing into holes, crevices between stones, or burrowing into the ground to a shallow depth. In the spring they appear very early - already in February - March - and soon begin to reproduce. Mating occurs vigorously. Married couples can be found everywhere in the clearings and in the forest. The females, trying to get away from the annoying males, hide in the bushes of the eagles, in the thick of the grass, and the excited males use blows from their shields and strong bites They use their hind legs to force the females to leave the shelter. They either run ahead or try to climb onto the female. During the act of mating, the male opens his mouth wide, tensely stretches his neck and emits strong growling wheezes. If one female is pursued by several males, which is quite rare, then fights occur between the males. Enraged males grab each other by the head and legs, sometimes inflicting serious wounds, tearing out pieces of meat along with hard, keratinized skin. When the strongest male manages to climb onto the female, the remaining males, despite their wounds, knock him down with blows of their shells, and the fight begins anew. This is repeated many times until, finally, only the strongest male remains, who manages to fertilize the female. Mating occurs up to 8-10 times a day, and there are cases when one female is fertilized by several males.

In June-July, females lay 2-8 white, almost spherical, slightly flattened eggs about 35 mm long. Oviposition occurs three times per season, and thus, during the summer, one female lays an average of 16 eggs. After 2-3 months, young turtles emerge from them. In most cases, they do not come out, but burrow even deeper and spend the winter next to the nesting chamber. Only the following spring, having become stronger and grown due to the yolk sac, do they appear on the surface.

The Mediterranean tortoise is very often kept in captivity. She is unpretentious and, with plenty of warmth and food, lives for decades. Individuals are known to have lived in captivity for about a hundred years. The meat and eggs of this species are eaten in some areas. Only occasionally can a turtle cause harm by damaging crops.

Very similar to the Mediterranean balkan tortoise(Testudo hermanni). It was previously called Testudo graeca, and the name “Greek” is quite suitable for it, but in view of the change in Latin names, it is better to completely abandon such a Russian name in order to avoid confusion. It differs from the Mediterranean tortoise by the absence of conical tubercles on the hips and a longer tail topped with a conical spine. The length of the Balkan tortoise does not exceed 25 cm. Its color is yellowish-brown with black spots. The range covers Eastern Spain, Southern France, Italy, the countries of the Balkan Peninsula, Sicily, Corsica, Sardinia and the Balearic Islands. The Balkan tortoise inhabits dry steppes, shrubs and woodlands in the lowlands and foothills, without entering the mountains above 700 m above sea level. Its numbers are high in suitable locations and it is caught in large numbers for captivity, as well as for consumption.

Larger fringed turtle(T. marginata) lives in Southern Greece. The length of its carapace is up to 35 cm. The posterior marginal scutes are greatly expanded and directed almost horizontally backward, forming a serrated edge. The coloration is black above with yellow spots in the middle of the scutes.

The bandaged turtle lives on dry slopes of the foothills, densely covered with bushes. She eats all kinds of greens, especially figs. In its area, each individual tramples permanent paths along which it makes daily rounds. From Greece, the banded turtle was brought to Sardinia, where it took root well.

In our country, in pet stores and among animal lovers, you can most often see Central Asian or steppe tortoise(T. horsfieldi). Its shell is low, round, yellowish-brown in color, with vague dark spots. The size of the turtle usually does not exceed 20 cm (the record specimen is 28 cm). Females are on average noticeably larger than males. There are 4 toes on the front legs, and several small horny tubercles on the back of the hips.

The Central Asian tortoise is distributed in the southern regions of Kazakhstan, throughout the plains of Central Asia, and outside our country in North-Eastern Iran, Afghanistan, in the north-western regions of India and Pakistan. It lives in clayey and sandy deserts with thickets of wormwood, tamarisk or saxaul, in the foothills up to altitudes of 1200 m above sea level, in river valleys, and on agricultural lands. Its numbers in many places are very high. The usual density in suitable biotopes is 1-10 individuals per hectare, and in particularly attractive places, for example on young melon shoots, up to 20 or more individuals can gather in the same area.

The diet of Central Asian turtles includes a variety of ephemerals, as well as shoots of shrubs and agricultural crops - melons, watermelons, wheat, cotton, etc. Sometimes they also eat small insects, eat droppings or gnaw dry bones. If there is water nearby, turtles willingly drink a lot of it, especially in the hot season. However, in the presence of succulent vegetation, they can do without water altogether.

