(Chelonia), a detachment of reptiles, the only representatives of reptiles whose body is covered with a shell. They are found in all warm regions 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 cotilosaurs, the most primitive reptiles. Although there are few fossils supporting this hypothesis, the extinct genus Eunotosaurus quite suitable for the role of an evolutionary "link". This animal had a flattened body and greatly expanded ribs.

Unlike their snake relatives, turtles were rarely worshiped and never inspired much fear. Indeed, they practically do not pose a danger to human life. Unless a swimmer gets 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 take any large object for a female.

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

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

As the size of the turtle increases, a horny substance grows along the edges of each shield. 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 fuse with 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 pull the internal organs back, allowing the lungs to fill with air; then other muscles reverse the process by squeezing the lungs. Some aquatic species are not completely dependent on pulmonary respiration and are able to absorb oxygen also through the pharyngeal mucosa.

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

Mating and oviposition. Mating behavior begins with courtship, the forms of which are species-specific. The male can "butt" and push the female, gently biting her. In large turtles, courtship is sometimes accompanied by loud grunts. Male painted turtle ( 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 muzzle with the long claws of their front paws.

Mating can take place on land or in water. In this case, the penis, in a calm state, hidden at the base of the tail, extends through the opening of the cloaca. Females of some species of turtles can store viable sperm for a long time (this is also characteristic of some other vertebrates), and one mating allows them to lay fertilized eggs over the next few 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 the 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 in some sea turtles their number reaches seven in one breeding season. Eggs in a clutch, depending on the species, 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 kids become the prey of voracious fish. At this time, a large number of lovers of their eggs and cubs usually accumulate near the breeding grounds of turtles. Depending on the species, hardening of the shell takes a different time, but, as a rule, at least several months. After that, turtles become relatively inaccessible to predators.

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

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

Food. 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, having eaten well, 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 not easy for turtles to cope with, and animal meat sometimes has to be torn into pieces using claws on their front paws. In some species, horny ridges are located inside the mouth, allowing them to crush prey protected by hard covers.

Sense organs and higher nervous activity. Turtles are good at smelling 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 carapace and the scaly skin have tactile sensitivity, and the giant tortoise even feels the pressure of a straw that is passed over its massive carapace. Although turtles have long been known to be sensitive to vibrations transmitted through the soil, their ability to perceive airborne sound waves has long been controversial. Today, the existence of at least a weak "ordinary" hearing in them is considered proven.

Compared to other reptiles, turtles are very smart. They easily learn to follow the owner, seem to enjoy the attention provided and get used to a certain regime. Apparently, some individuals are smarter than others. For example, among the six gophers Agassi ( Gopherus agassizi), living together, one individual voluntarily climbed the inclined plane to the platform and rolled down the metal chute from 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 can spend a lot of energy climbing over an obstacle that is easy to get around; or for a long time trying to squeeze through a gap much smaller than them in size.

BASIC FAMILIES More than 200 modern species of turtles have been described. These are just the remnants of a huge number of species that existed during the era of reptiles, which lasted approximately 120 million years and ended approx. 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 their 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) is the most famous of the sea turtles. It is distributed throughout the globe, and it is from it that the famous turtle soup is prepared. Previously, these reptiles were essentially ruthlessly exterminated, often killing females just before oviposition.

Dermochelyidae(leather turtles). Leatherback turtle ( Dermochelys coriacea) is 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 singled out in a special suborder Athecae (shieldless), but most experts converge only on the rank of superfamily.

Trionychidae(three-clawed). These turtles are easily recognizable by their soft, leathery shell without any scutes. They have a flat body, an elongated conical snout, and legs with swimming webs. These are one of the most frisky turtles, moving quickly both in water and on land. The long neck allows them 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 (the record is 25). Some three-clawed turtles are highly prized for their tasty meat. The largest of their 20 species is the large soft-bodied 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 USA.

Pelomedusidae, Chelidae(suborder side-necked turtles: pelomedusal 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 is in a horizontal one, which is explained by the special structure of the spine. Sidenecks are found in or near the Southern Hemisphere and are not found in North America, Europe, or Asia. Both families unite approx. 50 kinds. The most bizarre of all turtles is the matamata ( Chelus fimbriata) from South America - refers to the snake-necked. Her head is covered with many outgrowths sticking out in different directions. In the Australian snake-necked turtle ( Chelodina longicollis) the length of the thin neck is almost the same as the shell.

