Ancient turtles. An ancient legend about the origin of turtles

For two centuries, biologists have struggled unsuccessfully over the question of the origin of the hard turtle shell, and the discovery of the remains ancient turtle Odontochelys semitestacea only gave rise to new mysteries.

Some of the researchers even became related these reptiles with birds,

which, however, did not help in any way to get closer to solving the problem. Moreover, until recently, existing theories were practically not supported by fossil finds. Therefore, scientists could not compile a complete fossil record of turtles, and as a result, trace in detail the evolution of their ribs into shells.

Leopard tortoise hiding in its shell

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A group of American researchers from Yale University and the National Museum of Natural History decided to take a different approach to solving this problem. Instead of looking for an unknown ancestor of turtles and trying to fill the 30-55 million year evolutionary gap, they decided to reexamine the fossils of the Permian eunotosaurus (Eunotosaurus africanus).

Eunatosaurus skeleton found in South Africa

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According to one of the popular hypotheses, it is this lizard-like animal that is ancestor modern turtles.

The results of the study can be found in the latest issue of the scientific journal Current Biology.

Eunatosaurus skeleton helps shed light on turtle shell formation

sciencemag.org

For the first time, the remains of the Permian eunotosaurus, which lived approximately 260 million years ago, were discovered by paleontologists in the last quarter of the 19th century. And quite recently, several skeletons were found on the territory of South Africa, which, as it later turned out, belonged to this ancient animal. American researchers decided to study these finds in detail and came to rather non-trivial conclusions. So, it turned out that

In Eunotosaurus and Odontochelys, as well as proganochelis There are a number of identical features, among which the nine pairs of T-shaped ribs, growths on the perichondral bone ring and special respiratory muscles are especially notable.

This is what Tylor Lyson, the head of this study, told Gazeta.Ru. adolescence discoverer Odontochelys semitestacea, now at Yale University: “With the complete skeleton of Eunotosaurus at our disposal, we were able to make some amazing discoveries! The structure of its ribs is quite consistent with our theories about the evolution of the shell. However, the most amazing discoveries are yet to come: fusing more than fifty bones into a shell means completely changing the ventilation system of the lungs. And it’s very difficult to explain this: such changes have been going on for millions of years.”

From eunatosaurus to turtle

sciencemag.org

It is worth noting that the conclusions drawn by scientists are by no means final, since

There are still supporters of the origin of turtles from discosauriscus, although their theory does not have such a broad evidence base.

It will be possible to close the discussion only after finding some intermediate link in evolution between the notorious Eunotosaurus and Odontochelys.

There are old-timers among both people and animals. Turtles are considered the most prone to long life, especially if they live in ideal conditions– acceptable climate, abundant and healthy diet, communication with relatives. What is the oldest turtle on the planet?

Samira

This animal belonged to the breed Galapagos tortoises. She lived to be 270 years old (according to other sources - 315), dying in 2006 in the Cairo Zoo, as they say, of old age. Samira was donated to the park by the last king of the state, Farouk, who has a weakness for exotic animals. At the end of her life, Samira practically did not move.

Advaita

The second most old turtle in the world belonged to a species native to the Seychelles and lived for approximately 250 years. Back in the 19th century, English soldiers brought it from the Seychelles and presented it to Lord Clive before he went home in 1867. Earlier, in the middle of the 18th century, the lord was sent to India with the aim of establishing a colonial regime there. During his absence, the animal lived in the palace garden. In 1875, it was decided to place it in the Calcutta Zoo (although there is still no official confirmation that this is the same turtle).

In March 2006, the reptile was found dead by zoo staff. This was predictable, since Advaita had been feeling unwell for a couple of days before this. The impressive shell was preserved as a memory of the favorite of several generations of townspeople. Later, an examination was carried out to accurately determine the age of the turtle.

The exact name of the Advaita variety was "aldabra", in accordance with the atoll of the same name. This UN-protected site is home to another 150,000 of these turtles. Average weight the animal weighs 120 kg.

Tui Malila

According to legend, this Madagascar radiated tortoise was presented by Captain James Cook to the head of the Aborigines of Tonga in 1773. There is no official evidence of this, but if you believe it, it turns out that at the time of her death in 1966 she was 193 years old. By this point, she was already blind and could barely eat, so zookeepers had to move her mouth directly to the feeder.

