The Basic Knowledge About Aldabra Giant Tortoise

The Aldabra giant tortoise is a species of giant tortoise found in the islands of Aldabra Atoll in the Seychelles. It is one of the largest tortoises and is rated as vulnerable by IUCN.

Physical Features

The Aldabra giant tortoise is the largest tortoise, sometimes exceeding a weight of 355 kilograms. Males are bigger than females. An average male weighs about 280 kilograms and has a carapace length of 47 inches (120 cm). Females weigh about 150 kilograms and measure 35 inches (88 cm). These tortoises resemble the Galapagos giant tortoise. They have a carapace which is brown or tan in color. Their carapace is shaped like a dome. Aldabra giant tortoises have very long necks which help the to feed on branches more than a meter high.

Life Span

The Aldabra giant tortoise has the longest life span of any animal. There was one specimen which died in the Kolkata in 2006. It was named Adwaita and was born in 1756. It lived for about 250 years before it died.

Distribution

The Aldabra giant tortoise is found in the island of Aldabra Atoll in the Seychelles. The atoll has the largest population of these animals, with an estimated 152,000 individuals. They are also found in Mauritius, Zanzibar and Rodrigues. they are found in grasslands, scrubs and mangroves.

Diet

The Aldabra giant tortoise is mainly a herbivore, eating stems of woody plants, leaves and grasses. they sometimes eat small invertebrates and will even eat bodies of dead tortoises. In captivity, they are known to eat fruits such as apples and bananas.

The Largest Hard-Shelled Sea Turtle In The World

Loggerheads are the largest hard-shelled sea turtle in the world. Leatherbacks are bigger, but are part of the soft-shell family of sea turtles. Loggerheads have a broad muscular head, powerful jaws, and have a distinct reddish-brown shell, which is called a carapace. The carapace is elongated and heart shaped when seen from above. The adult shell is rather smooth, and the sides become slightly serrated as they narrow toward the tail. The paddle-like limbs are each equipped with a pair of claws. The loggerhead is usually various shades of brown; from its reddish-brown to dark brown carapace as well as upper surfaces of the head and limbs, which are chestnut to dark brown also. The underbelly and the edges of its limbs, are light yellow to tan, and the scales on the head have a creamy yellow edge and a darker center. Telling the difference between a male and a female loggerhead is quite easy, males have a tail that extends well beyond the shell, where as the female’s is much shorter.

Adult loggerheads average three feet in length, and weigh approximately 250 pounds. For perspective- the largest recorded loggerhead had a 7 ½ ft. shell and weighed in at an astounding 1,190 lbs. Unfortunately, many loggerheads, and sea turtles in general are poached or caught in fishing nets never able to realize their full size. Today’s loggerhead is much smaller than the loggerhead of old.
Loggerheads have an enormous range and are found in most tropical and subtropical seas. They do not occur in the more frigid waters of the world. In Costa Rica, loggerheads are found on the Caribbean side, never making it to the Pacific coast of the country. In Costa Rica, the female loggerhead nests on the Caribbean coast preferring the southern part of the coast, but are periodically seen as far north as Tortuguero National Park. They frequent coral reefs and shipwrecks, seeming to prefer coastal habitats and inland water bodies, but they will also travel hundreds of miles out to sea.
Males and females mate in the water in close proximity to their nesting sites. The male uses its massive claws to attach itself to the female. It’s not unusual for mating to last three hours.
Adult female loggerheads will often return, sometimes covering thousands of miles, to the beach where they hatched, to lay their eggs. Normally taking place at high tide and during the night, the female will lay her large clutch of eggs, typically between 65 to 200 eggs, in a deep hole in the sand which she will cover after she has laid all her eggs. A female can nest several times during the breeding season, with 12-15 day intervals. Hatchlings appear about 7 to 10 weeks after the eggs are laid. Since eggs are abandoned after being laid, the young hatchlings are on their own. When they emerge from the nest they immediately head to the sea. This trek is survival of the fittest, and most will never reach 1 year old.
Loggerheads are carnivores. They feed on shrimp, crab, jellyfish, mollusks and squid but have also been known to occasionally munch on seaweed and sargassum.
Luckily for the loggerhead, their meat is not as highly valued as that of other marine turtles, but unfortunately, their eggs are. Poaching is a problem. In Costa Rica, the on-going development of nesting beaches for tourism as well as shrimp nets, in which they drown, take a serious toll on these magnificent creatures.
It’s interesting to note that a loggerhead sea turtel can travel up to speeds of 15 mph.
Pollution, shrimping, and development of nesting beaches are a major reason the loggerhead has been on the endangered species list since 1978.

Experience A Nautical Adventure As You View A Beautiful Abundance Of Corals

Explorer the underwater world of the Great Barrier Reef in air-conditioned comfort on our Semi-Submarine… without even getting wet! Seated below water level, passengers are treated to a divers view of the coral reef and marine life with informative commentary by the crew and see the lively fish feeding. This vessel seats 27 passengers and cruises for 30 minutes. Don’t miss this exciting tour during your time at Green Island.

However, these so-called single corals are not the reef-builders responsible for the large Caribbean reefs that form critical habitat for various species, while also performing other important roles in nature.

"While single corals may have the chance to survive … it would be very different from the coral reefs we know today and that we depend on today," said Adina Paytan, a study researcher with the University of California, Santa Cruz, who presented her research here Wednesday (Dec. 7) at the annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union.

Paytanand her colleagues found three species of solitary corals growing in the relatively acidic waters flowing from natural springs along the coast of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. Because of its chemical properties, this water was thought to be inhospitable to corals. Submarine excursions allow tourists to see coral formations and exotic fish without having to snorkel or dive.

Submarines can accommodate up to 45 people and dive to a depth of 70ft. The bigger ones are operated by two pilots and have large reinforced glass windows.

Egypt's Red Sea resorts, especially Sharm el-Sheikh, are well known for their white sand beaches and rich underwater life.

But in December 2010, a spate of shark attacks killed one German woman and injured four other tourists, forcing the closure of Sharm el-Sheikh's beaches for several weeks.

More than a million Britons visited Egypt last year, despite the political violence which rocked the country.

The biggest danger posed to tourists in the Sinai is terrorism – there have been three bomb attacks on the peninsula since 2004, with British nationals killed or injured in each.

The most recent occurred in April 2006 in the resort town of Dahab, which is less developed than Sharm el-Sheikh and popular with backpackers.

Green Sea Turtle Has Been Endangered By Numerous Natural And Human Created Reasons

One very interesting fact about Green Sea Turtles is that they have been around for so long that their ancestors were present when dinosaurs evolved and became extinct. This means that they have been in existence for about 150 million years. There was a time when millions of Green Sea Turtles could be found around the world. At present, there are less than 200,000 mature females in existence.
The Green Sea Turtle is the largest hard-shelled sea turtle in the world. It ranges in length from 2 to 6 feet with males averaging a little larger than females. Adult females weigh on average 200 kg and males weigh just a little more. Their carapace can be olive green, brown, or black, depending on geographic location. Their plastron is yellow.

They are called Green Sea Turtles because of the color of their flesh. Their limbs, which are flattened and flipper-like, are used for swimming. Green Sea Turtle hatchlings weigh less than 30 grams and are 5 to 10 centimeters in length. They are black on top and white on the bottom.

Green Sea Turtles can be found in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Basically, Green Sea Turtles can be found throughout the world’s oceans save for areas in which the temperature falls below 20 degrees Celsius. Green Sea Turtles are quite sensitive to both heat and cold and prefer the warmer parts of the seas. In the Atlantic, some Green Sea Turtles have been spotted as far north as Canada. The Caribbean is the most popular choice for nesting sites for Green Sea Turtles. Many nesting sites have also been identified in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Costa Rica, Aves Island and Puerto Rico.

In the Pacific, some Green Sea Turtles have been spotted as far north as Alaska and as far south as Chile. Popular nesting grounds in the Pacific include areas in Southeast Asia, Mexico, Australia, the South Pacific, the Hawaiian Islands and even Madagascar.