Chelydridae(cayman turtles). The family includes only 2 species, of which the most famous is the caiman turtle ( Chelydra serpentina). It is an aquatic reptile native to most of North America and the northwestern South, abundant in southeastern Canada and the eastern half of the United States, where it is highly valued as a food item. Cayman tortoises are unfairly accused of killing large numbers of fish and waterfowl. The mass of these animals often reaches 13.6 kg. Pulled out of the water, they can bite painfully.

Another species, the vulture turtle ( Macrochelys temmincki) - one of the giants of the detachment, reaching a mass of approx. 90 kg. These are not only the heaviest among its freshwater representatives, but also the most attached to water among the North American turtles. They are found in the southeastern United States, mainly in the lower reaches of the Mississippi. Being slow, the vulture tortoise 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(silt turtles). Turtles of this family, which includes 21 species, usually live at the bottom of rivers and lakes. The range of the group stretches from southeastern Canada through the central and eastern United States to South America. Eight species of mud turtle found in the United States have small, fleshy "antennae" on their chins that help distinguish them from other members of the order.

The most famous member of the family is the common musk turtle ( Sternotherus odoratus) is common in the waters of the eastern United States. Its length does not exceed 13 cm, but it greatly annoys local fishermen, as it is often caught on a hook, and when it is picked up, it releases a smelly secret from the musk glands. In addition, she is belligerent and bites painfully.

Trailing turtles (genus Kinosternon) are found almost exclusively in the southeastern United States. They avoid deep water bodies and come out onto land from time to time. Range of the Pennsylvania tortoise ( 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. It also includes the relatively small Mediterranean tortoise ( testudo graeca), and a giant elephant tortoise ( Geochelone elephantopus) from the Galapagos Islands, and some bizarre African species. So, in African tortoises, the kinix (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 of thin bone plates and can, in a moment of danger, clog into narrow rock crevices. The only members of this family found in the United States belong to the gopher genus ( Gopherus); they live in the southern part of the country.

In the 19th century Galapagos elephant tortoises were taken on whaling ships as meat supplies for sailors. The capture of millions of individuals has so undermined the population 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 on the northern continents, are also found in the north of 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 representatives of the family. Often it reaches high numbers even in small ponds. Box Turtles ( Terrapene) is also a widespread genus, but is not found in the western United States. These are mostly land animals; the movable elements of the plastron enable them to close tightly, like doors, all the openings of the shell. Decorated turtles ( Pseudemys) inhabit the southeastern United States.

Find "TURTLES" on

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

There are a huge number of turtles. They are divided into species, subspecies, orders, suborders. Many have already died out, and some are on the verge of extinction. Some turtles can be kept in the house, and some are simply not designed 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 that are included in 14 families.

The turtle squad consists of two suborders, divided by the way the animal puts its head into the shell:

1. Hidden neck turtles that fold their necks in the shape of the Latin letter "S"
2. Side-necked turtles hiding their heads towards one of their front paws

This is the simplest division. I will not give here the official division into all types and subspecies. To do this, you 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 separate turtles by habitat.

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

• Sea turtles (live in the seas and oceans)
• Land turtles (live on land or in fresh water)

In turn, terrestrial turtles last for:

• Land turtles
• Freshwater turtles

Sea turtle species

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

Sea turtles have changed little in the millions of years since they appeared on the planet. They are characterized by developed forelimbs used as flippers, and almost no hind legs involved in the movement. Similarly, in sea turtles, the limbs cannot retract into the shell. Moreover, in some species, such as, for example, the leatherback turtle, there is no shell at all.

Despite the common belief that turtles are slow animals, this only happens on land, where they really look clumsy. However, in the water they are transformed, becoming examples of speed and superior navigational qualities. Even in Fiji (a state in the Pacific Ocean), the sea turtle is a symbol of the maritime department. This is no accident - nature really rewarded these animals with qualities that allowed them to become excellent swimmers.

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

• First, they accurately determine the place of their birth, and return there to continue their offspring. And even after many years they remember the place of their birth.
• Secondly, sea turtles make grand migrations, presumably guided by the Earth's magnetic field, which does not allow them to get lost.
• And thirdly, some sea turtles, such as the Ridley turtle, gather to lay their eggs in the sand only one day a year. Scientists suggest that only those individuals who were born in this particular place and who were lucky enough to survive gather on the beach. The locals call this day the "invasion" when thousands of turtles come out of the water. This behavior suggests the idea of ​​a collective consciousness of turtles.

When the turtle lays its eggs, it very carefully buries the masonry with sand, compacts it, and makes it invisible. Looking at such care for the eggs, it is hard to imagine that the turtle mother does not experience any maternal feelings, and having done her job returns to the ocean, without waiting for the eggs to hatch.

A hatchling 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, are waiting for her. But, even reaching the water, most of them will be eaten by marine predators. Only one in a hundred turtles born will grow to adulthood and return to this beach to continue their lineage.

