What is the name of a non-land turtle? Types and characteristics of land turtles. Types of aquarium turtles

The Central Asian (steppe land) tortoise is a rare breed of reptile that inhabits sandy plains North America. You can also meet animals in Central Asia. True, there they prefer uneven surfaces. Steppe turtles live in smaller numbers in Arab countries, Russia. India. The shape of the shell and coloring resembles a Mediterranean turtle. The main difference is that in steppe turtles the top of the shell is slightly flat. It is not difficult to distinguish females from males. There are always more females. The turtle's head is small and slightly flattened. The eyes are black, without pronounced pupils. On the front thick, short paws there are four pairs of claws. From under the shell you can see a small triangular tail.

Despite the fact that this breed of turtles is on the verge of extinction, the animals continue to be kept as pets. The Central Asian tortoise is different large sizes, the animal is also considered the slowest among other representatives of its family. At proper care the pet lives up to fifty years. Before buying a turtle, take care of housing. A terrarium or aquarium is perfect. There should be room for the animal in it, so you should decide on the breed of turtle in advance. Cover the bottom of the “shelter” with a thick layer of a special substrate (sand, peat). At the bottom you can plant small plants (oats, millet, other grains). The sprouts will serve as additional food for your pet. It is not recommended to plant two males in one terrarium at once. Sometimes they can provoke conflicts that will negatively affect the health of one of the animals. It's better to buy a couple. Individuals of different sexes get along well together. At the age of six they can give birth. Sometimes the female may not be ready to mate. Under such conditions, it is better to postpone this procedure. Some time after mating, the expectant mother begins to lay eggs. The female buries them shallowly in the soil. It is recommended to immediately transfer the eggs to a special container. This will protect the embryos from injury and premature hatching. In the incubator, the eggs are kept under special ultraviolet paws for four months. The air temperature should be approximately twenty-eight degrees. Air humidity is not lower than fifty percent. Newborn babies (about five centimeters in length) are born completely unprotected. At first, they perceive the environment poorly.

Adult turtles eat almost everything. You can safely give fruits, vegetables, and various greens. Periodically feed your pet boiled fish without salt or spices. You can buy special food at the pet store. Nutritional supplements, vitamins. Change the water in drinking bowls daily. Remember that turtles are used to light. Therefore, take them outside regularly. The sun's rays are very beneficial for the animal. It is recommended to bathe turtles in water once every seven days. warm water. The water temperature should not be higher than thirty-five degrees. Cleaning the terrarium should be done once a week. Wash drinking bowls and feeders regularly. Make sure that the cage is not in a draft. In hot weather, you need to bathe your reptile more often.

The Galapagos tortoise is most often called the elephant tortoise. The life expectancy of these reptiles is very long. There are cases where elephant turtles lived to be 400 years or more. The distribution area is large Galapagos tortoise– savannas, broadleaf forests and scrub plains located in tropical natural areas.

APPEARANCE

The shell of an elephant tortoise can reach 1.5 m in length and 0.5 m in height. The body weight of adult individuals is from 150 to 400 kg.

Sexual dimorphism is pronounced: males are much larger than females. The elephant tortoise's feet are strong and thick, with short, powerful toes.

Compared to aquatic turtles, land turtles are not as agile, so in case of danger they hide inside their shells rather than flee.

There are no membranes between the fingers. The neck is thin. The dorsal carapace is black, covered with small, weakly defined hills. In adults, the shell is covered with lichen.

Galopagos tortoise

LIFESTYLE

Elephant turtles are herbivores. Their diet includes grass and green parts of plants. Turtles that live on the lava plains of the Galapagos get their food on the plateaus formed on the site of an extinct volcano. Such plateaus provide an abundance of turtles fresh water, accumulating in the recesses of the volcano.

The large size of the elephant tortoise makes it impossible to keep it at home.

The Mediterranean tortoise is a small land animal, the size of which in adulthood does not exceed 25–28 cm.

Under natural conditions, this species is found in the Mediterranean countries, where the name of the turtle comes from, as well as in Iran, Iraq, Georgia, Azerbaijan and on the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus.

In the Caucasus and Transcaucasia, Mediterranean turtles live in steppes, semi-deserts and on bush-covered mountain slopes, and on the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus - in forests. Sometimes Mediterranean turtles live in fields and vineyards.