In contrast to other sea turtles, Green Sea Turtles are the only sea turtles that are herbivorous creatures. This means that they do not consume meat in their diet. However, this distinction only applies when the juvenile Green Sea Turtle grows into an adult. A Green Sea Turtle is generally considered a juvenile when it is less than eight to 10 inches in length. It takes about three years before a Green Sea Turtle grows up to eight inches in length. During the time from when it is a hatchling up to the time it becomes more mature, the diet of the Green Sea Turtle slowly shifts from a more carnivorous one to a more herbivorous one.

Adult Green Sea Turtles often consume sea grasses, mangrove leaves and algae. Juvenile sea green turtles, on the other hand, commonly include invertebrates such as jellyfish, crayfish, squids, crabs, crustaceans, shrimp, worms, snails, cuttlefish and sponges in their diet. The jaws of Green Sea Turtles are fashioned in such a way that makes it easy for them to tear their food. The head of a Green Sea Turtle is also markedly smaller compared to other sea turtles. This could be because there is no need for the Green Sea Turtle to expand its jaw to eat bigger creatures, compared to other sea turtles. Ironically, despite having a smaller head, the Green Sea Turtle is nonetheless the largest among all sea turtles.

The Green Sea Turtle near some rocks The Green Sea Turtle prefers to feed in relatively shallow waters. It is not uncommon for a Green Sea Turtle to swim through thousands of kilometres to search for food. Given that algae and sea grasses are not very filling foods, the Green Sea Turtle consumes large amounts of both each day.

It is important to note the importance of the effect of the eating habits of Green Sea Turtles on our environment. Due to their regular consumption of algae and sea grasses, succession occurs in reefs and space is freed up for settlement of other organisms in the area. Their absence in the food cycle would cause great disruption to our world. Without the consumption of sea grass by Green Sea Turtles, sea grass beds would become less productive, grow tall and become choked by sediments, which in turn would obscure sunshine and promote disease. Sea grass consumed by Green Sea Turtles is also easily digested and converted into recycled nutrients which are helpful to other plants and animals.

One cause of death for Green Sea Turtles is wrongful or mistaken consumption of food. Given that they are herbivorous, Green Sea Turtles have often mistaken objects such as debris, balloons and other plastic material pieces as food. Many Green Sea Turtles have become ill or have died as a result of human recklessness and irresponsibility. Now that we are aware of the grave implications of our actions, what is important is that we take action and try to rectify the mistakes we have made, that we might save and prolong the life of this beautiful creature. We must take the measures necessary to turn things around and save these beautiful creatures that inhabited this earth long before we did.

On The Way Of Extinction - The Hawksbill Sea Turtle

Sea Turtles are a joy to see when you are fortunate enough to spend time among them in the ocean. The Hawksbill turtle is one of several that you are likely to encounter and are usually found in the waters of Thailand, Fiji and Malaysia.

Baby Turtles are hatched from eggs that their mother has buried in the sand. Once they break out of their eggs they instinctively head for the sea, experts believe they are guided by the moonlight. For many years these creatures could not be found in their natural habitat at a young age. However, recently they were located in the Atlantic Ocean. The fledgling turtles were enjoying a diet of sargassum weed and small animals that were hiding among the weeds. A young sea turtle is at risk from a variety of predators such as seabirds, fish and crabs, once they make it to adulthood their risk of falling victim to predators other than humans is low.

The Hawksbill sea turtle is at risk for extinction and are too often poached for their beautiful shell. The turtles found in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans are subspecies of the sea turtle. The body shape is flat and they have arms that work as flippers allowing them to move easily through the water. The shell of a Hawksbill turtle will vary in color depending upon the temperature of the water they are in. The turtles are occasionally found in the open ocean, but prefer shallower areas such as coral reefs and inlets.

The diet of the Hawksbill sea turtle often includes tunicates, jellyfish and squid. The turtle is able to use their strong jaws to cut through the flesh of these creatures. The turtle's favorite meal is the sponge and part of their reduced numbers in nature is due to lack of the Hawksbill's preferred food.

The sexual maturity of the Hawksbill sea turtle is not known. However, once they are able to reproduce they will do so every 2-3 years. The turtles mate in lagoon areas that aren't very deep and the female turtle will make her way out of the water and dig a nest for her eggs in the sand. When her nest is deep enough she will then cover her eggs. This activity will take the turtle about 1-3 hours to accomplish.

The Hawksbill sea turtle differs from other types of sea turtles. The 5 characteristics that are different include claws on their flippers, a long beak designed mouth, a scale on their shell, four pairs of rib bones and their head has two pairs of scales on the front. The turtle's mouth is able to reach into small areas of coral reefs to locate food and their overall length varies from.62 to 1.14 m. The Hawksbill usually weighs around 80 kg.

The Hawksbill turtle can live to be 32 years old and they are thought to be the most tropical of the species. The animals nesting areas are difficult to locate because they change where they mate, this has been a challenge for advocates who are trying to keep them protected.

The Maldives Islands is known for its plentiful sea life including the Hawksbill sea turtle. The turtle is able to find its favorite sponges to eat and the islands offer perfect nesting locations for the female turtles. Saving these creatures is vital to the fragile marine ecosystem and those who kill them for their shells need to be stopped. The Hawksbill sea turtle is an amazing animal that has fought to survive and the human race should be working to prevent their extinction.

The Hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) which once was found in abundance around the world is now on the way of extinction. The reasons behind their declination are many. Different human created and natural forces are working behind the reduction in their quantity. One of the greatest threats to their existence is the loss of coral reefs which is the habitat for Hawksbill turtles. Coral reefs are being destructed and degraded due to reckless human activities.

Human activities can affect coral reef communities in both ways gradually and catastrophically. We, humans are doing everything for our better and comfortable living without thinking about the impact of our activities on the environment. We are building more and more factories, cars, engines to meet the rapidly increasing demand of us. And to build new things we are destroying the forests and filling out the water sources. These are polluting the environment. We are burning more and more fossil fuels to run these things which is producing huge amount of Carbon-Di-Oxide every day. As the number of trees is decreasing at an alarming rate, this additional carbon is not being absorbed by anything, it is prevailing in the earth's environment.

Carbon-Di-Oxide prevents the heat from being radiated and the temperature of the earth is increasing day by day. Recently evidences have been found about the impact of global warming caused by human on coral reef communities. Climate change is affecting the corals by causing diseases frequently which can destroy the whole community of corals. As the hawksbill sea turtles depend on coral reefs for food and habitat their declination will cause severe threat to the existence of hawksbill turtles.

Excessive harvesting of the hawksbill sea turtles is the primary reason behind the declination of them. They are being harvested for their beautiful shell even since the Egyptian era. Shell of Hawksbill turtles are of great economic value. It is used in producing cosmetics, oils, perfumes and other products. In the north Caribbean islands, hawksbill turtles are harvested for their carapace which is often used to produce clips, jewelry, combs and many other ornaments.

Displays Some More Amazing Facts About Gopher Tortoise

The Gopher Tortoise, Nature's Landlord or maybe the Landlord of the Sand hills, either way it's definitely better than the moniker that I would probably end up with. The Gopher Tortoise is an obligate burrower with very stout and strong limbs. Its' claws are wide and flat with small protective scales extending up the tortoises shovel like front legs.

Their burrows can be up to 40 feet long and 10 feet deep, descending at a 30 degree angle. The width of the burrow is usually the length of tortoise, allowing for it to turn around in any section of the burrow. The male Gopher Tortoise can have an average of 17 burrows while the female maintains an average of 9, but it's common to have more than one tortoise sharing the same burrow. Fellow tortoises are not the only species that share the burrows, in fact not even close. The title Nature's Landlord comes from the fact up to 360 different animal species seek refuge in the tortoises burrow.

The list includes the gopher frog, the Florida mouse, opossum, indigo snake, pine snake, armadillo, burrowing owl, gopher cricket, scarab beetles, the Florida Scrub-jay and many others. The Gopher Tortoise is cold blooded averaging 10 inches long and up to 9lbs, its' life span ranges from 40- 60 years but in captivity can live more than 100 years. This particular tortoise belongs to a group of land tortoises that originated in North America nearly 60 million years ago and out of the nearly 23 species known to have existed on this continent as little as 4 species remain today. Once a year the female tortoise will lay an average of 6 eggs depending on their body size and it takes approximately 100 days for the eggs to incubate.