Source: inokean.ru

The most famous representatives of sea turtles:

• Leatherback turtle
• Green (soup sea turtle)
• Big-headed sea turtle (false carriage) or loggerhead
• Sea turtle hawksbill (true carriage)
• Ridley (olive turtle)

Types of terrestrial turtles

Land turtles make up the largest group in terms of the number of species included in it. This includes the family of terrestrial tortoises, which has 37 species, as well as the two largest families of freshwater tortoises (85 species).

Terrestrial turtles also include many families, including 1-2 species each.

Distributed throughout the hot and temperate zone (except Australia). Marsh 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.

Land turtles are herbivores. This is one of the few examples of a plant-only diet among turtles. They feed on 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
• Stretch turtle
• steppe turtle
• elephant turtle
• wood turtle

Types of land turtles

Terrestrial, as well as freshwater turtles, belong to the species of terrestrial turtles.

Let's start with the land turtles - a family of turtles with 11-13 genera, including about forty species.

Terrestrial animals with a high, rarely flattened, shell, with thick columnar legs. The toes are fused together and only the short nails 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. Giant 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 flee, but hide in their shells. Another method of defense used by many land tortoises is the rapid emptying of a very capacious bladder. The Central Asian tortoise, in danger, hisses like a gyurza.

They are distinguished by phenomenal vitality and longevity. Life expectancy in different species ranges from 50 to 100 years, sometimes up to 150.

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

The most popular are the Central Asian and Mediterranean turtles. It is better to take a young turtle. This is easy to determine by the size of the shell (it is small) and behavior (reaction, young turtles are better).

Source: so-sha.narod.ru

The most famous representatives of land turtles:

• panther tortoise
• yellow-legged tortoise
• yellow-headed tortoise
• red-footed tortoise
• radiant turtle
• Steppe (Central Asian) tortoise
• Mediterranean (Caucasian, Greek)

Types of freshwater turtles

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

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

The family is unusually widespread - 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 developed later in the east of North America, where 8 genera of freshwater turtles are found.

Most species are aquatic inhabitants inhabiting water bodies with a weak current. They deftly move both in water and on land, they feed on a variety of animal and plant foods. Only a few species moved to living on land for the second time, which affected their appearance and behavior. Although carnivorous is characteristic of aquatic turtles, however, 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 proper water.

Trionics is a member of the family, soft-bodied turtles.

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, and also the Hainan Islands, Taiwan. Introduced to Hawaii.

Lives in fresh water. Most active at dusk and at night. During the day it often warms up on the shore. In case of danger, it instantly hides in the water, digging into the bottom silt. It feeds on fish, amphibians, insects, molluscs and worms.

Also, red-eared turtles are very popular. Representatives of the genus can be found south of North America, South and Central Europe, South Africa, Southeast Asia.

The turtle got its name from two elongated bright red spots behind the eyes. This patch can be bright yellow in the Cumberland tortoise or yellow in the Yellow-bellied tortoise. The plastron is oval, usually dark in 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, however, I believe that it is worth dividing them also according to these criteria to make it easier for you to choose.

Types of domestic turtles

Here again, for convenience, we divide into land and freshwater turtles.

Land turtles

The most common type of turtle. Those turtles that we used to see with our friends, acquaintances, 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 can see, most pet stores bypass this ban.

In nature, it lives in the southern, warm regions, in agricultural and desert massifs of Central Asia. The size is medium, the shell is 20-30 centimeters long, yellow-brown in color with dark zones on the shields. There are four fingers on the limbs.

The most comfortable temperature for keeping in a terrarium is 24-30 degrees. However, being in a closed space adversely affects the health and psychological state of the animal, and it dies early. No wonder the Central Asian tortoise was placed in the Red Book!

This breed has about 20 subspecies that live in various landscapes and climatic zones. Basically, these are North Africa, southern Europe and Southwestern Asia, the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus, Dagestan, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan.

Accordingly, he loves heat and sunlight. Depending on the subspecies, it has different sizes and color of the shell. The size of the shell reaches up to 35 centimeters. Color - brown-yellow with dark patches. On the back of the thighs is a horny tubercle. There are 5 toes on the front paws, and spurs on the hind paws. A comfortable temperature for keeping in an aquarium is 25-30 degrees.

Outwardly similar to Mediterranean tortoises, but much smaller. The size of the shell is 15-20 centimeters (according to some sources - 30 centimeters). The color of the shell is yellow-brown with black spots. At a young age - bright, fades over the years.

A characteristic feature of this species is a conical spike at the end of the tail. Individuals living in the west are smaller than individuals living in the east.