In early spring, turtles emerge from their wintering shelters and within a few days begin breeding. During mating, the males are very active, and when the number of turtles is high, the sounds of striking shells are constantly heard around (by striking the shell, males encourage females to mate) and the hoarse cries of males. Already in May-June, females lay 2-5 eggs 5 cm long, managing to make three clutches in a short season. In August-October, the turtles hatch from the eggs and remain to overwinter in the ground, emerging to the surface only in the spring of next year. Although they grow during the winter, their shell is still soft, and therefore they easily become prey for foxes, wolves, ravens, and eagles. Adult turtles turn out to be prey for hyenas, who alone are capable of chewing their shells.

Adult turtles, having finished the troubles of reproduction and laying eggs, already in June rush to hibernate, since the ephemeral vegetation burns out by this time. To do this, they dig holes on their own or expand the holes of gerbils and jerboas. For short-term rest, turtles dig a hole up to 50 cm long under a bush or in a slope. Before summer hibernation, they dig a hole up to 1 m long, and before winter hibernation, up to 2 m long. In autumn, some turtles interrupt their summer hibernation and go outside for a short time to feed on the meager autumn greenery. Most, however, without leaving the hole, deepen it (to avoid winter frosts) and remain underground until next spring.

Turtles grow slowly and become sexually mature only in their tenth year of life. After this, their growth does not stop, although it slows down: apparently, they grow throughout their lives. By the age of 20-30, animals reach a length of 18-20 cm and a weight of 1.5-2 kg.

In captivity, Central Asian turtles live very well; with a clear regime, they quickly get used to the place and time of feeding. They most readily eat lettuce, dandelion, the pulp of watermelons and melons, as well as cabbage, apples, and carrots. The most important thing for them is the abundance of warmth and light. For the winter, it is useful to put them into hibernation (a box with sand at a temperature of + 1-5°).

By eating cultivated plants, turtles cause significant harm. By destroying ephemeral vegetation in deserts, they also reduce the value of pastures. The burrowing activity of turtles sometimes leads to the destruction of dams and irrigation canals. Therefore, in a number of places it is necessary to catch turtles to prevent their harm. However, you can use their meat, which has excellent taste. In addition, captured turtles are sold to pet stores. Orders for Central Asian turtles also come from abroad. According to newspapers, in the summer of 1967, the Kazakh zoo plant, at the request of foreign companies, sent 43 thousand turtles by plane to Paris and London.

One of the most beautiful land turtles is found in India and Ceylon - star turtle (Testudo elegans). Its convex shell is decorated with pyramidal swellings on each shield. Against a black background, yellow stripes stand out brightly, radiating from the tops of the pyramids. The marginal scutes protrude in the form of teeth directed backwards. Females reach a length of 25 cm, males are smaller.

The star tortoise lives in dry, bushy areas in India and Ceylon. It is active during the wet season and goes into hibernation during the dry season.

Seven species of land turtles inhabit Southeast Asia. Among them yellow head turtle(T. elongata), Burmese(T. platynota), Celebes(T. forsteni), brown(T. emys). Representatives of land turtles are also found in South America.

The most famous among them is large, up to 60 cm in length, forest turtle, or shabuti(T. denticulata). Its shell is flattened and has an oblong-ovoid shape, with a widening at the back. The blackish-brown coloration is complemented by vague yellow spots on each scute.

The Shabuti inhabits the tropical forests of South America east of the Cordillera, as well as the Lesser Antilles and Trinidad. She eats all kinds of fruits and greens. The female buries a clutch of 4-12 eggs in fallen leaves. Wood turtle meat is consumed by local residents. In captivity, the shabuti readily eats fruits and raw meat.

Very similar to shabuti coal turtle(T. carbonaria), almost entirely black. It also lives in the forests of South America, and some scientists consider it to be just a color form of shabuti. In Argentina and Uruguay there is a smaller one, up to 22 cm, argentine tortoise(T. chilensis), with a strongly flattened carapace and a beak-shaped edge of the upper jaw.

Close to land turtles genus gopher(Gopherus). Species of this genus differ from terrestrial turtles by flattened front legs, wide and short claws, adapted for intensive digging in the ground. Only one species belongs to this genus - gopher tortoise(Gopherus polyphemus). Its range occupies the southern regions of the United States and northern Mexico. The geographical varieties are very clearly distinguished from each other, and American zoologists generally consider them to be three different species. The dimensions of the gopher tortoise reach 34 cm. The low, sometimes slightly lumpy shell is brown in color with indistinct light spots.