The gopher tortoises have temperature dependent sex determination, if the temperature of the sand is above 30 degrees the hatchlings will be female and below 30 degrees they will be male. The male tortoise has a concaved plastron (bottom shell) with a protruding plastron under the tortoises chin while the female's bottom shell is perfectly flat.

When the tortoises head and neck are completely retracted into the shell, the tortoise is generally safe from most predators. Although the tortoise has some natural threats like disease and climate, humans are the main cause for the decline of this species. In a list ranging from road mortalities to habitat destruction human interaction has played a major role in bringing this gentle herbivore closer to extinction. Florida has the gopher tortoise present in all 67 counties which has it on the list as a species of special concern.

Other states like Georgia, Louisiana. And Alabama have them listed as a threatened species but South Carolina and Mississippi have the tortoise on the endangered species list. The Gopher tortoise is an important part of the ecosystem and some of the species that share its burrows could not exist without them. Raising awareness and enforcing the protective laws is the only hope to keep Nature's Landlord from being evicted.

The tree species that greeted Ponce de Leon upon his discovery of Florida five centuries ago remain much the same today. Florida’s state forests are home not only to the bottomland hardwoods but to longleaf and slash pines, sometimes embedded with cypress and bay, dispersed among sawgrass swamp, scrubs, pinelands and even occasional patches of sandhills.

Such wide-ranging soils support equally varied wildlife: gopher tortoise, sandhill cranes, white-tailed deer, bobcat, and America’s bald eagle. The gopher tortoise, a threatened species, isn’t alone in this unstable state; the red-cockaded woodpecker, scrub jay, and indigo snake also share its unfortunate distinction.
The gopher tortoise is a very popular pet, but often it is not clear what care they need. They like a lot to be outdoors, walking and the sun, but also need shade and a place that can be protected inside the house to rest.

Animals are always surprises and present many interesting facts in the courtyard of a house in Manisa found a small turtle from a month old, which has 2 heads and 4 legs, but everything is under one shell.

Then the little turtle was taken to the Natural Park of Izmir in Turkey. As one can imagine the Siamese turtle, aroused the curiosity of all and the park have seen increasing visitors. Many years ago that is not copies with these features, in that place.

Although it has been said that there are several families who have found turtles with two heads and keep them as pets, living well.

A family in New York, has a two-headed turtle from the year 2002, are said to live a short time, but if they are adequately addressed can live longer.

They were told that each head has movement and managed independently, although the head seems to be right dominant.

In South Africa also has a pet family. Baar expert Ernest Cape Nature Conservation, said it is possible to find such animals, which they can be difficult it is to raise and reach adulthood.

Galapagos Tortoises Played A Key Role In Helping Us Understand How Our World Has Evolved

Gentle giants, the rare and endangered Galapagos Tortoises are the largest tortoise species in the world. Spotted by Bishop Tomas de Berlanga, when he discovered the Galapagos Islands by accident in 1535, these islands were named after them. Galapago which means 'saddle' in Spanish refers to the tortoise's saddle-shaped shell.
Growing over four feet in length and weighing in at roughly 500 pounds, these huge vertebrates have an impressive lifespan. The oldest Galapagos Tortoise was said to have lived for 152 years. However, the exact lifespan of these huge reptiles is yet to be determined as they have not been observed long enough. Another interesting fact about the Galapagos Tortoise is that they keep on growing for 30 to 40 years before they reach adulthood.

A strong population of over 250,000 in the early 19th century, today there are between 10,000 to 15,000 Galapagos Tortoises left in the wild. Innocent victims of poachers, these endemic tortoises have also been captured and killed by sailors and pirates for their meat. Another reason for a dwindling tortoise population has been attributed to the introduction of new mammal species on the islands such as goats, pigs and dogs, which step on or eat tortoise eggs, or feed off the same vegetation as tortoises do, thus causing food scarcity.

Having been reduced to near extinction, presently just 11 of the 15 tortoise subspecies exist in the Galapagos today. And while research has shown a likelihood of just 13 subspecies, many scientists believe that there were 15 Galapagos Tortoise species in total. Five subspecies of tortoises can be found on Isla Isabela, while the other six can be found on the islands of Española, Pinzón, Pinta, San Cristóbal, Santiago and Santa Cruz. It is more than likely that the tortoise subspecies on Isla Pinta will die out soon as only one male tortoise remains. Lonesome George, as he is affectionately known, is the last of the Pinta tortoises. He is currently being kept at the Charles Darwin Research Station on Isla Santa Cruz in an effort to help him mate. However, so far all attempts have been unsuccessful.

While there are different subspecies of Galapagos Tortoises, there are also different types as well. Differentiated by their size, color and the shape of their shells, one can spot three different kinds of Galapagos Tortoises. Dome-shaped tortoises have shorts limbs and necks, while their shell have a round or dome shape. Saddle-backed tortoises on the other hand have longer limbs and necks with a raised shell. The third tortoise type is known as an intermediate tortoise and is a mix between a saddle-backed and dome-shaped tortoise.

Living on a diet of fruits, cacti, grasses and vegetables, Galapagos Tortoises are herbivores. They are able to store water and food in their bodies letting them live for up to a year before they eat or drink again. Mostly found in elevated areas where the humidity is higher and there are grassy fields, many subspecies of tortoises also live on dry hotter islands where grass is sparse. Playful by nature, these cold-blooded reptiles spend much of their day basking in the sun, while at night they rest half submerged in either mud or water to stay warm.

Incredible creatures, the Galapagos Tortoises today have played a key role in helping us understand how our world has evolved. Capturing the hearts and minds of all those who visit here, these gentle playful creatures should be taken care of so as to preserve them for all future generations to enjoy.

After mating, the female will go to nesting areas several miles away to find a proper place to lay eggs. This place must be dry and sandy, so that they can bury their eggs. Once fixing on the right spot, she will take a long time to dig a hole about 12 inches deep, where she lays hard-shelled eggs which look like billiard ball. Usually they can lay 2 to 16 eggs at once. Then she covers them with sand. After that, she will make a muddy plug mixed with urine to seal the nest hole. Next she would press it firmly with her plastron. After completing all work, she will leave these eggs to be incubated by the warm sun. Unlike most animals whose gender are confirmed before they come out, whether it is a male or a female breaking out from the egg is determined by temperature. The disciplinarian is that if the temperature is low, more males will be. If it is high, more females will be.

The gestation can range from 4 to 8 months. Unlike the grown tortoise, the baby is very small, weighing only 50 grams and measuring 6 centimeters. When the young tortoises break out of their shells, these little creatures must dig their own way to the surface, which can cost up to one month. Then it's totally up to themselves to survive in the outside world. Usually, during the first 10-15 years, they will stay in warmer lowland areas to practice themselves to fit for the surroundings. Several years later, when they reach maturity, they can breed their own offspring as well.

Now, you have enough knowledge of this tortoise. You can go to the zoo and the island to see this animal, and you will gain more fun.

Horsefield Tortoise Is Easily Managed And Easy To Look After

If you choose a tortoise of any species to keep and care for, be prepared to care for it for many year's to come. Although many of the smaller types have not had their life expectancy studied specifically, it is know that many species will live for up to 75-100 years. If you choose one for a pet you must think of who and how it will be cared for when you are no longer here.

The Horsfield or Russian tortoise is one of the smaller varieties you could care for. It is friendly and outgoing and will often recognise its owner coming to greet them especially if it is time to eat! This particular species does thrive in an outside enclosure but beware, they do like to dig and can if left unattended dig under and out of their enclosure to the world beyond! These Geochelone Horsfieldi (Latin name) can be difficult to keep if you do not live in the correct type of environment. Their natural environment is arid to semi-arid grasslands through to rocky deserts and hillsides. They make excellent pets if their needs are provided for and will live for decades.