In general, this species lives in Southern Europe, along the Mediterranean coast: northeastern Spain, the European part of Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, the Balearic Islands, Corsica, the Ligurian and Tyrrhenian coasts of Italy, Sardinia, Sicily, and also the Greek islands. A comfortable temperature for keeping in a terrarium is 26-32 degrees.

These turtles are very small. The size of their shell is only about 12 centimeters. Yellow shade, shields with a dark border. There are no spurs on the hind legs.

The habitat is the Mediterranean coast of Israel, Egypt, Libya. If you decide to have 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 burrows into the sand when danger approaches.

Freshwater house turtles

The most common species of freshwater turtles that can be found in terrariums and aquariums of urban residents. It includes approximately 15 subspecies and belongs to the genus of decorated (lined, scribbled) turtles. They call it so for the main distinguishing feature - a red spot near the ears (in some subspecies it is yellow).

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

In nature, they live in the USA (Virginia, Florida, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico), in Mexico and the countries of Central America and the Caribbean, in South America (Colombia, Venezuela).

Can also be found in Australia, South Africa, Arizona, Guadeloupe, Israel, Spain, Great Britain. Lives in lakes and ponds with marshy shores. Leads a sedentary and lazy lifestyle. For a comfortable stay in your terrarium, keep the water temperature 22-28 degrees, air - 30-32 degrees.

There are 13 subspecies of the European bog turtle. Their shell carapace is low, convex, and smooth. In length they reach up to 35 centimeters and weigh 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). On the paws, the claws are quite large, and between the fingers there are membranes. In adult turtles, the length of the tail is up to ¾ of the size of the shell, and in small turtles even more!

You can meet the European marsh turtle on the territory of Russia (Crimea, Yaroslavl region, Smolensk, Bryansk, Tula, Orel, Belgorod, Lipetsk, Voronezh, Samara, Saratov regions, the upper Don, the Republic of Mari El, 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 a muddy bottom. 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 (of which 25 centimeters 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 tortoises 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, in Turkmenistan, Iran, Iraq.

In nature, it settles in reservoirs, both with fresh and brackish water, near which there is coastal vegetation. And these turtles can climb mountains 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, water - 18-22 degrees.

Chinese trionics (Far Eastern tortoise). Every rule has exceptions. Chinese trionics is proof of this. We are all used to seeing turtles with a classic hard shell. In Chinese Trionics, it is soft.

The size of the shell reaches 20 centimeters, it is soft, leathery, without any shields. Green color. But this is not all that can surprise an unprepared person in this unique representative of the order of turtles.

They have three toes on their paws. On the muzzle instead of a nose is a proboscis. And passing by some reservoir somewhere in China and seeing how such a proboscis sticks out of the water, you know - this is a Trionics turtle leaning out to get a fresh portion of oxygen.

Despite all their vulnerability and grace, the jaws of the Chinese Trionyx have sharp cutting edges with which they grab their prey.

The piggy bank of the amazing qualities of this turtle can also include the speed of movement and reaction. This is not a classic turtle for you, barely moving around the house.

It is dangerous for humans because of its nature: Trionyx turtles are quite aggressive, bite painfully and are rarely tamed. Is that only from an early age not to grow in captivity. You can meet Trionix in China, Vietnam, Korea, Japan, the Hainan and Taiwan Islands, the Russian Far East, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, the Hawaiian and Mariana Islands, Micronesia.

They prefer to live in rivers with a weak current, lakes and canals. In eastern countries - China, Japan, Korea, it is very much appreciated for its meat, and is served at the table as a delicacy. In captivity, the water temperature in the terrarium should reach 26 degrees, air - 30-32.

Source: www.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
• Silt musk turtle

The last one is the smallest. An adult reaches only 10 centimeters. Accordingly, she will need a relatively smaller dwelling. The rest grow at home 2-3 times larger. All these amphibians have good eyesight, react to movement, distinguish smells and tastes. At the same time, turtles are deaf, their ears are tightened with skin folds.

Keeping turtles in aquariums

When thinking about how to care for aquarium turtles, it should be noted that they need both water and land for a full life. Well, it’s not for nothing that biologists called them amphibians! The minimum dimensions of the aquaterrarium must 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 reservoir, land and “shallow water”. Land should occupy up to a third of the area of ​​​​aquaterrarium. Cute amphibians get out on it to bask. The shallow water zone (depth 3-4 centimeters) may be quite small, but it is definitely needed. Turtles use it for thermoregulation.

Source: aquarym.com

Types of small turtles

The little turtle will be an ideal pet for those who have little 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.