Jonathan

This huge, imposing Seychelles tortoise was brought to St. Helena in 1882 along with three other specimens, each approximately 50 years old. Jonathan, now 185 years old, lives in the garden of the home of the island's governor, Spencer Davis. In 1900, a photograph was taken of a huge turtle lying at the feet of a Boer War prisoner. In 2008, confirmation was published that this particular turtle was Jonathan, who at that time was about 70 years old.

Harietta

At one time, an elephant tortoise named Garietta was included in the Guinness Book of Records for his long life– in 2005 she was 175 years old, all of which she spent in captivity. It is not known exactly who caught her; according to one version, it was Charles Darwin, according to another - ordinary whalers.

For the last 30 years of its life, the animal was a real attraction at the Queensland Zoo.

IN wildlife, according to scientists, only a dozen of its brothers remain.

It should be noted that the population could have been larger if Harietta had not been caught: until the end of her life she was capable of fertilization, but did not have a partner.

The amazing turtle's favorite food was hibiscus, and she also loved to eat eggplant and parsley, and was generally quite unpretentious and modest. Zoo workers talk about this.

Timothy

In April 2004, another of the honored long-lived turtles died. At that time, Timothy was 160 years old. He spent amazing life, serving as a mascot on a British warship, then sailed with soldiers to China and East India, and retired 100 years before his death. All this time, the turtle was crawling in the garden around Powderham Castle, located in Devon, and during hibernation hiding among the rose bushes. Then a sign was attached to it asking not to disturb. In 1926, all fans of the turtle were waiting for unexpected surprise: Turns out Timothy was a female. In general, we can say that the animal led a rather active lifestyle compared to other relatives and peers.

These are the amazing animals that lived and continue to live on our planet. I would like to believe that all representatives of the animal world will be just as lucky with their living conditions so that they can lead a long, fruitful life.

If time travel were a reality, this would be a great opportunity to visit the distant Triassic period, traveling back several tens of millions of years with one single significant goal - to see the ancestors of modern turtles with your own eyes.

The similarity of those turtles with representatives existing in our time is significant. The manner of hiding the head under the shell, seeking protection from external aggressors, as well as the structure of the shell itself, consisting of bone plates under a dense horny layer, has not undergone any changes. There is only one significant difference - the gigantic size of Triassic turtles.

Archelon

Mosasaurus

Archelon, this is exactly the nickname the three-ton amphibian beauty bore. This species could reach five meters in length, the head making up a seventh of the entire length of the body. These giants moved thanks to their front flippers, similar to giant wings. The main diet consisted of jellyfish and crustaceans existing in considerable quantities. The only people to be afraid of this kind of species were sharks and now extinct reptiles similar to giant snakes - mosasaurs. During the breeding season, turtles laid eggs on land, and then returned to the peace of the seabed.

Turtles - Atlanteans

Turtles - Atlanteans weighing about four tons, unlike the Archelons, lived primarily on land and were considered the most massive species of all known land owners of shells. Despite their size, they were distinguished by timidity; when the slightest threat arose, they pulled their heads under their shell with an unusual speed. They preferred various types of vegetation in their diet.

Proganochelis

Another ancestor of modern turtles was Proganochelis. This is one of the species of extinct turtles that are of great interest to scientists and researchers. This suborder belongs to the species Proganochelydia. The mysterious suborder also keeps many mysteries and secrets. The most ancient turtle, known to science, dates back about two hundred and thirty million years. Unlike his brothers, his main characteristic was not giant size, and the presence of teeth and a horny beak, as well as several other primitive features. Proganochelis could not retract the limbs and head under the shell; instead, the paws and neck were covered with hard, pointed scales, which performed protective functions. This distinguished them from most modern turtles.

Seychelles tortoise

IN modern world Only the Seychelles tortoise can boast of considerable size. This reptile received its name because of its only habitat - Aldabra Island, part of the Seychelles group of islands. The Seychelles tortoise is a large amphibian, reaching one hundred and twenty centimeters, has a squat body and a rather small head. Their population is not high.