APPEARANCE

The shell of this species is strong, well developed, convex, covering the entire body. The scutes of the shell form a complex pattern in the form of irregular rings, dark along the outer edge.

The older the turtle, the more rings there are on its shell, although their number does not correspond to the exact number of years of the animal.

LIFESTYLE

The most active Mediterranean turtles

manifest during the day, but in summer, in hot weather, in the middle of the day they often hide in the forest under fallen leaves and branches, and in the steppe they burrow into the ground. In cool weather, in spring or autumn, turtles crawl out into open areas to bask in the sun.

These animals are quite slow, but in the spring, during the breeding season, they often have to cover considerable distances. The Mediterranean tortoise feeds mainly on plant matter, occasionally eating worms, snails or insects.

For the winter, animals take refuge in crevices, small depressions between tree roots, or burrow into the ground. They emerge from hibernation in March.

After waking up, the turtles begin mating games, which take place in open spaces. During games, the male comes close to the female, hides his head and taps the edge of his shell against the female’s shell.

In June-July, females begin to lay eggs in specially dug holes. During the summer, turtles lay eggs on average 3 times. Each clutch contains 3–8 white eggs. The turtle covers the laid eggs with soil and compacts its surface, walking over it several times.

Mediterranean turtle

After 70–80 days, the cubs are born. Since young turtles hatch from eggs at the end of summer or autumn, most of them do not crawl to the surface, but burrow into the ground and hibernate until spring.

Mediterranean turtles, especially young ones whose shells are still soft, often become easy prey for predatory animals and birds. In many ways, people contribute to the decline in the number of Mediterranean turtles by catching them in huge quantities and destroying their natural habitat. Therefore, you should not take home very small turtles, which practically do not survive in such conditions. Preference should be given to mature and sufficiently developed individuals.

The coal turtle is also called the red-footed turtle. It lives mainly in the forests of Venezuela, Brazil, Paraguay, Guiana, Northern Argentina and Bolivia.

The adult reaches 55 cm in length.

LIFESTYLE

Coal turtles lay eggs in the fall. There are from 5 to 15 eggs in a clutch. The incubation period is 3.5–6 months at temperatures environment 26–30 °C.

Coal turtle

The coal turtle is an omnivore. When animals are kept in captivity, they are fed fruits (apples, pears, plums, bananas, oranges), vegetables (tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, cabbage), chicken or lean beef, and even dry cat food.

Particular attention is paid to the temperature in the terrarium, which should be at least 27 °C, and to the humidity - it needs to be quite high.

The leopard tortoise is common in areas adjacent to the Sahara. Some populations live in South Sudan, East Africa, Botswana, Ethiopia, and South-West Africa.

APPEARANCE

The carapace is tall, round, up to 60 cm long, light brown in color with small dark spots. Animals are easy to distinguish by gender: males are much larger than females. Old individuals can weigh up to 35 kg.

Leopard tortoise

LIFESTYLE

The leopard tortoise mainly lives in deserts, semi-deserts, plains with thorny bushes, some populations are found in mountainous areas.

The diet of the leopard tortoise consists of food of plant origin (prickly pear, aloe, spurge, thistle).

The terrarium where leopard tortoises are kept must be equipped with an artificial pond.

Since this type of turtle does not tolerate low temperatures well, a lamp must be turned on all the time in their terrarium during the cold season.

Shabuti turtles are distributed in South America east of the Andes, on the island of Trinidad, Venezuela, Brazil, Paraguay, Peru and Guiana. IN last years The number of yellow-footed turtles has decreased significantly.

In captivity, shabutis adapt to the most unfavorable conditions.

APPEARANCE

The carapace reaches a length of 60 cm; in nature, individuals with a length of 1 m or more are found. The carapace is convex, oblong, the carapace is motionlessly connected to the plastron. There are many thick, large horny scutes on the plastron and carapace.

Shabouti

The head and limbs are dark gray, almost black. Many individuals have yellow limbs, which is how turtles got their name. However, there are individuals with orange and red legs, which is why they are often confused with red-footed turtles.

Previously, this turtle was called the steppe turtle and belonged to the genus Testudo, but then it was separated into separate genus, which includes only one species.

Radiated turtles live in Madagascar. Until the end of the first quarter of the 20th century, these animals lived in prickly pear thickets, but after the Dactylopus coccus beetles, which were actively breeding during that period, destroyed most of the plants, the turtles had to change their habitats.