The Horsefield Tortoise is a little well-liked species of the reptile family named after biologist Thomas Horsefield. They are naturally found in South Eastern Russia, Afghanistan and Pakistan. It is generally known as the Russian tortoise.
You can look forward to many years together if you make sure you provide the best and most appropriate environment for your specific species. Unfortunately many captive bred chelonians die early as their owners are unaware of the needs of their pets. Education is fundamental to rearing and caring for your tortoise correctly. There are many authoritative sites to refer to if you are at all worried about your pet. Always, seek advice from your vet if you are concerned for its welfare.

Habitat

Dry lands, grassy and semi grassy fields are the natural habitat of the tortoises. This little species of tortoise is spread over a large area of land. Commonly this tortoise is termed as the tortoise of the central Asian state. Another relationship of this tortoise is linked in Afghanistan. In some places it is also called the Steppe Tortoise.

Life Span

• Their life span is estimated to be around, or above in some cases, 50 years, which is slightly less than other tortoise species.

Diet

• The Horsefield tortoises are said to be herbivore

• They do not like to move around for the purpose of food

• The food they like the most is fresh green vegetables and fruits, and they like to eat flowers as well

Natural plants, weeds and green leaves are loved by them. They require foods rich in calcium so that their shell becomes hard.

Breeding

• They can breed at any time of the year

• They choose mild conditions where they can easily manage their young babies

• The female tortoise can lay 3-5 eggs at a time

• The female tortoise can lay eggs in a burst of 3 seasons

• The eggs require high temperatures for hatching

• The hatching takes place after 3 months of laying eggs

Size

• The Horsefield tortoise can be in the range of size from 4-8 inches (10 to 20 cm) normally

• They are generally short as compared to other species

Hibernation

• Horsefield tortoises hibernate during winter to avoid the severe cold

• They can hibernate up to three months as adults

• In summer, when the temperature raises an extent, they are mostly found in shady moist places.

Keeping as Pet

• Horsefield tortoises are well-liked pets

• The reason being their small size

• Many of the pet suppliers can supply you with a horsefield tortoise on demand

• They require some care as pet

• Generally, due to their native climate, they are thought to be physically strong as compared to other species

• They need regular exposure to sunlight

• These tortoises do not take pleasure in high humidity and like to dig and burrow

• The ground should be appropriate to provide accommodation to their habits

Amazing Fact

• The Horsefield Tortoise was the first one of its kind to go into space, sent by the Russian space program

A Horsefield tortoise is convenient to house. We have to care for any animal, especially the tortoise, while keeping them in captivity. It is our responsibility to provide them the basic necessities and an environment that is close to their natural habitat so that they do not feel awkward and live freely and happily. Indeed, to keep a tortoise pet there is no better option than the Horsefield tortoise.

Spotted Turtles Behaviour And Lifestyle That You Must Know

Many people have seen pictures of Spotted Turtles, but may not know anything about them. They are currently at the risk of extinction in various parts of Canada and the United States, but can still be found occasionally at pet stores, and by private breeders. Their beauty and small size make them ideal as pets, but you should be prepared before bringing one into your home.

The Spotted Turtle is known for their spotted shell. They have black shells that have small yellow spots on them. They typically live in colder regions, and their black shells allow them to soak up more heat from the sun. They are a small type of turtle, ranging from 3 to 5 inches (8 to 12 cm). Males and females are very easy to tell apart, even as hatchlings. Females have a yellow chin, and males have a tan chin. As they get older, the male also has a longer and thicker tale, and females will have more spots.

If you are considering getting a Spotted Turtle as a pet, there are a few things that you must know. As with all turtles, it is important to mimic the turtle's natural habitat as closely as you can. In the wild, the Spotted Turtle lives in freshwater swamps and ponds. This means giving them a habitat that is about half water and half land. This may seem strange for an aquatic turtle, but because they are not great swimmers, they do not need a lot of water. Hatchlings will need about an inch (2.5 cm) of water, and adults will need about 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20 cm) of water.

Although spotted turtles will eat non-aquatic worms such as red wrigglers and night crawlers, they do need to drag them to the water. Adult turtles only feed in the water. Despite this, they are not particularly strong swimmers and usually stay in relatively shallow water. Owners of pet spotteds should bear in mind that their water area need not be too deep. One inch (2.5cm) to one and a half inches (3.8cm) is often deep enough for a hatchling. Do remember to change the water regularly. As they grow, add more water and continue to monitor its chemical balance. A complete change of water should be a weekly routine, with frequent partial changes in between. A depth of 6 to 8 inches (15.2 to 20.3 cm) should be quite sufficient for mature spotted turtles.

The ideal habitat for a pet spotted turtle is split comprising half land, half water. This type of turtle is used to water that is quite frigid. They are most active in the spring and fall months, often going dormant during the height of summer and in winter. Their natural enemies are raccoons and muskrats. If your pet spotted turtle lives indoors, set up a basking area incorporation heat and UVB lamps.

Unlike certain other species, males and females are relatively easy to tell apart. Besides the tail, which is much thicker and longer in the male, there are other distinctions. From the moment they hatch, their chins have different colors, tan for the male and yellow for the female. Females often develop more spots than the males, and in general, both genders get more spots as they age. The plastron of the male is noticeably concave, while the female's is either convex or without curve. The carapace, which is mostly black, aids their basking.

They are quite intelligent, as lab tests in mazes have proven and they have a life expectancy of up to sixty-five years. They will snack on duckweed, but their main food preferences are carnivorous and include worms, snails, minnows, carrion and crayfish. They can also be fed commercial aquatic turtle food. While hatchlings need to feed daily, an adult can be fed every second or third day. Do not provide too much food, as it might rot in the water.

All turtles are cold-blooded which means they cannot regulate their own body temperature. So, to stay at a normal temperature, turtles will go into the water to cool down, and sit in the sun to warm up. A UVB light must be provided for that warmth.

Spotted Turtles are mainly carnivorous, meaning they eat mainly meat. They will occasionally eat leafy vegetables, so you should offer duck week or other greens sometimes, but they need a lot of protein in their diet. You can feed them a commercial pellet food that is designed especially for carnivorous aquatic turtles, but you should also provide fresh foods for them. Spotted Turtles will eat anything from small fish and snails, and various land-dwelling worms, so long as you drop them in the water for them.

Alan is a lover of animals and nature, especially turtles. One of the misleading turtle facts that Alan relates is that there are many turtle species, but there are no such things as mini turtles. It's a myth. The term baby turtles is simply a young turtle.

Snapping Turtles Are Large Aquatic Freshwater Reptiles

Snapping turtles are large aquatic freshwater reptiles that only live in North America. There are only two species of snapping turtle that still exist, which are the Common Snapping Turtle and the Alligator Snapping Turtle. The Common Snapping Turtle tends to live at higher latitudes than the Alligator.

Snapping turtles enjoy a wide variety of food and are often considered the top predator in their environment. The alligator snapping turtle's diet consists mainly of fish, which they lure using a pink worm-like appendage on the end of their tongue. Common snapping turtles are more active hunters and will eat just about anything.

Snapping turtles do not make good pets, usually, as they will never stop growing. The largest snapping turtles on record have weight records of around 600 lbs. Alligator snapping turtles have been known to grow even larger.

The Snapping turtle's main defence mechanism is their powerful snapping jaws, which enable them to make short work of attackers and small prey. They also have monstrous, thick claws on their front and back legs which they use to tear apart food and to climb hills each year where they lay their eggs (in a similar way to sea turtles).

The alligator snapping turtle is the largest freshwater turtle in North America, where it is generally found in the more southern waters of the United States. The smaller and more aggressive common snapping turtle inhabits lakes and streams from South America to Canada.

Snapping turtles spend nearly all of their lives in water, with typically only nesting females actually venturing onto open land. Snapping turtles can remain submerged underwater for up to three hours at a time.

Alligator snapping turtles and common snapping turtles have a very different looking appearances. The alligator snapping turtle has a long head and almost spiky shell, where the common snapping turtle has a more rounded head and a smoother shell. They are also easily distinguished by size as the common snapping turtle is smaller than the alligator snapping turtle.