An interesting fact is that the theory of turtle evolution has not yet been deduced by scientists. This is primarily due to the fact that until now it has not been possible to find the remains of the transitional forms of this species, although it is worth noting that quite a few fossilized remains of ancient turtles have been found. There is only an assumption that turtles originate from the most primitive reptiles, cotylosaurs.

Along with a decrease in the size range, modern representatives of turtles are deprived of all kinds of teeth. Equating the latter with the sharp edges of their powerful jaws, thanks to which they can bite off food, is quite erroneous. When eating hard and fibrous foods such as meat, turtles prefer to initially tear the prey into small pieces using the claws of their front legs. Some individuals are endowed with the ability to crush food using horny ridges in their mouths.

Turtles clearly sense any slightest vibration in the ground, which in some way replaces their specific hearing. They are capable of detecting only low-frequency sounds at an average level of one and a half thousand hertz. It should be noted that auditory reactions are required only during the period mating games when males attract a female by means of a loud low roar. They have excellent eyesight. Land representatives are able to distinguish the entire spectrum of colors and choose the plant with the brightest juicy color. This is complemented by a well-developed sense of smell and sense of direction.

If we consider aquarium species amphibians of this class, it should be noted that they quickly become accustomed to the owner, the ability to recognize the feeder and provide him with various signs of greeting. Although everything may be much simpler and the pet is just waiting for the next treat.

Modern science has studied turtles almost entirely, but this is not all. There are about 230 species of turtles in the world, and even 350 subspecies. Today, scientists often argue to which genus this or that species can be classified, as well as about the names of these genera and species. Therefore, you can often find disagreements in lists of turtle species.

Turtles live everywhere: in the sunny desert, in rivers, in forests, in swamps, oceans, highlands and seas. However, an important condition for them is the presence of heat. Since in order to procreate they need to have warm water. Most of the turtle species are on the verge of extinction, as they are exterminated for gourmet cooking and for food needs. traditional medicine. According to data, one in three turtles die from fishing. Therefore, now more than ever, human help and protection is needed.

They appeared long before humans, 200 million years ago, when huge dinosaurs roamed the Earth. These are the ancient inhabitants of the turtle planet, who have not changed at all for hundreds of thousands of years. True, their numbers have decreased sharply.

These animals can be found everywhere except cold Antarctica and North Pole. At the moment, more than three hundred species of turtles are known, and they live on land, in water and even in. There are so-called semi-aquatic turtles that live both on land and in water.

Sea turtles spend all their time in the water and only come ashore to lay eggs. Desert - in the heat of the day they climb into the shade or bury themselves in the sand and sit there until dusk and the long-awaited coolness.

The size of animals depends on climate and living conditions. The largest ones, weighing up to 200 kilograms, live on the Galapagos Islands and in the Indian Ocean.

Turtles are the only representatives of reptiles that have a durable shell, which protects them from enemies in the wild. When in danger, the animal hides in its “protective suit” and becomes inaccessible to predators. But unfortunately this does not always happen. For example, a hawk, having grabbed a turtle, lifts it high into the air and throws it onto the rocks until the shell cracks. Crocodiles and hyenas can bite through the shell with their powerful teeth. Here nothing can save the turtle - it becomes the prey of a predator.

The ancient inhabitants of the planet themselves feed on mollusks, earthworms and cacti. Aquatic turtles eat algae, small fish and frogs.

When there is a lot of food, and this happens in the warm season, turtles lead an active life, but in winter it freezes. Animals hide in holes underground or burrow into the mud at the bottom of reservoirs.

Turtles have keen eyesight and respond well to bright colors. They also have an excellent sense of smell, with the help of which they easily find food, communicate with relatives and navigate the area. All turtles have excellent hearing, especially those that live in water.

Legends say that in the evenings turtles come out of the water and sing. Whether this is true or not is not known for sure, but it has been established that they react to the intonation of the human voice. You can easily check this if you have such a four-legged pet in your home. If you talk to a turtle in a gentle and calm voice, it will stretch its neck and listen to you. And if you scold her in a sharp and shrill voice, she will hide in her shell, thereby expressing her displeasure.

Everyone probably knows that turtles are very slow. There are even comparisons that can be heard from a person’s lips: “Why are you fiddling around like a turtle” or “Let’s go faster, otherwise you’re crawling like a turtle.” It turns out that not all of them are like that.