APPEARANCE

The radiated tortoise is considered one of the most beautiful turtles in the world. This is a fairly large land animal, up to 40 cm long and weighing 15–18 kg, with a very high, dome-shaped carapace.

LIFESTYLE

The yellow-footed turtle lives in tropical forests. The main part of its diet is plant food: fruits and green parts of plants.

The female makes a nest in a pile of fallen leaves and buries 4-12 eggs there, covered with a calcareous shell.

The scutes of the shell are black or dark brown, on each of them there is a yellowish spot, shaped like a star with rays diverging to the edges. The head and limbs are yellowish, the upper part of the head, muzzle and neck are black, and there is a bright yellow spot on the back of the head. The limbs are elephant-like. Male radiated tortoises have long tails and a notch on the plastron at the base of the tail.

LIFESTYLE Under natural conditions, radiant tortoises live in arid areas with shrubby vegetation, most often in forested areas in the south of Madagascar. IN Lately the number of these animals in nature has decreased significantly, as they are often used for cooking. Since 1979 at the Recreational Center wildlife They began to breed radiant turtles. Thus, out of 500 eggs laid by turtles, about 300 hatchlings were hatched.

Radiant turtle

The mating season for radiant turtles begins in early spring, and offspring appear in September. During mating games, the male walks in circles around the female, trying to pry her shell with his own, while making sounds reminiscent of cackling. The male shakes his head and sniffs the female's cloaca and hind legs.

Sometimes he lifts the female with the front of his carapace to limit her movements. Females select males with a carapace length of at least 33 cm.

Females lay approximately 4-12 eggs in a pre-dug hole 15-20 cm deep. Incubation period is 145–230 days. The length of the shell of newly hatched turtles does not exceed 3 cm.

The Central Asian tortoise lives in the countries of Central Asia, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran. In Russia, this animal is found on the northeastern coast of the Caspian Sea.

Inhabits mainly desert and semi-desert areas, as well as mountainous areas.

APPEARANCE

The shell of the Central Asian tortoise is round, not too high, yellowish-brown in color, with dark spots. The carapace consists of 13 scutes, the plastron - of 16. There are 25 scutes on the sides of the carapace. On each carapace scute there are grooves, the number of which corresponds to the exact number of years of the turtle.

The plastron of males is slightly concave. The length of the shell of this species in some cases can reach 28 cm, but most often it is no more than 20 cm. Males of the Central Asian tortoise are usually smaller than females.

Central Asian tortoise

LIFESTYLE

The Central Asian tortoise in its natural habitat usually hibernates twice - in winter and during summer heat. Before falling asleep, turtles dig holes, the depth of which can sometimes reach 2 m. In captivity, these reptiles rarely hibernate. In March-April, turtles emerge from hibernation and begin mating. From April to July, females make 2–3 clutches, each of which contains from 2 to 6 eggs. The duration of the incubation period is 80-110 days.

These animals reach sexual maturity at the 10th year of life.

The panther tortoise belongs to the group land turtles and is quite large in size.

Panther tortoises are native to South and East Africa. These animals live in various areas, both in savannas and in the mountains; Moreover, turtles living in high mountain areas are usually larger than their lowland relatives. These reptiles are common for the most part in North America.

APPEARANCE

The length of the carapace of an adult individual can reach 70 cm, and the weight can be 45–50 kg, so a panther tortoise should be kept in captivity only if it is possible to provide it with a sufficiently spacious terrarium.

The shape of the carapace in this species, like in most land turtles, is dome-shaped. The color of the shell is dull yellow. In young individuals, the scutes are decorated with dark brown patterns, which in some cases look like connected common center rectangles. With age, the drawing becomes more faded, and the lines become curved.

The scutes of the shell are uneven, shaped like asymmetrical pyramids. The carapace is brown, uneven, with a keel, its length is 13–23 cm. The plastron is yellow, with black spots on the outer edges of the scutes.

The turtle's neck and forelimbs are often reddish or orange in color.

LIFESTYLE

Animal food predominates in the diet of panther turtles. Sometimes turtles eat green parts of plants and ripe fruits.

Panther turtle

The mating season for this species is in autumn. In September and October, males conquer the females they have chosen, while females also take an active part in mating competitions.