The gopher tortoise inhabits dry sandy areas, dunes, pine woodlands on sand, and sandy deserts. With its wide and strong front legs, it digs long holes, from 3 to 12 years. The passage of the burrow descends obliquely, reaching solid layers or ending above the groundwater table. In some areas, turtles are very numerous, and their burrows give the landscape a distinctive appearance. Various small animals, mainly arthropods, but also frogs, snakes, rabbits, rats, opossums, and raccoons, live in turtle burrows. The gopher frog (Rana capito) and the gopher snake (Drymarchon corais couperi) are named for their affinity for turtle burrows.

Gopher tortoises feed on green vegetation, fruits, and occasionally eat insects. Although they live alone, at feeding time you can see groups of 10-20 turtles grazing in a herd like livestock. During the summer, from April to June, females lay 4-7 eggs.

Encyclopedic Dictionary Encyclopedic Dictionary F.A. Brockhaus and I.A. Ephron

Land turtles ... Wikipedia

Turtles Scientific classification Kingdom: Animals Type: Chordata Subtype ... Wikipedia

(Chelonia), a group of reptiles, are the only representatives of reptiles whose body is covered with a shell. Found in all warm areas of the world. Several species are inhabitants of the seas and oceans, but mostly they are land and freshwater forms.

This group appeared in the Triassic ca. 200 million years ago. It is possible that turtles descended directly from cotylosaurs, the most primitive reptiles. Although there are few fossils to support this hypothesis, the extinct genus Eunotosaurus quite suitable for the role of an evolutionary “connecting link”. This animal had a flattened body and greatly expanded ribs.

Unlike their snake relatives, turtles were rarely worshiped and were never particularly feared. Indeed, they pose virtually no danger to human life. Perhaps a swimmer who finds himself too close to a male leatherback turtle ( Dermochelys coriacea), can be grabbed by its strong flippers and drowned. The fact is that in a state of strong sexual arousal, he is able to mistake any large object for a female.

Anatomy. The torso of turtles is enclosed in a shell, which also partially protects the head, neck and limbs. Its upper part, or carapace, covers the back and sides of the reptile, the lower, or plastron, covers the stomach. The shell is so strong that it can withstand 200 times the weight of the owner.

Typically, the inner layer of the shell is bone, and the outer layer is formed by hard horny tissue. Both layers consist of many elements tightly fitted to each other. The bone elements are called laminae, and the horny elements are called scutes. The greater strength of the shell is partly ensured by the fact that the boundaries between the internal plates and the outer scutes do not coincide.

As the turtle increases in size, horny substance grows along the edges of each scute. If growth is interrupted by periods of hibernation, growth rings are clearly visible on the scutes, allowing one to estimate the age of the individual.

The ribs are fused to the shell, so the chest is motionless. As a result, the turtle's breathing resembles the diaphragmatic breathing characteristic of humans and other mammals. Special muscles retract internal organs back, allowing the lungs to fill with air; then other muscles carry out the reverse process, compressing the lungs. Some aquatic species are not completely dependent on pulmonary respiration and are able to absorb oxygen also through the mucous membrane of the pharynx.

Differences between males and females (sexual dimorphism) are expressed differently depending on the species; sometimes they are completely invisible. A comparison of males and females of other species shows that the former have a longer and thicker tail, and the anus is located further from its base. This dimorphism is especially pronounced in huge sea turtles. Other sex differences concern the shape of the plastron, the color and size of the head, and the overall dimensions of the body.

Mating and egg laying. Mating behavior begins with courtship, the forms of which are species specific. The male may butt and push the female while gently biting her. In large turtles, courtship is sometimes accompanied by loud grunting. Male painted turtles ( Chrysemys picta) and decorated turtles ( Pseudemys) demonstrate tender feelings in a special way: swimming backwards and dragging the female along with them, they stroke or pat her on the face with the long claws of their front paws.

Mating can take place on land or in water. In this case, the penis, hidden at the base of the tail in a calm state, extends through the opening of the cloaca. Females of some turtle species can store viable sperm for a long time (this is also true of some other vertebrates), and one mating allows them to lay fertilized eggs over the next several years. However, their number decreases every year until a new portion of sperm is obtained.

Turtle eggs are oval or round, white or almost white. Females bury them in the ground to a depth not exceeding the length of their hind legs, or hide them in a pile of rotting plants. Most often these are well-lit places. Usually there is one clutch per year, but some sea turtles have as many as seven clutches in one breeding season. Depending on the type, eggs in a clutch range from one to 200.