Sea turtles can swim at a speed of 30 km. at one o'clock! And the snapping turtle can rush at the enemy with lightning speed. A slow life, in which little energy is spent, helps these animals survive and live long. And they live 150 and 200 years!

Even in ancient times, turtles attracted the attention of people. Cities, lakes, and islands are named in their honor. And the favorite dish of the Indians and natives has always been turtle soup. For many centuries, various products were made from turtle skin, and therefore these animals were destroyed.

At present, the ancient inhabitants of the turtle planet are on the verge of extinction, which means they need to be protected.

Now let's smile!

I hope you know what lies behind the word grooming? ...

Turtles are very ancient creatures. To some extent, they are descendants of some species of dinosaurs.

There are a huge variety of turtles. They are divided into species, subspecies, orders, suborders. Many are already extinct, and some are on the verge of extinction. Some turtles can be kept in the house, but some are simply not meant for this.

Today we will try to understand all the diversity and types of turtles.

There are a huge variety of turtle species. In total there are more than 328 species, which are included in 14 families.

The tortoise order consists of two suborders, divided by the way the animal retracts its head into its shell:

Hidden-necked turtles with necks folded into an "S" shape
Side-necked turtles with their head tucked toward one of their front legs

This is the simplest division. I will not give an official division into all types and subspecies here. For this we can read Wikipedia. The purpose of this article is not to confuse you, but to give the most convenient and simple classification. Therefore, we will divide turtles by habitat.

According to the habitat of turtles, there is the following classification:

Sea turtles (live in seas and oceans)
Terrestrial turtles (live on land or in fresh water)

In turn, terrestrial turtles last for:

Land turtles
Fresh aquatic turtles

Types of sea turtles

Sea turtles are inhabitants of salt waters. Unlike their earthly relatives they differ large size. They live in warm tropical waters, practically not visiting cold latitudes.

Sea turtles have remained virtually unchanged for millions of years since they appeared on the planet. They are characterized by developed forelimbs, used as flippers, and hind legs that are almost not involved in movement. Also, in sea turtles, the limbs cannot be retracted into the shell. Moreover, some species, such as the leatherback turtle, have no shell at all.

Despite the popular belief that turtles are slow animals, this is only the case on land, where they really look clumsy. However, in the water they are transformed, becoming examples of speed and superior navigator qualities. Even in Fiji (a state in Pacific Ocean) the sea turtle is the symbol of the maritime department. This is not without reason - nature really rewarded these animals with qualities that allowed them to become excellent swimmers.

In addition, scientists have not fully figured out why, but turtles have amazing navigational abilities:

Firstly, they accurately determine the place of their birth, and return exactly there to continue their offspring. And even after many years they remember the place of their birth.
Secondly, sea turtles undergo enormous migrations, presumably guided by magnetic field Earth, which prevents them from getting lost.
And thirdly, some sea turtles, for example, the Ridley turtle, gather to lay eggs in the sand only on one day a year. Ну и, в-третьих, некоторые морские черепахи, например, черепаха Ридлея, собираются для откладывания яиц в песок только в один день в году. Scientists suggest that only those individuals that were born in this particular place and were lucky enough to survive gather on the beach. Ученые предполагают, что на пляже собираются только те особи, которые родились именно в этом месте, и которым посчастливилось выжить. Locals call this day "invasion" when thousands of turtles emerge from the water. Местные жители называют этот день «нашествие», когда тысячи черепах выходят из воды. This behavior suggests a collective consciousness among turtles.

Такое поведение наталкивает на мысль о коллективном сознании черепах.