Snapping turtle mating takes place once a year generally in the spring time. The female snapping turtle can lay anywhere from 10 to 50 eggs which take 3 or 4 months to hatch. It is thought that snapping turtles are capable of living until they are 150 years old but they typically live until they are between 20 and 50 years old in captivity.

Common Snapping Turtle Adaptations
A chief adaptation of the common snapping turtle is its long and flexible neck. These animals can stretch their necks almost over halfway of the back of its shell and snap its prey with its strong jaws.The beak –like jaws with sharp cutting edges enable it to tear its prey easily.
It is noteworthy how its nostrils are located high above the snout. An excellent adaptation that allows the turtle to breathe even when it is halfway submerged in water.These turtles can tolerate temperatures from 49 – 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Common snappers are not able to retain their body moisture as in the case of other turtles.

Common Snapping Turtle As Pets
If you are thinking of keeping the common snapping turtle as a pet, think twice! As cute as they appear to look when young, they can get equally difficult to handle as they grow, owing to their aggressive nature. So come to think of it, the common snappers are not suitable for the definition of an ideal pet.The flexibility of its neck allows these turtles to bite its handler even when picked by the sides of its shells. Moreover, its jaws are so powerful that it can easily amputate the handler’s finger!

Furthermore, those who furnish the idea that these turtles can be safely picked by the tail are absolutely wrong. Picking them by their tail not only injures the poor animal’s tail but also its vertebral column.
One handling the turtle with hands must also note that these animals also have sharp claws that can cause serious wounds.If confronted with a scenario wherein one will have to rescue the common snapping turtle, it is always recommended to use a stick, allowing it to bite on it and drag it to a safer spot.

Indian Star Tortoise-The Natural Habitats And Life

The Indian star tortoise is a medium sized species of tortoise found in the dry and arid forests of both Indian and Sri Lanka. The Indian star tortoise is named for the star-like patterns on it's high-domed shell which are distinctive to both species of star tortoise (the other being the critically endangered Burmese star tortoise, found in the deciduous forests of Burma).

As it's name suggests the Indian star tortoise is found across the Indian sub-continent, more specifically, the Indian star tortoise is found in the central and Southern parts of India, in West Pakistan and in Sri Lanka. The Indian star tortoise is most commonly found in semi-arid scrub forest, along with thorny and grassland habitats, where there is plenty of vegetation both to hide in and munch on.

Due to the very distinctively marked, and highly rounded shell of the Indian star tortoise, this species of tortoise has become a popular pet in the world's exotic pet trade. Indian star tortoises are of a medium size, with the average adult rarely growing to more than 30 cm in length. The protective shell of the Indian star tortoise also acts in the same to the shells of other tortoise species, allowing the Indian star tortoise to draw it's vulnerable head and limbs into it's shell for protection.

The attractive star-like patterns on the shell of the Indian star tortoise actually help the tortoise to blend into it's surroundings more easily, as well as looking very pretty. The distinctively marked shell of the Indian star tortoise, actually breaks up the hard line of it's shell when it is grazing, making this reptile not so obvious to passing predators.

Like many other species of tortoise around the world, the Indian star tortoise is a herbivorous animal that has a purely vegetarian diet. The Indian star tortoise browses in the dry forests of the Indian sub-continent in search of a wide variety of plant life from leaves, to fruits and berries and numerous different species of flower that are found growing in such arid environments.

Despite it's hard and protective outer shell, the Indian star tortoise is successfully preyed upon by a number of other animals in their native habitats. Large birds of prey and other reptiles such as snakes are the most common predators of the Indian star tortoise along with humans that have both hunted the tortoise for food, as well capturing them for the exotic pet trade and moving in on their native habitats.

The Indian star tortoise begins its mating season with the coming of the monsoon, so the exact time is dependent on the area in which the individual lives. Female Indian star tortoise lay an average of 7 eggs per clutch although, this can be as many as 10. The Indian star tortoise is known to be difficult to be breed in captivity and so should only be attempted by experience breeders.

Today, the Indian star tortoise has been listed as Least concern which means that allow this species is not under immediate threat from extinction, population numbers are falling across much of the Indian star tortoise's native range thanks to habitat loss and the introduction of other predators to their natural habitats.

Amusing Facts About The Sulcata Tortoise

Have you just bought yourself a cute baby sulcata tortoise and wondering what should be an ideal sulcata tortoise diet? Well, sulcata tortoise dwells in a hot arid regions and so has unique dietary requirements. Hence, scroll down to know which foods you can incorporate in your sulcata tortoise diet to satiate your adorable pet's dietary requirements.

African spurred tortoise, also called the sulcata tortoises, is from hot, dry scrubland regions of Sub-Sahara in the large swath across North-Central Africa. It inhabits in semi-arid environment and can not survive in damp, wet or cold conditions. In wild, African sulcata tortoise survive the intolerable heat and drought by making deep burrows and going underground for months. The burrows are cooler and provide sufficient humidity to prevent the tortoise from dehydrating during this extended heat period. More on desert tortoise.


Sulcata Tortoise Physical Characteristics

Sulcata tortoise grow fast and very large, up to two and a half feet long and 80 - 110 pounds or more. In fact, only the giant tortoises of the Galapagos Islands and Seychelles have surpassed sulcata tortoise in size. Its carapace (top shell) is sandy-ivory or golden yellow-brown in color and each scute (the external plate or scale of the shell) is outlined by brown growth rings. The plastron (bottom shell) of sulcata tortoise is light tan to yellow in color with no markings and has thick skin with dull, spine-like projections on the legs. As young, sulcata totorise can be handled gently but as it is juvenile and adult, this tortoise gets too huge and is difficult to handle. Hence, it is best suited for the outdoors but can also be kept in vivarium or dry aquarium.

Sulcata Tortoise Diet
Sulcata tortoise has a voracious appetite and so providing it a proper diet is essential for its health. It mainly requires a diet which is high in fiber and calcium and low in fat and protein. Sulcata tortoise is a strict vegetarian and in wild just like cows and sheep, it gazes dry, fibrous grasses and hays, as well as occasional fruits and blossoms. However in captivity, a baby sulcata tortoise diet may include dark, leafy greens such as collards, mustard, romaine, and red leaf lettuce.

Carrot tops, beet greens, spinach, beet greens, carrot tops, kale, broccoli, and especially rhubarb, contain high amounts of oxalates which bind calcium and so should be given in limited quantities. Also too much of calcium, phosphorus or even proteins can cause malformations of the shell, extremely fast growth rate, diarrhea, and other problems. Besides the above mentioned diet items, timothy hay, alfalfa, and other feed store grasses can also be given to an adult sulcata tortoise. Fruits like strawberries, bananas, melon, berries, and apples can be given but as treats in moderation. Sulcata tortoise is not used to a sugary diet, but the occasional banana, fig, or apple will do no harm. The key to sulcata tortoise nutrition is variety, hence keep in mind that in moderation, no single food will be detrimental to its health.

Sea Turtle Depends On It's Particular Species

Sea turtles are found in all of the major oceans and smaller seas with the exception of the Arctic Circle as it is generally too cold for sea turtles as they tend to prefer more temperate waters. The bigger species of sea turtle are found more in the Southern Hemisphere in the tropical, warmer waters.

There are 7 known species of sea turtle today including the flatback sea turtle which is native to Australia; the green sea turtle which is found all over the world but there are larger populations of the green sea turtle in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans; the hawksbill turtle is a critically endangered species of sea turtle and can be found all over the world; the kemps ridley turtle is the rarest species of sea turtle in the world and is found in the Atlantic ocean and in the Gulf of Mexico; the leatherback sea turtle is the largest species of sea turtle and is the most widely distributed species of sea turtle, found all over the world; the loggerhead sea turtle is known for it's large head and is mainly found in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans; the olive ridley sea turtle is the smallest species of sea turtle and is generally found in the Indo-Pacific and Atlantic oceans.