Hatching. The period of incubation and hatching is the most dangerous in the life of turtles; at this time, numerous enemies feast on their delicious eggs and still soft-bodied cubs. Mammals dig up clutches, and seabirds grab newly hatched turtles as they rush along the shore to the water. Once in the water, the babies become prey for voracious fish. At this time, a large number of lovers of their eggs and young usually accumulate near the breeding grounds of turtles. Depending on the species, hardening of the shell requires different time, but, as a rule, not less than several months. After this, the turtles become relatively inaccessible to predators.

In nature, turtles grow quickly. There is a known example where, even in captivity, Galapagos elephant tortoises ( Geochelone elephantopus), starting at about 11 kg, they added the same amount annually until they weighed more than 100 kg. Many small species reach sexual maturity between the ages of 2 and 11 years.

Lifespan. No known vertebrate lives as long as turtles. Most of the information suggesting that their lifespan is slightly more than 50 years refers to individuals kept in captivity. Some species certainly live much longer. Carolina box turtle age ( Terrapene carolina), found in Rhode Island, was almost certainly 130 years old. The maximum period is considered to be approx. 150 years, but it is quite possible that the actual life expectancy of individual individuals is much longer.

Nutrition. Turtles in general can be called omnivores, although some species prefer plant food, others animal food, and still others eat everything. A strictly specialized diet is rare. Some aquatic turtles only feed underwater. Very young individuals require daily feeding, but this is not necessary for adults. In fact, once well fed, they can go months, and possibly years, without food.

Turtles have no teeth, and the sharp edges of their jaws are capable of biting food, but not chewing it. Tough, fibrous plants are difficult for turtles to handle, and animal meat sometimes has to be torn into pieces using the claws on the front paws. Some species have horny ridges inside the mouth, which allow them to crush prey protected by hard coverings.

Sense organs and higher nervous activity. Turtles are good at distinguishing odors at close range and, judging by some observations, use their sense of smell when choosing food. Vision is also well developed: these animals can be taught to recognize contours and colors. Both the shell and scaly skin have tactile sensitivity, and the giant tortoise even feels the pressure of a straw that is passed along its massive carapace. Although it has long been known that turtles are sensitive to vibrations transmitted through the soil, their ability to perceive airborne sound waves has long been controversial. Today the existence of at least weak “ordinary” hearing in them is considered proven.

Compared to other reptiles, turtles are very smart. They easily learn to follow their owner, seem to enjoy the attention they receive, and get used to a certain routine well. Apparently, some individuals are smarter than others. For example, among the six gophers Agassi ( Gopherus agassizi), living together, one individual, of its own free will, climbed up the inclined plane onto the platform and slid down the metal chute on the other side. She obviously enjoyed this activity and repeated it for hours on end. But in some situations, turtles are surprisingly slow-witted. For example, they may spend a lot of energy climbing over an obstacle that is not difficult to get around; or for a long time they try to squeeze through a gap that is much smaller in size.

MAIN FAMILIES More than 200 modern species of turtles have been described. These are only the remnants of a huge number of species that existed during the Age of Reptiles, which lasted approximately 120 million years and ended ca. 70 million years ago. The species that have survived to this day are grouped into 12 families. The most famous of them are described below.

Cheloniidae(sea turtles). Five or six species of the family are large reptiles with limbs resembling oars or flippers. These are exclusively aquatic animals, coming ashore only to lay eggs or bask in the sun. It is very difficult for them to move on land. At least one species is found in all warm oceans.

Green (soup) turtle ( Chelonia mydas) the most famous of the sea turtles. It is spread all over to the globe, and it is from it that the famous turtle soup is prepared. Previously, these reptiles were essentially mercilessly exterminated, often killing the females just before laying eggs.

Dermochelyidae(leatherback turtles). Leatherback turtle ( Dermochelys coriacea) the only living species of this family. This giant can reach a mass of more than 680 kg with a front flipper span of 3.6 m. The leathery shell bears 7 longitudinal ridges on the dorsal side and 5 on the ventral side. Although the range of these turtles covers all warm oceans, they are the rarest among the widespread marine species of the order. The question of the systematic position of the group remains controversial. It was allocated to a special suborder Athecae (scutellae), but most experts agree only on the rank of superfamily.