When the turtle lays her eggs, she very carefully buries the eggs with sand, compacts them, and makes them invisible. Когда черепаха отложит яйца, она очень бережно закапывает кладку песком, утрамбовывает ее, и делает незаметной. 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. глядя на такую заботу о яйцах трудно представить, что никаких материнских чувств мама-черепаха не испытывает, и сделав свое дело возвращается в океан, не дожидаясь, когда яйца вылупятся. The hatched turtle will likely live less than 10 minutes. Вылупившаяся черепашка, скорее всего, проживет менее 10 минут. Having got out of the sand, she rushes to the water, on the way to which a huge number of enemies await her, first of all выбравшись из песка, она устремляется к воде, на пути к которой ее поджидает огромное количество врагов, прежде всего birds of prey

хищных птиц

. . But even after reaching water, most of them will be eaten

Но, даже добравшись воды, большинство из них будут съедены
sea predators
морскими хищниками
. . Only one in a hundred turtles born will reach adulthood and return to this beach to continue their lineage.
Только одна из ста родившихся черепах дорастет до половозрелого возраста и вернется на этот пляж, чтобы продолжить свой род.

Based on materials from: inokean.ru

По материалам: inokean.ru The most famous representatives of sea turtles: Самые известные представители морских черепах: Leatherback turtle кожистая черепаха Green (soup sea turtle)

Зеленая (суповая морская черепаха)

Loggerhead sea turtle (false carriage turtle)
Головастая морская черепаха (ложная каретта) или логгерхед

Hawksbill sea turtle (true caretta) морская черепаха бисса (настоящая каретта) ridley (olive turtle)

Ридлея (оливковая черепаха)

Types 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 and 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 different types ranges from 50 to 100 years, sometimes up to 150.

Land turtles are primarily herbivores, but their diet must include a certain amount of animal food. They can go for a very long time without water and food, and in the presence of succulent vegetation they do not need water at all, but they drink it willingly, especially in the heat.

The most popular are the Central Asian and Mediterranean turtles. It's better to take a young turtle. This can be easily determined by the size of the shell (it is small) and behavior (reaction, better in young turtles).

Based on materials from: so-sha.narod.ru

The most famous representatives of land turtles:

Panther turtle
Yellow-footed turtle
Yellow-headed turtle
Red footed turtle
Radiant turtle
Steppe (Central Asian) turtle
Mediterranean (Caucasian, Greek)

Types of freshwater turtles

Freshwater turtles are the largest family of turtles, comprising 31 genera and 85 species. These are small and medium-sized animals, the shell of which in most cases is low and has a rounded oval streamlined shape.

Their limbs are usually swimming, have more or less developed membranes and are armed with sharp claws. The head is covered on top with smooth skin, only sometimes there are small shields on the back of the head. Many species have very bright, beautiful colors of the head and legs, and often the shell.

The family is distributed unusually widely - in Asia, Europe, North Africa, North and South America. There are two main nodes in their geography. The main, most ancient center lies in South-East 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, and feed on a variety of animal and plant foods. Only a few species switched to living on land for the second time, which affected their appearance and behavior. Although carnivory is characteristic of aquatic turtles, some species are strict vegetarians.

Just like land animals, they should be kept in terrariums, but only in special ones. You need a heated lamp, a “bank” where the turtle should go out to warm up, and actual water.

Trionics is a representative of the family of soft-bodied turtles.

Inhabits the Amur basin within Russia, (which is the extreme northern border 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, red-eared turtles are very popular. Representatives of the genus can be found south of North America, Southern and Central Europe, South Africa, South-East Asia.

The turtle got its name from 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 usually oval dark color with yellow lines and a yellow border 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 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 southern, warm regions, in agricultural and desert areas. Central Asia. The size is 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 health and psychological condition animal, and it dies early. Not in vain Central Asian turtle placed in the Red Book!

This breed has about 20 subspecies, living in various landscapes and climatic zones. Basically it's North Africa, southern Europe and Southwest Asia, Black Sea coast 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.

Externally similar to Mediterranean turtles, but much less. The dimensions of the shell are 15-20 centimeters (according to some sources – 30 centimeters). The color of the shell is yellow-brown with black spots. 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 coast Mediterranean Sea: northeastern Spain, European part of Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Balearic Islands, Corsica, the Ligurian and Tyrrhenian coasts of Italy, Sardinia, Sicily, as well as 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 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 her that because she is the main one distinctive feature– a red spot near the ears (yellow in some subspecies).

The shell is 18-30 centimeters long. In youth it has a bright green shell color, which darkens with age. There are bright green stripes on the head and limbs. Males differ from females in their larger and more massive tail and nail plate.

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 swampy 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!