Although sea turtles spend their time out at sea, sea turtles always go back to the same beach to breed and often travel huge distances to get there. The female sea turtles bury their eggs in the sand on the beach where they were born. After laying her eggs the female sea turtle will return to the sea, leaving her eggs to hatch in their nest under the sand. When the baby sea turtles hatch, they walk straight into the ocean and begin their life at sea.

Today, all of the 7 different species of sea turtle are under threat from extinction. The decline in the world's sea turtle population is thought to be mainly due to the sea turtles being caught accidentally by large fishing boats and due to the fact that humans will often take the eggs of the sea turtle to eat as a delicacy. Numerous conversation projects are underway all over the world in order to try to protect and preserve the sea turtle populations that remain.

The diet of the sea turtle depends on it's particular species. Some species of sea turtle are carnivorous, others are herbivores and some species of sea turtle will eat almost anything. Sea turtles tend to eat sea grasses, shrimp, crabs, fish and jellyfish, depending on what the sea turtle can find and catch.
Sea turtles have the remarkable ability to travel hundreds (in some cases thousands) of miles in order to get between their feeding grounds and their nesting grounds. Most female sea turtles return to the same beach to nest every time and will often emerge from the water just meters away from from where they nested the time before.

Sea turtles will often be able to breed for around 30 years with some species of sea turtle not being able to do so until they are 50 years old. Adult sea turtle have few natural predators besides large sharks and being caught up in human fishing nets meaning that they can live to more than 80 years old. Around 90% of baby sea turtles are eaten by smaller predators like raccoons, sea birds and large fish.

Male and female sea turtles tend to be around the same size. Adult sea turtles vary a great deal in size depending on the species of sea turtle with the smallest sea turtles measuring around 50 cm and largest are nearly 2 m.

Interesting Facts About River Turtles

River turtles are found inhabiting freshwater environments all around the world from slow-moving rivers and streams to the calmer waters of ponds and lakes. There are numerous different species of river turtle found around the world many of which are sadly considered to be endangered species today.

The Mary River turtle is the most commonly known species of river turtle as they are the most popular freshwater turtles to keep as pets often in artificial aquariums or outside in ponds. The Mary River turtle is native to the Mary River found in Queensland, Australia and was once shipped to pet shops all over the world in the thousands as people liked them due to their small size.

The yellow-spotted river turtle is one of the largest species of river turtle found in South America. The yellow-spotted river turtle is found in the large lakes and tributaries of the Amazon Basin and are easily identified by the yellow spots (hence the name) on the side of their heads. The yellow spots of the yellow-spotted river turtle are much brighter in the younger individuals and tend to fade in brightness as the yellow-spotted river turtle matures.

There are a number of river turtle species that share the name of the giant river river turtle. With the exception of the Arrau river turtle which is a flat-shelled river turtle found in the Amazon, most of these giant river turtles are indigenous to south-east Asia. The mangrove terrapin is widely distributed across the continent but is today, critically endangered due to over-hunting and pollution. The giant Asian pond turtle is one of the largest of the river turtle species and is found inhabiting rivers and streams along with marshes and rice paddies throughout Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Burma, Thailand and Malaysia.

Generally, most species of river turtle have an omnivorous diet that is primarily made up of aquatic plants, grasses and leaves. Many river turtle species also hunt fish and molluscs in the water along with small reptiles and amphibians.

Due to the relatively large size of the river turtle and the fact that it has a hard, protective shell, there are few animals that prey upon the river turtles themselves. Humans are the main predators of both the river turtle and it's eggs which are eaten as a royal delicacy in many of the river turtle's native regions. Other animals such as foxes. dogs, snakes, birds and even wild pigs eat the precious eggs of the river turtle that are buried in the sand.

As with other turtle and tortoise species, river turtles are fairly solitary animals but females can be seen gathering together in large groups on river banks to lay their eggs. River turtles can lay between 5 and 100 soft, leathery eggs depending on the species, which are buried in the sand by the female after she has laid them. After a couple of months, the baby river turtles hatch and make straight for the water. The average lifespan of the river turtle is about 30 years.

Due to excessive hunting and rising levels of pollution in the water, river turtles are extremely vulnerable animals many of which are today considered to be endangered or critically endangered. Programmes around the world have been seen up to try and protect the river turtles mainly from poachers who hunt them for their meat and eggs.

Important Facts About Red Footed Tortoise

A red footed tortoise is a very popular pet. This tortoise is an exotic species and quite rare. Let us see how to care for this little one, its diet, habitat and some more information on these reptiles.

This species is named so, due to the red, yellow and orange scales on its limbs, head and tail. The carapace length of the red footed tortoise is 25 to 35 cms, which is approximately 10 to 14 inches. Some might also measure 40 cms, that is up to 16 inches. There is also another type of the red foot tortoise, which has a bulb-like shaped nose and it's plastron (the underside of a tortoises' shell) is a little darker. These are called the 'cherry head red footed tortoise'. These tortoises are sexually dimorphic, which means, the males are larger than the females in the weighing of the carapace as well as its length. However, their height and width is the same. The mature red-foots have longer and wider tails as compared to the females. Red footed tortoise sexing can be spotted as the plastron of the male is a moving inwards. The males weigh more, around 9 to 10 kg and the females weigh a little less than them. Read more on Russian tortoise.

Red Footed Tortoise Habitat

A native of South America, the red footed tortoise is a rare species, also found in Panama, Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia, Venezuela, etc. Some of these have also been introduced to West Indies. The red footed tortoises are found in all types of habitats such as the rain forests, dry thorny forests, forests having temperate climatic conditions. They are also occupy the savanna areas, which are, grasslands, compromising of man-made grasslands too. Some are of the opinion that these red footed reptiles prefer grasslands and dry forests, as compared to rain forests.

Red Footed Tortoise Care

Red foot tortoise are very cute pets and are also very friendly. Before adopting a red footed tortoise, the 'to be' pet owner must try to gain some valuable knowledgeable into the animals care and concern. As it is an endangered species, according to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) , this species cannot be exported from its hometown without a permit. One should also be aware of the laws regarding petting of the red footed tortoise. In case of any emergency a vet, who has an experience in treating exotic species of animals including red footed tortoise or any other tortoises, should be at an easy reach. These animals should be kept in clean water tank if at home. The water tank should be cleaned once a week.

Red Footed Tortoise DietThese cute little shelled red-foots are omnivorous, that is, they eat both, plants as well as animals. Red footed tortoise diet consists of greens, vegetables that are high in calcium, fruits, flowers and a good amount of protein. Calcium greens such as lettuce leaves, hibiscus leaves, turnip greens, grape leaves, collard greens, etc. is included in their diets. Spinach and kale should be fed in deficient amount. Flowers such as hibiscus, nasturtium flowers, prickly-pear flowers, dandelions, etc. can be fed to the red-foots, as these flowers are edible. Fruits such as mangoes, kiwis, plums, pineapples, peaches, strawberries, cantaloupes, melons can be fed to them. One should not feed banana often, maybe once or twice in a month if at all you do. But not recommended. They also eat dead and rotting bodies of animals such as snails, earthworms and other insects.

Red Footed Tortoise Breeding

The red footed tortoise breeding starts when they are 6 to 8 inches long. A mature red foot male is productive in warm and humid areas all throughout the year. A healthy pair of red footed tortoises are able to produce 2 to 4 clutches having 3 to 5 eggs every season. But this also depends up on the size of the female red footed tortoise. A protein rich and calcium rich diet of the females can produce healthy eggs. The red footed tortoises' young ones hatch in temperatures between 82 to 85 degree F.

These are some of the red footed tortoise facts. Having these tortoises as pets is real fun and its amusing to watch them. I hope this article has provided you with enough information regarding the red-foots and has helped you in making your mind up, in adopting one!

Desert Tortoise:The Habitat And Food

Desert tortoise is one of the four prominent species of tortoises found in North America. It inhabits only the deserts of Mojave and Sonoran, in Southwestern U.S. To know more about the food and habitat of desert tortoise, read on...