The eggs of these animals are spherical, with a hard shell, with a diameter of 2.5 to 5 cm. Each clutch contains from 6 to 13 eggs. The duration of the incubation period is, depending on the ambient temperature, from 189 to 440 days.

Indian star tortoises live in India and the island of Sri Lanka. Individuals are found on the small islands of Karaduwa and Ramaswaran.

APPEARANCE

The carapace is black, painted with yellow lines emanating in the form of rays from each shield. The pattern on the shell resembles a large star. The scutes on the carapace are relief-convex, protruding in the form of a pyramid.

Indian star tortoise

Sexual dimorphism is pronounced: females are much larger than males. The largest male reaches only 15 cm in length, and the female reaches 25 cm. The shell of females is wider than that of males. The length of the shell of newborn cubs is only 3 cm, but during the first 6 months of a turtle’s life, their shell grows by about one third.

LIFESTYLE

In natural habitats, the mating season among Indian star turtles begins in June and usually lasts until mid-October.

At this time, the males fight with each other, trying to turn the opponent over with the plastron up. During the year, the female makes three clutches of 4–6 eggs.

The incubation period is 100 days at 28 °C.

In warm weather, adult turtles must be corralled outdoors in an area with scattered sun rays. In rain or extreme heat, turtles are moved indoors.

In captivity, Indian star tortoises are kept in a fairly spacious enclosure with a bedding of dry grass or sawdust. A large cardboard box with a hole cut in it is installed as a shelter.

Turtles require daily bathing, so a large container of water is installed in the enclosure, which is changed daily.

The diet of Indian star tortoises consists of food of plant origin. Occasionally you can give dry food for dogs and turtles, meat products and eggs.

The Balkan tortoise is a small land animal that lives in Southern Europe. In nature this type is currently rare, but in European countries There are special farms where animals are bred artificially.

There are two subspecies of the Balkan tortoise - western and eastern. The latter differs from the first in its larger size.

APPEARANCE

A distinctive feature of the Balkan tortoise is the long conical spike on its tail.

The carapace is small in size, most often 14–16 cm. In young individuals it is colored brownish-yellow, and in adults it is colored dark color with a bright yellow border around the edge.

In its natural habitat, the Balkan tortoise prefers to settle in dry steppes and bushes.

Balkan tortoise

The star tortoise is a land animal that lives on the Hindustan Peninsula, Sri Lanka and nearby islands.

APPEARANCE

This species got its name due to the pattern on the shell in the shape of a star with rays diverging from the center to the edges.

Star turtle

The background of the carapace is black or dark brown, and the color of the star is yellow. The carapace of females is wider than that of males, and the costal and vertebral scutes stand out more clearly. The supratail shield is shorter in females. The length of the carapace of males does not exceed 15 cm, and that of females – 25 cm.

LIFESTYLE

Star turtles exhibit greatest activity morning and evening, during the day they prefer to rest in shaded places and sleep at night. When it rains, they go out into open areas.

The breeding season for star turtles occurs during the rainy season, from June to October. During this period, females make 2–3 clutches, each of which contains 3–6 eggs.

Eggs develop, depending on weather conditions, 45-147 days. Young turtles do not have a star pattern on their shell; they may have either a yellow or orange shell with a yellow stripe along the spine. On the carapace of young individuals there are black spots resembling blots, and on the plastron there are five pairs of black spots located at the junction of the scutes.

The Egyptian tortoise is one of the smallest species of these animals. The maximum length of the carapace does not exceed 12.7 cm in females and 11.5 cm in males.

The Egyptian tortoise is found only on a small area of ​​the coast Mediterranean Sea between Libya and Israel.

APPEARANCE

Externally, the Egyptian tortoise is very similar to the Mediterranean one, however, the spots on the plastron of the first are located only in the area of ​​the ventral scutes, while in the second they cover the entire plastron. In addition, Egyptian tortoises do not have growths on their feet.

Egyptian tortoise

In the posterior part of the plastron, female Egyptian tortoises have an elastic ligament that allows them to cover their hind limbs and tail with a shield. In males this ligament is ossified.

LIFESTYLE

Under natural conditions, Egyptian tortoises hibernate during the hot season, from June to September, and from autumn to spring they hibernate active image life.