The advantages of little turtles over other pets

A small turtle is ideal for small city apartments and spacious private houses. Small, unhurried, requiring almost no care and very unusual in appearance, the turtles will become true friends of both restless children and calm elderly people.

If you don’t have the time and desire to walk your dog three times a day in any weather, brush your cat every week, or spend the whole day cleaning the aquarium with fish every month, buying a turtle will be an ideal option.

For small turtles, a hundred-liter aquarium or a terrarium prepared with your own hands from a large box or an old terrarium suitcase (if the turtle is an amphibian) is quite enough.

What turtles are small

Small turtles include species of turtles that do not grow more than 12-13 cm in length. Turtles with a body length exceeding 13-15 cm are considered large and require more complex care and conditions. There are several types 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 care for them very simple.

Closing Turtles. Closing turtles live in their natural environment in parts of Africa, as well as in Mexico and the United States. There are four subspecies of closing turtles. The yellow turtle and the Sonoran turtle usually grow to 7.5-13 cm.

musk turtles. Another type of small turtles that can be kept at home. Adults reach a maximum length of 15 cm. The musk turtle genus has four species. The keeled musk turtle reaches 7.5-15 cm in length. The common musk turtle and the little musk turtle grow up 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-land 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 this species of turtle is 13 cm. The three-keel turtle is a great choice for first-time turtle buyers, 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 enough for them.

Despite the huge popularity of these small exotic animals in the ranking of pets, in some countries it is illegal to keep them in captivity.

Based on materials: vitaportal.ru

endangered turtle species

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

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

This is due to the fact that agriculture began to develop actively and places were needed for raising livestock. Many species of livestock were also brought in, which competed in nutrition with turtles.

Since the beginning of the 20th century, many efforts have been made to restore the population of elephant tortoises. Captive-bred baby turtles have been released in their natural habitat. To date, 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 dwindled to about 25,000.
This is due to the fact that leatherback turtles feed on jellyfish and dive after them to a very great depth. In their natural habitats, water bodies are heavily littered and turtles very often swallow various garbage and 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 the number of turtles in Belarus is associated with the transformation and reduction in the area of ​​natural habitats, which followed changes in natural landscapes and the drainage of wetlands.

Far Eastern tortoise. In most of its habitat, the Far Eastern tortoise is a common species. But in Russia, it is a rare species, the number of which in this part of the range is rapidly declining.

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

poisonous turtles

Along with domestic 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 omnivorous 900 kg animals are possibly the widest vertebrates on Earth, however their population is decreasing every year due to industrial development, pollution and their capture due to by-catch.

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, most likely weighing over 680 kilograms, directed its aggression towards a small boat and went to ram it. Shortly before this, a shark was chasing the turtle, so it considered the boat a potential threat.

Fringed turtle (mata-mata). The Amazon of South America is famous for its incredible and sometimes creepy creatures. In the same river with piranhas and river dolphins lives a bizarre fringed turtle.

What happens if a human steps on a fringed turtle is unknown, but this strange river reptile has an elongated, snake-like neck and a strange mouth that contains two sharp plates that resemble human teeth fused together. This extraordinarily creepy unique carnivore's lunch menu includes waterbirds, fish, and other reptiles.

We can only imagine what will happen to a person who reaches out from a boat to touch a strange mound that can be seen from the water ...

big-headed turtle. The big-headed tortoise is a bizarre looking creature with a long, serpentine tail that is nearly as long as its body. This tortoise is endemic to Southeast Asia where it preys on a variety of prey in the rivers.

The large head does not retract into the shell, and is equipped with very powerful jaws. If the turtle feels threatened, it will not hesitate to use its beak to crush bones, so it's best to keep your distance from them. Incredibly, this creature, which lives in Asia, is able to climb trees, where it can perch like a bird. Unfortunately, this amazing creature is under the threat of extinction due to poaching, which must be constantly combated.

Softshell turtles. Looking like flat-panel human/reptilian hybrids from alien horror movies, soft-bodied turtles make up for their lack of shell with a very strong bite. Among the many species of softshell turtles from around the world, the most feared is Cantor's large softshell turtle, endemic to China.

She hides in the sand, waiting for the prey, and then jumps out and bites the prey with sharp teeth. The turtle's sheer size and the force of its bite can lead to horrific injuries. However, this species is unfortunately currently endangered. However, the more common species of soft-bodied turtles, such as the Angry Trionyx, can be found all over the world and are quite capable of biting the unwary fisherman.

Source: bugaga.ru

I hope today you have received a complete description of what types of turtles are. We figured out all their diversity and have already outlined a pet for the future. Well, I say goodbye to you.

Kawabanga friends!