Meet a European swamp turtle possible on the territory of Russia (Crimea, Yaroslavl region, Smolensk, Bryansk, Tula, Oryol, Belgorod, Lipetsk, Voronezh, Samara, Saratov region, upper Don, Mari El Republic, Trans-Urals, central and southern regions), Belarus, Lithuania, Ukraine, Central and Southern Europe, the Caucasus, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Asia, Turkey, northern Iran and northwest Africa.

In its natural habitat it prefers ponds and lakes with muddy bottoms. Activity occurs during the daytime. The water temperature in the terrarium is 22-25 degrees, the air temperature is 30. The species is listed in the Red Book.

Reaches a total length of up to 30 centimeters (25 centimeters of which is the shell). The shell 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, northwest 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 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 see aquarium turtles in the photo or in natural form in the store, and choose a pet based on your aesthetic preferences. Big differences in content different breeds There are no such amphibians.

Types of aquarium turtles that are most often found in aquaterrariums:

Swamp turtle
Long-necked turtle
Mud turtle

The last one is the smallest. An adult reaches only 10 centimeters. Accordingly, she will need a comparatively smaller home. The rest grow 2-3 times larger at home. All these amphibians have good eyesight, react to movement, 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! The minimum dimensions of an aquaterratium should be 160 centimeters in length, 60 centimeters in width and 80 centimeters in height. 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 true friends 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. Average length the body length of representatives of this species of turtle is 13 cm. The three-keeled turtle is an excellent choice for people who are purchasing a turtle for the first time, as it is a very calm and unpretentious animal.

Small turtles do not require large expenses for their maintenance, do not need any special care and do not take up much space in the apartment - a small 100-150-liter aquarium will be quite enough for them.

Despite the enormous popularity of these small exotic animals as pets, keeping them in captivity is illegal in some countries.

Based on materials from: vitaportal.ru

Endangered turtle species

At the moment, there are several species of turtles that are either extinct or on the verge of extinction.

Galapagos tortoise or elephant tortoise. By the early 20th century, more than 200,000 Galapagos tortoises had been exterminated. Almost all natural habitats of elephant turtles were also destroyed.

This is due to the fact that actively began to develop Agriculture and they needed places to raise 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 rubbish they die from this.

Swamp turtle. The only representative of turtles in Belarus. Females are distinguished by larger body sizes and a relatively 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 normal look. But in Russia, this rare view, whose numbers are rapidly declining in this part of its range.

This is due to the fact that the Far Eastern tortoise is one of the main edible species turtles. Therefore, many poachers catch, kill and sell them. Local residents also destroy the nests and take away the eggs of Far Eastern turtles.

Poisonous turtles

Along with pet turtles, there are some species that can cause irreparable harm to your health.

Leatherback turtle. The leatherback turtle is the largest of all turtles, sometimes reaching over 2.5 meters in length. These 900-kilogram omnivores may be the widest-ranging vertebrates on Earth, but their population is declining every year due to industrial development, pollution and their capture due to bycatch.

These turtles are usually quite gentle giants, however if disturbed they can bite and their bite can break bones as they are very strong and powerful. In one strange case, a huge leatherback turtle, likely weighing more than 680 kilograms, directed its aggression towards the small boat and rammed it. Shortly before, the turtle was being chased by a shark, so it considered the boat a potential threat.

Fringed turtle (mata-mata). The Amazon of South America is famous for its incredible and sometimes creepy creatures. In the same river 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 equipped with very powerful jaws. If a turtle feels threatened, it will not hesitate to use its beak, which can crush bones, so it is better to keep your distance from them. Incredibly, this creature, living in Asia, is able to climb trees, where it can sit like a bird. Unfortunately this amazing creature is endangered due to poaching, which must be constantly combated.

Soft-bodied turtles. Looking like flat human-reptile hybrids from alien horror films, soft-bodied turtles compensate for their lack of shell by greatly strong bite. Among the many species of soft-shelled turtles from around the world, the most feared is the large Cantor's soft-shelled turtle, endemic to China.

She hides in the sand, waiting for prey, and then jumps out and bites the prey 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 you received today Full description what types of turtles there are. We figured out all their diversity and have already planned a pet for the future. Well, I say goodbye to you.

Kawabanga, friends!