Animals begin to mate in March. IN mating season both females and males make peculiar sounds. Females lay 1–3 eggs in small holes up to 5 cm deep. The eggs mature in about 3 months, but there are cases where the incubation period lasted 10 months.

The flat-tailed turtle is found only in Madagascar. This small animal is quite often kept in a home terrarium.

APPEARANCE

The carapace of this animal is elongated, with large yellow scutes, 12 cm long. The scutes have yellowish or light brown spots, around which there are black stripes intersected by light ones.

Capidolo

On the marginal scutes there are vertical, light stripes.

The plastron is light, with dark spots, without elastic ligament.

The head of turtles is painted black or dark brown, the limbs are yellow. The tail is flat, with a nail-like outgrowth at the end.

LIFESTYLE

The capidolo goes into hibernation during the hot months, and the animal's active period occurs during the rainy season.

Female flat-tailed turtles usually lay only one fairly large egg.

The desert tortoise, or western desert gopher as it is sometimes called, lives in the deserts of North America. Also found in southwestern Utah, southern Nevada, Arizona, and the Maiave and Sonoran deserts.

Most often it can be found in areas overgrown with bushes with fairly loose soil. Life expectancy is 100 years or more.

Gopher or desert tortoise

APPEARANCE

The carapace is dome-shaped, like most land turtles, low and quite wide, and can reach 38 cm in length. The color of the carapace is brown, with dark patterns, the plastron is yellow, the marginal scutes are jagged.

The limbs are large and very powerful. Males have elongated gular scutes, which they use in mating competitions.

The head is large, and there are often horny growths on the paws that look like spurs. Males are smaller than females, and the marginal scutes on their carapace are pointed.

LIFESTYLE

The gopher tortoise spends most of its life in a hole up to 9-10 m deep. It moves quite slowly. It is most active at night and early in the morning.

The diet consists of leaves of shrubs and grass. Although turtles can for a long time do without food; captive specimens are recommended to be fed 2 times a day.

The breeding season lasts from November to March; females usually lay eggs in March.

Female desert tortoise digs in sandy soil nesting hole, where it then lays 4 to 12 round white eggs. The incubation period lasts about 4 months.

The shell of newborn cubs is soft, which makes them easy prey for other animals and birds of prey. As turtles grow older, it gradually hardens.

These turtles are common in Asia, found from Nepal to Malaysia: in India, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Kampuchea, and southern China. Quite often imported for sale from Vietnam to China.

Currently, the number of these turtles has decreased significantly; in a number of countries this species is protected.

APPEARANCE

The length of the yellow turtle is about 30 cm, body weight is no more than 3.5 kg. Sexual dimorphism is pronounced: the shell of males is convex, and that of females is flat. Females have long claws on their hind limbs, adapted for digging the ground.

The color of yellow turtles is light or dark yellow, with a black spot on each shield. Sometimes there are individuals of black or light color without spots.

The head of the animals is yellowish; during the breeding season, both females and males have a pinkish color around the eyes and nose.

LIFESTYLE

The yellow turtle lives in wet forests, but can sometimes be found in drier areas.

Shows the greatest activity in dark time days: at this time she hunts and eats food. These turtles tolerate low temperatures well, becoming active at a temperature of 20 ° C, but in the morning they like to bask in the sun. On hot days they become lethargic and try to hide in the shade.

Yellow turtle

Females become sexually mature when they reach a length of 23 cm. A pair of turtles is kept in a fairly large aqua-terrarium (5 x 3 m).

During the mating season, the male becomes aggressive, so when turtles are kept in captivity, the couple from which they hope to produce offspring is separated. The behavior of reptiles needs to be monitored: the male can inadvertently injure the female by biting her on the head, paws and tail.

The female, who is about to lay eggs, becomes active, tries to crawl out of the enclosure in search of a nest, often stops and sniffs the ground. As a rule, she chooses a moist area of ​​land, devoid of vegetation, and digs a hole there 15–20 cm deep. During the season, the female makes 3 clutches of 2–4 eggs each.

The laid eggs are carefully transferred to an incubator with an air temperature of at least 28 °C. The incubation period is 130–190 days at 28 °C. The body length of newborns is 50–55 mm, weight 30–35 g.

The hatched cubs are kept separately, fed with protein-rich food, and only at 9 months of age are they transferred to a large terrarium.