In the family of land turtles (lat. Testudinidae), 10-13 genera are distinguished (depending on taxonomy), including about 40 species.

About 20 species of land tortoises live in Africa and 8 species in Southeast Asia. Several species can be found in Southern Europe, 3 species in South America and 2 species in North America. Most species of land turtles inhabit deserts, steppes and savannahs. Individual species can also be found in wooded areas.

Among land turtles, there are both giant forms, reaching a meter or more in length, and small animals 10-12 cm long.

The shell of these terrestrial animals is high, less often flattened. The head and thick columnar legs are covered with scutes and scales.

All land turtles are slow and clumsy. Unlike freshwater turtles, in case of danger, they do not flee, but use only a means of passive protection - the shell.

In the wild, tortoises feed mainly on a variety of green vegetation, with only occasional invertebrates. If succulent vegetation is present in the diet, they can do without water for a long time, but if possible they drink with pleasure.

The central genus of the family of terrestrial tortoises is the terrestrial tortoises (Testudo). These turtles are widely distributed in Africa, South America, South and West Asia, and also in Southern Europe. Apparently, the most ancient varieties can be considered the once numerous giant tortoises, rare specimens of which can still be found today in the Galapagos and Seychelles.

Lives on the Galapagos Islands (Testudo elerhantopus). Adult individuals weigh about 100 kg, and the weight of individual giants can reach 400 kg.

Testudo elehantopus

Various geographic forms giant tortoise(Testudo gigantea) 200 years ago met in the Seychelles, Madagascar, on about. Rodriguez and on about. Isabela. Unfortunately, fishing for these majestic animals has led to their extinction on most of the islands. Today they can only be found on the Aldabra Atoll.

Both Testudo elerhantopus and Testudo gigantea are unsurpassed giants of the tortoise world, however, other representatives of this genus can be quite impressive in size. We are talking about African spur(Testudo sulсata) and panther(Testudo pardalis) turtles, whose shell length can reach 70 cm.

Leopard or panther turtles are native to the savannas of South and East Africa. Their habitats are characterized by a large amount of diverse vegetation, where they prefer grassy areas overgrown with undersized shrubs. These turtles are able to climb mountains up to 2000 m above sea level. The main background of the panther tortoise carapace is sandy yellow. Juveniles have a dark brown pattern on the scutes of the carapace.

The African spurred tortoise is often confused with the Mediterranean tortoise with a spur on its thigh. The latter is not only much smaller in size, but also has completely different habitat requirements. The length of the African spurred tortoise can reach 83 cm, and the maximum recorded weight is 105 kg. Keeping a spur turtle at home is only possible if you live in a hot and dry climate and can provide the animal with a large area for grazing outside the house. This species of turtle digs huge holes and can dig under fences and house walls. The spur-bearing turtle requires a lot of fresh vegetation as food.

Another rather rather big turtle (the length of the shell can reach 50 cm) with great coloring is Madagascar radiant tortoise(Testudo radiata) Its high domed black carapace is decorated with bright yellow rays stretching to the edges of the shields. In addition to this species, Madagascar is home to Madagascar beak-breasted tortoise(Testudo yniphora) and a flat turtle (Testudo planiсauda), which is distinguished by its miniature size (shell length is not more than 12 cm). The same tiny South African knobby turtle(Testudo tentoria). The southern regions of the mainland are also inhabited by two larger species - beak-breasted turtle(Testudo angulata) and geometric turtle(Testudo geometrika).

The northern regions of Africa cannot boast the same species diversity of turtles as the southern ones. In North Africa, only 2 species of the genus Testudo are found: the Mediterranean tortoise (Testudo graeca) and the Egyptian tortoise (Testudo kleimanni).

mediterranean tortoise in addition to North Africa, it is found in Asia Minor, in southern Spain, in the countries of the Eastern Mediterranean, in the east of the Balkan Peninsula, in Iran. Prefers to live in semi-deserts, steppes, mountain slopes and dry sparse forests. The shell of the Mediterranean tortoise is convex, yellow or olive in color with dark spots on the scutes. There are spurs on the thighs. The length of the shell can reach 35 cm. The basis of the diet is various vegetation, but if possible, it also eats invertebrates. The Mediterranean tortoise is often kept at home. It is relatively unpretentious and, with an abundance of warmth and proper feeding, lives in captivity for decades.

(Testudo kleinmanni) lives in the deserts of Northeast Africa. The length of the carapace of this baby is only about 12 cm. The carapace is colored yellow with dark spots. In danger, the "Egyptian" quickly burrows into the sand.