Trionychidae(three-clawed). These turtles are easily recognized by their soft, leathery shell without any scutes. They have a flat body, an elongated conical snout and legs with webbed swimmers. These are one of the fastest turtles, moving quickly both in water and on land. The long neck allows it to grab food and bite the enemy painfully, even if they are at a considerable distance. The claws of large individuals can leave deep scratches. Representatives of certain species tolerate captivity well, living in it for up to 20 years or more (record 25). Some three-clawed turtles are highly prized for their tasty meat. The largest of their 20 species is the large soft-shelled turtle ( Pelochelys bibroni) lives in Southeast Asia; its shell reaches a length of more than 1.2 m. Representatives of this family live in North America, Africa, Southeast Asia, the Malay Archipelago and New Guinea. Three species are found in the United States.

Pelomedusidae, Chelidae(suborder side-necked turtles: pelomedus and snake-necked). Representatives of these two families differ in the way the neck bends when the head is pulled under the edge of the shell: if in other turtles the neck bends in a vertical plane, then in them it bends in a horizontal plane, which is explained by the special structure of the spine. Side-necks live in the Southern Hemisphere or the regions closest to it and are not found in North America, Europe and Asia. Both families unite approx. 50 types. The most bizarre of all turtles is the Matamata ( Chelus fimbriata) from South America belongs to the snake-necked species. Her head is covered with many outgrowths sticking out in different directions. The Australian snake-necked turtle ( Chelodina longicollis) the length of the thin neck is almost the same as the shell.

Chelydridae(snapping turtles). The family includes only 2 species, of which the best known is the snapping turtle ( Chelydra serpentina). This aquatic reptile, found throughout much of North America and northwestern South America, is abundant in southeastern Canada and the eastern half of the United States, where it is highly prized as a food product. Snapping turtles are unfairly blamed for killing large numbers of fish and waterfowl. The weight of these animals often reaches 13.6 kg. When pulled out of the water, they can bite painfully.

Another species, the snapping turtle ( Macrochelys temmincki) one of the giants of the order, reaching a mass of approx. 90 kg. Not only are they the heaviest of its freshwater species, but they are also the most water-bound of the North American turtles. They are found in the southeastern United States, mainly in the lower Mississippi. Being slow, the snapping turtle lures prey with the help of a fleshy outgrowth of the bottom of the mouth, which moves in its open mouth like a worm.

Kinosternidae(mud turtles). Turtles of this family, which includes 21 species, usually live at the bottom of rivers and lakes. The group's range extends from southeastern Canada through the central and eastern United States to South America. The eight species of mud turtles found in the United States have small, fleshy “whiskers” on their chins that help distinguish them from other members of the order.

The most famous representative of the family is the common musk turtle ( Sternotherus odoratus) is common in water bodies of the eastern United States. Its length does not exceed 13 cm, but it greatly annoys local fishermen, as it often gets hooked, and when it is picked up, it secretes a stinking secretion from the musk glands. In addition, she is warlike and bites painfully.

Trailing turtles (genus Kinosternon) are found almost exclusively in the southeastern United States. They avoid deep bodies of water and come to land from time to time. Range of the Pennsylvania turtle Kinosternon subrubrum) stretches from the southeast of the country along the Atlantic coast to the southwestern tip of Connecticut.

Testudinidae(land turtles). This family includes approx. 40 species of turtles found on every continent except Australia. This also includes the relatively small Mediterranean tortoise ( Testudo graeca), and the giant elephant tortoise ( Geochelone elephantopus) from the Galapagos Islands, and some bizarre African species. Thus, in African kinix turtles (genus Kinixys) the back of the carapace is movably connected to the front, an elastic turtle ( Malacochersus tornieri) from Tanzania and Kenya has a soft, flattened shell made of thin bony plates and can hide in narrow rock crevices in a moment of danger. The only members of this family found in the United States are in the genus Gopher ( Gopherus); they live in the southern part of the country.

In the 19th century Galapagos elephant tortoises were taken on whaling ships as supplies of meat for sailors. The capture of millions of individuals has undermined the population so much that it is in danger of extinction.

Emydidae(freshwater turtles). This is the largest family of the order, uniting more than a third of all its species. They are common to the northern continents, also found in northern South America and Africa and are very diverse in size and body shape.

Painted turtle ( Chrysemys picta), which is distributed throughout the United States, is one of the most famous members of the family. It often reaches high numbers even in small ponds. Box turtles ( Terrapene) also a widespread genus, but not found in the western United States. They are mostly land animals; the movable elements of the plastron enable them to tightly close all the openings of the shell, like flaps. Decorated turtles ( Pseudemys) inhabit the southeastern United States.

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