Contrary to its name, the steppe tortoise does not live in the steppes, but in clayey and sandy deserts, and occasionally settles on agricultural lands.

Distributed in Southern Kazakhstan and the plains of Central Asia.

APPEARANCE

The length of the carapace is about 18 cm, in some adults it is up to 30 cm. The carapace is low, round in shape, yellowish-brown, with vague dark spots.

LIFESTYLE

These turtles are most active during daylight hours.

They hibernate during the hottest time of the year - July-August. The mating season for steppe turtles begins in February, and females lay eggs in April.

There are from 2 to 6 eggs in one clutch. The incubation period lasts 60–65 days. Males reach sexual maturity after 6 years, and females after 12.

Large pebbles and shell rock are used as soil. Turtles often eat finer soil. Also, one part of a ceramic pot sawn in half and turned over is installed in the terrarium.

Steppe tortoise

Adult turtles are sprayed once a day with a spray bottle, preventing the soil from getting wet. It is best to remove them from the terrarium at this time. With the onset of warm days, the turtles are moved to an outdoor pen.

In captivity, adult steppe tortoises are fed no more than 2–3 times a week, and young ones – daily. The diet of these reptiles is varied: they can be given grass (plantain, lawn grass, coltsfoot, clover, dandelion), berries (strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries) and almost all types of fruits.

The Latin name for the Moorish tortoise is Testudo graeca, or greek tortoise. Carl Linnaeus described the species in 1758, suggesting that it originated in Greece. In fact, these turtles are most widely distributed in the territory from North Africa to Western Asia inclusive, therefore the German name of the species - Moorish tortoise - is considered more correct.

Currently, the number of these animals has reached a critical level, so the Moorish tortoise is included in the Red Book of Russia.

APPEARANCE

The length of an adult is 20–30 cm; there is a shield on the carapace above the tail. The color of the shell is dark yellow with dark spots. The paws are yellow-brown with dark spots.

Moorish tortoise

LIFESTYLE

The Moorish tortoise's diet consists of food of plant origin.

Animals are most active in the morning and evening hours, and during the day they hide in dense thickets bushes or other shady places.

Although the Chaco tortoise's Latin name is Chilean tortoise, it is not found in Chile.

Distributed in South America: in southwestern Bolivia, northwestern Argentina and western Paraguay. Homeland: Argentina and Paraguay.

APPEARANCE

The Chaco tortoise resembles a gopher tortoise in appearance. The length of the carapace of an adult animal reaches 20 cm. It is the smallest tortoise of the genus Geochelone, which also includes the giant Galopagos tortoise.

LIFESTYLE

Chaco turtles live in dry deserts overgrown with bushes and grass. They mostly spend time in burrows. Thus, in the north of Patagonia, where winter temperatures sometimes reach -10 °C, animals spend the winter in deep burrows.

The mating season lasts from November to December. In February, females lay eggs in nests that they dig in the sand. The incubation period is 125–365 days.

Chaco turtles feed on both plant (grass, fruits, cacti) and animal (insects and their larvae) food.

Turtles of the genus Kinix live in tropical rainforests and bushes. Tropical Africa and on the island of Madagascar.

The length of the carapace of an adult is about 25–30 cm. The carapace is convex, with strongly jagged edges. The rear third of the shell is very mobile, covering the body from behind.

Kinix Homa is common in Cote d'Ivoire (the old name is Ivory Coast), Congo, and Nigeria.

Some species settle along the banks of reservoirs and swamps, while others live in arid plains overgrown with grass and shrubs. They usually lead a hidden lifestyle and are most active at sunrise and sunset. They like to bask in the sun for a long time after swimming, while simultaneously producing vitamin D in the body.

In natural habitats they never hibernate.

APPEARANCE

The head is light, the eyes are large. The shell has angular outlines with a pronounced angle in the back. The general color is brown.

LIFESTYLE

The diet of the quinix Homa consists of snails, slugs, various insects, and plants. In captivity, turtles eat fruits, vegetables, mealworms and earthworms, and occasionally specialized dry food for turtles.

The terrarium where turtles are kept must have high humidity air. If the air is dry, animals hibernate, after which they become lethargic and soon die.

Turtles of this species do not tolerate bright light sunlight, therefore, they are given an outdoor enclosure exclusively in the shade.