Testudo kleinmanni

Central Asian tortoise(Tеstudo horsfieldi) lives in the steppes of Central Asia, including Afghanistan and Pakistan, in the north-west of India, as well as in the southern regions of Kazakhstan. You can meet her in sandy and clay deserts with thickets of vegetation, on cultivated lands and in river valleys. In the foothill areas, it is able to rise up to 1200 m above sea level.

Today, turtle lovers most often find this particular variety. The most important thing when keeping a Central Asian tortoise at home is an abundance of heat and light. green leaves, edible flowers, vegetables and fruits. With a clear regime, they quickly get used to the place and time of feeding.

In winter, it is recommended to lay the Central Asian tortoise.

Kinix Turtles(genus Kinihys)live in the tropical regions of Central Africa. This genus has a very original shell structure: the posterior third of the carapace (the underside of the shell) is connected to the main part of the transverse tendon layer. They use this feature at the moment of danger as a defense mechanism for soft, fleshy parts. The largest turtle of this genus, the toothed kinix (Kinixys erosa), reaches a length of 30 cm. Without experience, it is quite difficult.

flat turtles(genus Homorus) includes 4 species. They live in South Africa, where they are found in semi-deserts and dry woodlands. These are one of the smallest land turtles (the length of the shell is about 10-11 cm). The largest species in this genus, Homorus femoralis, grows up to a maximum of 15 cm.

Another miniature turtle (Pyhis arachnoides), whose shell length does not exceed 10 cm, lives in the west of Madagascar. spider turtle can be found in dry savanna woodlands or in thickets of shrubs. The anterior part of the reptile plastron is movably connected to the main part by means of a transverse tendon ligament. This feature allows the animal to close in front when attacked by predators.

Another genus close to land turtles is the gopher (Gorherus). This genus is represented by (Gorherus roluphemus), which lives in the southern regions of the United States and in northern Mexico, where it is found in dry sandy areas, dunes, and pine woodlands on the sands. This species differs from terrestrial turtles in flattened strong front legs and wide and short claws, which are adapted to digging the ground (they can dig holes from 3 to 12 m). Gopher turtles reach a length of 34 cm. The low, sometimes slightly tuberculate shell is painted brown with light, indistinct spots.

Gorherus

Lives in Tanzania and Kenya elastic turtle(Malacochersus tornieri), which has a very unusual appearance. Its shell is formed by thin perforated bone plates and is soft to the touch. The underside of the carapace is strongly flattened and cut off almost vertically at the back, while the marginal shields protrude backward like toothed lobes. The elastic turtle perfectly climbs and climbs between stones, and in case of danger it hides under stones or in crevices of rocks. When you try to get it out of the gap, it jams with your feet, and perhaps even swells slightly.

The tortoise is an animal of the chordate type, reptile class, order of the turtle (Testudines). These animals have existed on planet Earth for over 220 million years.

The turtle received its Latin name from the word "testa", meaning "brick", "tile" or "clay vessel". The Russian analogue comes from the Proto-Slavic word čerpaxa, which in turn comes from the modified Old Slavic word "čerpъ", "shard".

Turtle - description, characteristics and photos

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 dorsal (carapace) and ventral (plastron) parts. The strength of this protective cover is such that it easily withstands a load exceeding the weight of a turtle by 200 times. The carapace consists of two parts: an inner armor made of bone plates, and an outer one made of horny shields. In some species of turtles, the bone plates are covered with dense skin. The plastron was formed thanks 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 the shell length is only 9.7-10 cm.

Turtle head and eyes

turtle head has a streamlined shape and medium size, which allows you to quickly hide it inside a safe haven. However, there are species with large heads that do not fit well or not at all in 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 eyes of the turtle look at the ground. In water representatives of the detachment, they are located closer to the crown and are 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.

Do turtles have teeth? How many teeth does a turtle have?

For biting and grinding food, turtles use a hard and powerful beak, the surface of which is covered with rough bumps 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, not for capturing food, so it does not protrude.

Limbs and tail of turtles

A turtle has 4 legs in total. The structure and functions of the limbs depend on the lifestyle of the animal. Species that live on land have flattened forelimbs adapted for digging soil, 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, the limbs in the process of evolution were transformed into peculiar 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-like or pointed spike.

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

Turtles molt, as do many reptiles. In land species, molting affects the skin in a small amount; in aquatic turtles, molting occurs imperceptibly.

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

The life expectancy of a turtle in natural conditions can reach 180-250 years. With the onset of winter cold or summer drought, 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”. Nevertheless, if you approach the issue with care, having studied some of the external and behavioral characteristics of these exotic and interesting reptiles, then finding out their gender will not seem so difficult.