Desert tortoise is a large, herbivorous reptile. It is found in the deserts of southwestern U.S. and Mexico. Texas, Gopher and Bolson are the other species of tortoise found in North America. Earlier, large numbers of desert tortoise were seen in the deserts, but, now their number has reduced considerably. The desert tortoise is now amongst Earth's endangered species.

The desert tortoise can grow up to 10-14 inches. The largest known desert tortoise is 15 inches in length. Its shell is dome-shaped and of dark brown or greenish shade. The front limbs have claw-like features to dig. Both, male and female desert tortoises have a characteristic gular horn. The horn of the female tortoise is shorter than that of the male. This helps to differentiate between a male and a female desert tortoise. The desert tortoise mates in fall and spring. The female lays 3-5 eggs. Badgers, roadrunners, coyotes and ravens are the prominent predators of the desert tortoise.

Desert Tortoise: Food

Tortoises are herbivores. The desert tortoise mostly thrives on grass, wildflowers and new-growths of different cacti. Its food preferences depend on the availability of plants. It mostly consume herbaceous perennial plants. The species of wildflowers consumed by the desert tortoise is coreopsis, phaselis, spurge, lupines, forget-me-not and lotus. The desert tortoise finds a variety of plants to eat, if there is a good rainfall. However, in dry seasons, it feeds on dry plants.
The desert tortoise drinks water collected in pools and ponds.

Its water intake is also through the moisture found in grass and wildflowers. It makes use of its claws to dig, while searching for water. The desert tortoise also has a characteristic feature of storing water in its body. Whenever it finds water, it drinks it excessively. The amount of water stored in the bladder of the desert tortoise can be equal to 40% of its body weight. The adult tortoise can survive for nearly one year without water. When there is scarcity of water, the desert tortoise excrete only solid waste. Hence, storing the water in its body.

Desert Tortoise: Habitat

The desert tortoise can live in very hot regions having temperatures up to 140 degrees F (i.e. 60 degrees C). It digs burrows and lives underground to escape the heat. Its burrows can be 2-10 ft deep. The size of the burrow depends on the type of soil, age of the tortoise and the purpose it serves. A burrow protects the desert tortoise from extreme heat and cold as well as predators. The burrow of the female tortoise may also contain nests. The nests can be at the mouth of the burrow or deep inside. The desert tortoise also build temporary burrows that are smaller in size at the time of foraging.

The desert tortoise is inactive for the most part of the year. It remains in the burrow in the month of May to avoid heat. As the temperature rises, all the flora of the desert gets dried up. October to February is the hibernation period of this species of tortoise. It can be seen frequently only in spring. Many of them are seen early in the mornings and late in the afternoons, during spring. The desert tortoise is also active in the summer rains. At this time, it ventures out of its burrows.

It is illegal to hunt, harm or collect the desert tortoise. It has been declared as a vulnerable (threatened) species. Therefore, it is the duty of every human to protect the rare desert tortoise.

Eastern Box Turtle Information

The Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina) , North Carolina’s State Reptile, is a terrestrial turtle found throughout the eastern United States and is one of the longest lived animals in the world. Box turtles are characterized by their highly domed carapace (top shell) and hinged plastron (bottom shell), which allows these animals to completely close up their shell to protect themselves from predators. The elaborate and brightly colored shell patterns of box turtles are extremely variable, making each individual unique. Box turtles are omnivores with diets consisting of anything from slugs and snails to mushrooms and berries.

Eastern Box Turtles can live longer than 50 years and have a rather slow growth rate, taking 7-10 years to reach sexual maturity. Of the hundreds of eggs that a female box turtle can lay throughout her lifetime, only very few hatchlings are likely to survive to adulthood. Therefore, box turtles are highly susceptible to population declines because they are not able to rapidly recover from the loss of adult individuals within a population.

 

Major threats to box turtles are associated with human activities and include capture for the pet trade, vehicular traffic, lawn mowers, and habitat destruction and fragmentation due to urban development. Urbanization confines surviving populations to smaller spaces where they become more vulnerable to extinction. Railroads pose an additional threat to box turtles because they can become trapped between the rails where they are more susceptible topredation and may die from overheating.

The Eastern Box Turtle plays a valuable role in our ecosystem and, as the State Reptile, is an important part of our natural heritage that we, with a conscious conservation effort, will be able to enjoy long into the future.The General Assembly of 1979 designated the Eastern Box Turtle as the official State Reptile for North Carolina.

Elongated Tortoise We Should Know

The elongated tortoise used to be imported in huge numbers in the past. Although it is still imported today the numbers are not as great. It has been bred in captivity but it is far from common.

It seems that many of the imported tortoises that come from forest type habitat are typically infested with parasites and have a very difficult time acclimating to captivity. This is usually the case with imported elongated tortoises as well. They are usually very difficult to acclimate which is why they are still not very common in collections despite the large numbers that were imported in the past.

As with most other tortoises an outdoor enclosure is usually the easiest way to maintain this tortoise. A densely planted enclosure with a good ground cover of leaf litter or mulch makes the elongated feel quite comfortable. This tortoise is small enough that a similar enclosure could be set up indoors. The key is to provide a humid environment but not overly moist.

The diet for this tortoise is very similar to other forest type dwelling tortoises in that it should be provided with dark leafy greens and vegetables supplemented with fleshy fruits such as pears, apples and various berries. It is also known to consume insects, slugs and carrion when found.

Water should be provided at all times. Providing a shallow pool is also an added benefit. Imported specimens should be examined by a vet and properly treated for any parasites found.

Do You Have An Eastern Painted Turtle?

Do you have an eastern painted turtle? If this is your first time owning one, you will want to be able to take good care of it. There are some simple tips for taking care of these painted turtles. Your first order of business though is to correctly identify your turtle as a true painted one. Different turtle species have different requirements for care.

The painted turtle has a top shell or carapace that is black and flat. Its distinguishing marks however are the deep lines in between the carapace plates or scutes. The carapace edge also has red streaks on the bottom. The plastron, or bottom, of the turtle is yellow but may have some colored marks. Its legs, neck and tail carry red and yellow stripes. The streaks of color all over the shell and body of this turtle are what have earned it the name painted turtle.
Eastern Painted Turtle Housing
These turtles love to swim so they will not do well in mere shallow water dishes. They require a deep aquatic environment. A wide aquarium is therefore recommended. Grown up females need an aquarium that is a little bigger than a hundred gallons. Males may survive in smaller homes but should not be smaller than 75 gallons. At the least, the depth of the water should not be less than its shell width. Deeper depths are welcome. The width and length of the aquarium should be a couple of times more than the turtle's shell width.
The eastern painted turtle may love water but it also needs out of water periods. It should therefore have a basking rock where it can sit when it isn't swimming.
Eastern Painted Turtle Lighting and Temperature
Every turtle needs some sunlight to keep healthy. Its indoor habitat should therefore have a light source over the basking area. There are UVB light sources sold in pet shops for turtles and reptiles.
Aside from lighting, the temperature should also be monitored. As much as possible, temperatures should approach their natural environment temperatures. Painted turtles however are generally more tolerant of temperature differences than other turtles. Temperature requirements differ depending on the area of the habitat. The basking area should be around 85o F to 90 o F. The general air temperature should only be around 80 o F to 85 o F while the water should be 70 o F to 75 o F.
Eastern Painted Turtle Feeding
Adult turtles should be fed once every two days. Grazing leaves however may be left around everyday. On main meal schedules, these turtles should be fed meat but combined with plant food. Be careful though. If you give too much meat, they could grow too much too fast. Possible mixed food items for painted turtles include meal worms, pond plants, vegetables, earthworms, green leafy vegetables and cooked chicken.
Do not be immediately alarmed if your turtle doesn't eat for five days or more. If it shows no sluggishness or other obvious signs of sickness, it will eventually return to feeding.
You might truly enjoy taking care of an eastern painted turtle. Be sure though that you are able to constantly monitor and provide all of its critical needs.

Knowing The Eastern Mud Turtle

The eastern mud turtle, which is about 4 inches in length, requires a specific habitat to do well. For this reason, as the species experiences a loss of much of its habitat, the turtle is on endangered lists in parts of its original range.