You should not give your kinik-sam dry dog ​​food, and food of animal origin should be added to food no more than once a week. Pregnant females and hatchlings should be given a turtle calcium supplement daily.

Schweiger's tortoises are widespread in the evergreen forests of West Africa. They live along the banks of reservoirs and in humid tropical jungles.

APPEARANCE Schweiger's tortoise is the largest among other representatives of this genus. The length of the carapace of an adult individual reaches almost 30 cm.

The color of the carapace is rusty-brown, with light spots on the central plates and a border on the outer plates.

Males differ from females by having long, thick tails.

Schweiger's turtles are kept in conditions of high humidity. Unlike other species, these animals do not require lighting.

A spacious terrarium is set up for the animals with a shelter - a cardboard box with a hole or a piece of tree bark bent in half.

You definitely need to take care of artificial reservoir. It may be shallow, but the water in it must be changed constantly.

Schweiger's turtle is undemanding when it comes to food: it can be fed grass, fruits, and small invertebrates.

Once a week, the animals are given mineral supplements for turtles or, as a substitute, pork or beef bones.

Mating in turtles of this species occurs throughout the year. The mating behavior of the male is very interesting: he walks around the female in circles, unexpectedly knocking her over onto her back. The fertilized female eats a lot and is almost constantly in the water.

After 4 months, the female is given shelter in a terrarium - a small cardboard box with a closed top; inside, a layer of sand must be poured, in which the turtle will lay eggs.

The eggs are carefully transferred to an incubator at 30°C. The incubation period is 130–157 days.

The hatched cubs are transferred to a special “children’s” terrarium with the same bark shelter. Juveniles are fed bananas, pears, cucumbers, peaches and finely chopped earthworms.

Asian turtles are widespread in mountainous areas Northern Vietnam(its name can be translated from Vietnamese as “three-tailed turtle”). Also found in Malaysia and Thailand.

The plastron of these animals is used in Chinese folk medicine. Currently, the number of these turtles has decreased significantly.

APPEARANCE

The color of the carapace is grayish-brown, sometimes orange, with a dark border on the plates. The limbs are dark, the head is light. Individuals living in Malaysia are brown in color. The plastron is light yellow, with a dark spot on each plate.

LIFESTYLE

Asian turtles live in forests and highlands. They feed on bamboo shoots and other plants.

The mating season begins during the rainy season.

Schweiger's tortoise cubs are most active in the morning; during the day they rest in a shelter, and in the evening they crawl out again to eat.

In captivity, Asian tortoises often get sick, have poor food intake, and usually die within a few weeks of being caught.

Many hobbyists who have achieved certain results in keeping reptiles advise giving animals juicy fruits (mango, guava, black grapes, bananas) as food.

Asian turtle

Hermann's turtles are widespread in Southeast Europe, Southern California, Southern Italy, Albania, Greece, and the Balkans. The second population lives in northern Spain, southern France and some islands of the Western Mediterranean.

Around 10-15 years ago, these turtles were often exported to the UK and many other countries, where they were never able to acclimatize. Currently, the number of these turtles has recovered.

APPEARANCE

Young animals have a bright yellow pattern on the carapace, which darkens with age. The inhabitants of Italy, France and the Mediterranean islands are brighter colored than the representatives of the second variety. They have red spots and specks on their plastron.

LIFESTYLE

Under natural conditions, the female makes a nest on the slopes, into which she lays from 2 to 12 eggs.

The incubation period, depending on the temperature, is 90-120 days. Newborn cubs are as brightly colored as adults. Already on the third day after birth they begin to forage.

In captivity, Hermann's turtles eat plant foods, as well as snails and slugs. Particular preference is given to strawberries, figs and snails.

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

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

Turtle - description, characteristics and photographs

turtle shell

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

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

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

Head and eyes of a turtle

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

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

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

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

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

Limbs and tail of turtles

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

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

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

Turtles molt, like many reptiles. U land species Shedding affects the skin in small quantities; in aquatic turtles, shedding occurs unnoticed.

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

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

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

• Carapace

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

• Plastron (lower part of the shell)

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

• Tail

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

• Anal opening (cloaca)

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

• Claws

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

• Notch at the tail

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

• Behavior

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

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

Types of turtles - photos and descriptions

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

• Hidden-necked turtles, folding their necks in the form Latin letter"S";
• Side-necked turtles, hiding their head towards one of their front legs.