• shell

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

• Plastron (lower shell)

Turn the turtle over and look at it carefully - the shell from 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

In male turtles, the tail is slightly longer, wider and thicker at the base, most often bent down. The tail of the "ladies" is short and straight.

• anal opening (cloaca)

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

• claws

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

• notch at the tail

Male turtles have a V-shaped notch at the back of the shell, which is necessary for mating turtles.

• Behavior

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

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

Types of turtles - photo and description

The turtle squad consists of two suborders, divided by the way the animal puts its head into the shell:

• Hidden neck turtles, folding the neck in the form of the Latin letter "S";
• Side-necked turtles, hiding their heads towards one of the front paws.

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

• Sea turtles (live in the seas and oceans)
• Land 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.

Varieties 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 the shell depend on the climate. In arid regions, 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 carapace becomes domed, and the size of the animal increases significantly. The elephant tortoise lives in the Galapagos Islands.

• Egyptian tortoise (Testudo kleinmanni)

small representative of land turtles. The size of the carapace of males barely reaches 10 cm, females are slightly larger. The color of the shell of this species of turtles is brownish-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 up to 20 cm. The carapace has a rounded shape and is colored in yellowish-brown tones with darker spots of an indefinite shape. On the front limbs, these turtles have 4 fingers. The most popular type of turtle for home keeping, lives about 40-50 years. It lives in Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Syria, northeastern Iran, northwestern Pakistan and India.

• leopard turtle (panther turtle) (Geochelone pardalis)

The length of the carapace of this turtle exceeds 0.7 m, and the weight can reach 50 kg. The shell of this species of turtles is high and has a domed shape. Its coloration has sandy-yellow tones, in which young individuals clearly show a spotted pattern of black or dark brown, which disappears as they grow older. This type of turtle lives in Africa.

• Cape spotted turtle ( Homopus Signatus)

world's smallest turtle. The length of her carapace does not exceed 10 cm, and the 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 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 bog turtle (Emys orbicularis)

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

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

The shell of these turtles can be up to 30 cm long. Its bright green coloring in young individuals eventually turns into yellow-brown or olive. Near 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, in the north-west of South America (in the north of Venezuela and Colombia).

• Cayman turtle (biting) (Chelydra serpentina)

A characteristic feature of the turtle is a cruciform plastron and a long tail, which is covered with scales with small spikes, as well as the skin of the head and neck. The size of the shell of these turtles can reach 35 cm, and the weight of an adult animal is 30 kg. The caiman tortoise waits out unfavorable conditions in hibernation. This turtle lives in the USA and in the southeast of Canada.

Sea turtle species

• Turtle hawksbill (true carriage) (Eretmochelys imbricata)

The carapace of these turtles has the shape of a heart up to 0.9 m in size. The upper layer of 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 the southern countries.

• Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)

it is the largest tortoise 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 got its name. The turtle lives in the tropical regions 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 tortoise shell has a small height and oval shape, and its surface is covered with large horny shields. Due to the large size of the head, these reptiles do not hide it inside. The green turtle lives in tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

Genus Spiny turtles (Heosemys)

The very name of the genus - "spiny turtles" - leads to bewilderment; sometimes they are called more successfully - "forest". The marginal shields of the carapace of these turtles are equipped, as if bristling, with spikes. Such protection is justified: in this way, in the infantile stage, spiny turtles protect themselves from predators; as they grow older, the spines disappear almost entirely.

Five species of these bizarre tortoises are described: ARAKAN FOREST (H. depression), named after the mountainous region of Arakan (Rakhine) in southwestern Myanmar, INDOCINE, or GIANT SPIKED (H. grandis), PHILIPPINE (H. leytensis), FOREST SPORIOUS, or KOCHINSKY REED (H. silvaticd), named after the coastal region of Cochin (Kochchi) in the southwest of India and the COMMON SPIKED, or Jagged (H. spinosa) TURTLES.

Habitats and behavior of spiny turtles.

spiny turtles (Heosemys spinosa). These aquatic turtles from Indochina lead a terrestrial lifestyle. Juveniles have characteristic markings on the carapace and plastron.vary greatly - from semi-aquatic to terrestrial forms. The mating ritual is the same as that of tortoises.

Three species of spiny turtles are on the verge of extinction. So, the last fees Arakanese turtles, reaching 25 cm in length, did not give encouraging results; Philippine a turtle, 33 cm long, living on one island of Leyte, is known only from a few specimens; extremely rare cochin turtle. In 1911, two copies were mined in the mountain forest of Kerala (India). And only in 1982-1983. found a dozen of these secretive small turtles (they live in the forest floor and reach no more than 12-13 cm in length).