Geography

• The eastern mud turtle has a geographic range from Long Island southward to the tip of Florida and as far westward as central portions of Texas. It has a presence in eastern Oklahoma and as far north in the western part of its range as northwest Indiana, where a few remain.

Features

• The turtle looks for a pond, lake or river environment that features a large amount of aquatic vegetation, where the bottom is muddy and soft, and the water is slow-moving.

Considerations

• This kind of turtle survives in both fresh and brackish water, meaning that it can inhabit salt marshes and has populations of islands off the Atlantic Coast.

Migration

• When a period of drought or unusually hot weather dries up its habitat, the eastern mud turtle migrates over land until it finds another suitable body of water in which to live. If it fails to find a new habitat, it burrows into the mud and spends the summer in a semi-hibernating state.

Hibernation

• The species passes the winter in a burrow below the frost line, typically in the mud near a marsh, pond or swamp. It will commence overwintering as early as September and return to activity as late as May in some places.

Funny Things About Box Turtles

This fact sheet describes a general box turtle, unless otherwise mentioned.
Description
All T. carolina have a bilobed, hinged plastron that allows the box turtle to close its shell almost completely. They have a steep-margined, keeled, high-domed, rounded carapace with variable markings. Concentric growth furrows can be seen on the carapace, although in some older individuals they become very difficult to see. The upper jaw is slightly hooked. The toes are only slightly webbed.

Males are slightly larger on average than females, the posterior lobe of their plastron is concave, and the claws on their hind legs are short, thick, and curved. Males also have thicker and longer tails. Females' rear claws are longer, straighter, and more slender, and the posterior lobe of their plastron is flat or slightly convex. Males have red irises and females have yellowish-brown irises.
Environmental temperature determines activity rate. Preferred body temperature is between 84 and 100° F (37.8° C). In the heat of the summer, box turtles largely restrict their activity to mornings and after rain. When it gets too hot, they hide under decaying logs and leaves, crawl into mammal burrows, or into mud. When it is really hot, they go into shady pools and puddles to cool off. In the spring and fall, they may be out foraging during all daylight hours, and they sometimes bask in the sun to get warm. Box turtles are diurnal and scoop out a shallow indentation in which to spend the night.
In the northern regions, box turtles go into hibernation in October or November, but farther south they remain active later in the year. To hibernate, they burrow as far as two-feet deep into loose earth, mud, stream bottoms, old stump holes, or mammal burrows. They may return to the same place to hibernate in successive years and sometimes more than one turtle hibernates in the same hibernacula. They usually emerge from hibernation in April. They sometimes wake up and find a new hibernacula on warm days in the winter.
These turtles usually have a home range with a diameter of 750 feet (230 m) or less in which they normally stay. Occasionally, for unknown reasons, they journey out from their home range. Home ranges of different individuals overlap frequently, regardless of age or sex. The turtles are often found together and show no antagonism towards each other.
Distribution and Habitat
Exclusively North American, box turtles occupy the eastern United States ranging from southern Maine to Florida along the East Coast, and west to Michigan, Illinois, eastern Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. Due to their popularity as household pets, box turtles are sometimes found far outside their normal geographic range.
Learn about turtle conservation. There are four subspecies of T. carolina in the U.S.Terrapene carolina bauri (Florida box turtle) lives in the peninsula of Florida. Terrapene carolina major (Gulf Coast box turtle) ranges from the panhandle of Florida westward along the gulf coast to eastern Texas.

Terrapene carolina triunguis (three-toed box turtle) lives in the Mississippi River Valley from northern Missouri southward across southeastern Kansas and eastern Oklahoma into south-central Texas, and southeastward across western Tennessee and Georgia to the coastal lowlands.
Terrapene carolina carolina (common box turtle), covering the largest area, lives from Michigan and Maine in the north, and ranges south to the boundaries of the other subspecies. Very little overlap occurs between the ranges of the subspecies of T. carolina, except for a region in Mississippi and Alabama where T. carolina triunguis and T. carolina carolina overlap.
Box turtles live in open woodlands, pastures, and marshy meadows. They are often found near streams and ponds.
Diet in the Wild
Omnivorous, these turtles eat snails, insects, berries, fungi, slugs, worms, roots, flowers, fish, frogs, salamanders, snakes, birds, and eggs indiscriminately. They have been observed eating carrion, feeding on dead ducks, amphibians, assorted small mammals, and even a dead cow. Their preference varies greatly by season but there is one definite trend. Young are primarily carnivorous while they grow during their first five to six years. Adults tend to be mostly herbivorous, but they eat no green leaves. Young often hunt in ponds and streams because the type of food they prefer is easier to catch there, but adults usually feed on land.
Zoo Diet
At the Zoo, they are fed salad, earthworms, and crickets; rarely mealworms.
Reproduction
There is some variation between the courtship rituals of the subspecies. The courtship of both T.c.carolina andT.c.major is divided into three phases: a circling, biting, shoving phase; a preliminary mounting phase; and a copulatory phase. T.c.triunguis and T.c. bauri both have somewhat different rituals, which may represent the ancestral method. Both triunguis and bauri males have added the behavior of pulsating their throats.T.c.triunguis does this in front of the female, and baurimales climb up on the females' carapace with all four feet and then pulsate. The actual copulation is the same in all subspecies, with the male standing somewhat upright, leaning the concave part of his plastron against the back of the female's carapace. It is in this balanced position that the male fertilizes the female with his penis. Males sometimes fall backwards after copulation, and if they can't right themselves they die of starvation.
The mating season begins in the spring and continues throughout summer to October. Males may mate with more than one female or the same female several times over a period of several years. A female may lay fertile eggs for up to four years after one successful mating. Nesting occurs from May through July. Nests are usually dug in sandy or loamy soil, using the hind legs. Then eggs are laid in this cavity and the nest is carefully covered up again. Females lay three to eight eggs, usually four or five, and they are elliptical with thin, white, flexible shells. The female lays several clutches each year. Incubation normally lasts three months, but this varies according to soil temperature and moisture.
Life Span
Box turtles may live more than 100 years.
Status
Box turtles are listed on CITES Appendix II. Collection for the pet trade and habitat destruction and fragmentation threaten the box turtle population.
Fun Facts
When frightened, box turtles retract their head, tail, and limbs into their shell and clamp it shut. They wait in this position until the perceived threat is gone. While juveniles have several predators, very few species can prey effectively on adults due to this defense technique.
Box turtles can be dangerous to eat. At times they consume poisonous mushrooms and the toxins may linger in their flesh.
Box turtles are most famous for their hinged shell, which allows them to retract almost completely into their bony armor to hide from danger. This shell has great regenerative powers. A case was reported in which the carapace of a badly burned box turtle underwent complete regeneration.

Which Is The Smallest Tortoise In The World?

The smallest turtle in the world can be broken down into a couple of different answers. The group Chelonians, a subdivision of reptiles includes turtles, tortoises and terrapins. The smallest Chelonian in the world is the Speckled Cape Tortoise found in Western South Africa; it grows between 6 and 8 centimeters and the males are smaller than the female. These creatures are marked Near Threatened by the IUCN. One reason is that the females lay only one egg each summer; which is hardly enough to restore the population that is dying. Other than that, scientists know very little about their mating.

Here is a little brief about the difference between turtles, tortoises and terrapins. Turtles are mostly aquatic and often have special webbed toes to allow them to move easily through the water. They are air breathing, but hold their breath when they go underwater. Tortoises are mostly land dwelling and keep a supply of water in their shell. Turtles have a comparatively flatter back compared with tortoises, which have a much more rounded form. Terrapins are between the two; they live partly on land and partly in the water and usually refer to a creature whose characteristics are between a turtle and a tortoise.

That being said, the smallest actual turtle in the world is the Bog Turtle, native to the Eastern United States. It grows to be about 11 centimeters long. Like their name implies, these turtles live in sphagnum bogs, wetlands and wet pastures. They like environments that are calcium rich; calcium carbonate, calcium or lime. They are listed as Threatened by the IUCN, mostly due to habitat destruction. As a result, some states have banned the removal of these turtles from their environments.