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

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

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

Types of land turtles

• Galapagos tortoise (elephant) (Chelonoidis elephantopus)

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

• Egyptian tortoise (Testudo kleinmanni)

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

• Central Asian tortoise (Testudo (Agrionemys) horsfieldii)

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

• Leopard tortoise (panther tortoise) (Geochelone pardalis)

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

• Cape speckled tortoise ( Homopus Signatus)

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

Types of freshwater turtles

• Painted turtle (decorated turtle) (Chrysemys picta)

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

• European marsh turtle (Emys orbicularis)

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

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

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

• Snapping turtle (biting) (Chelydra serpentina)

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

Types of sea turtles

• Hawksbill turtle (true carriage) (Eretmochelys imbricata)

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

• Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)

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

• Green turtle (soup turtle) (Chelonia mydas)

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

Terrestrial turtles land turtles

A genus of land turtles. Includes 5-7 species inhabiting the Mediterranean, Balkan Peninsula, Caucasus, Malaya and Central Asia. The most famous is the Mediterranean tortoise. Convex and smooth carapace, slightly serrated along the posterior edge, long. up to 30-35 cm, colored yellowish-brown or light olive with dark spots on the shields. There are five claws on the front paws, and one conical horny protuberance on the hips. These turtles are found in forests and forest clearings Black Sea coast Caucasus in the Krasnodar region, as well as in dry steppes and forest edges in Dagestan. They lead a diurnal lifestyle, feeding on a variety of vegetation, sometimes eating worms, snails, and eggs of birds nesting on the ground. They spend the winter in a daze, climbing into holes, crevices between stones, or burrowing to shallow depths. In May, the females begin to lay eggs, the turtles hatch in the fall, but emerge from the earthen nests to the surface only next spring along with the adults. By this time, their size reaches 35-45 cm. Catching the Mediterranean turtle is prohibited; it is listed in the IUCN Red List. The Central Asian tortoise, found in the semi-deserts and steppes of Central Asia, differs from the Mediterranean tortoise in its flatter, lighter carapace and four claws on its front legs. It often appears in markets and pet stores in Russia.

.(Source: “Biology. Modern illustrated encyclopedia.” Chief editor A. P. Gorkin; M.: Rosman, 2006.)

See what “terrestrial turtles” are in other dictionaries:

TERRETS TURTLES, (Geochelone) a genus of reptiles of the family of land turtles (see LAND TURTLES), includes 16 species, common in Africa, South Asia, and South America. The most ancient species include giant tortoises (see... ... encyclopedic Dictionary

Land turtles ... Wikipedia

The general name for all turtles that live on land and in fresh water (see Freshwater turtles) and are contrasted with sea turtles (See Sea turtles). In a narrower sense, the family of land turtles (Testudinidae), belonging to ...

A squad of reptiles. They have (except for the leatherback turtle) a bony shell that is fused with the vertebrae and ribs. 12 families, including freshwater turtles, land turtles, sea turtles, etc.; about 230 species, widely distributed; V… … encyclopedic Dictionary

Turtles Illustration from the book by E. Haeckel ... Wikipedia

- (Testudines, or Chelonia), a detachment of reptiles. Known since the Triassic, descended from cotylosaurs. Feature structure Ch. is a bone-horny or bone-leathery shell covering the entire body, consisting of a dorsal (carapace) and abdominal... ... Biological encyclopedic Dictionary

- (Testudines or Chelonia) subclass of reptiles. They have a bony carapace, covered with horny scutes or skin and consisting of dorsal and abdominal shields. Blacks are devoid of teeth, their jaws are covered with horny sheaths that form something like a beak. Forms... ... Geological encyclopedia- a group of turtles that spend most of their lives in rivers, lakes and swamps, but breed on land; feed mainly on animal food. Together with land turtles they form a group of land turtles (See Land turtles). K P. h... Great Soviet Encyclopedia

Evgeniy Sedov

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Content

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

Who is a land turtle

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

The main types of land turtles:

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

Where does he live?

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

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

How long does he live?

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

Photo of a land turtle

Land turtle at home

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

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

What to feed

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

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

How to care

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

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

Terrarium for a turtle

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

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

House for a turtle

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

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

Diseases of land turtles

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

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

Reproduction

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

Price

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

How to choose a land turtle

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

How to determine gender

Main gender differences:

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

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