Showing posts with label type. Show all posts
Showing posts with label type. Show all posts
Friday, February 21, 2014
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Common Types of Tortoise
There are practically hundreds of types of tortoises, but not all of them are suited as pets. Some of those tortoises live in humid tropical areas, while others can’t survive during the winter. Here are the common species of tortoises that are perfectly suited as pets.
Pictures: Dry Land Turtle
The Dry Land Turtle (Testudo Hermani) is common in Europe. They like to live in the forest, but always close to a watercourse or a lake. They have a convex shape, rounded at the back, and the general shape of such a tortoise is rounded. The color of this species is yellow or orange, with black spots and two stripes of the same color. It is a vegetarian species by excellence, eating fruits, vegetables and rarely, insects. It hibernates since October until the end of April, buried in the ground or small caves on the shores of rivers. Usually, it reproduces at the end of April, when the female lays 11-12 white eggs with a diameter of 3.5 centimeters. The eggs hatch after three or four months, and the babies are only 4 centimeters long. Because of the modifications of the climate, this species is currently endangered, therefore protected by law.
Picture: Greek tortoise
The Greek tortoise (testudo greaca ibera) is spread in Africa, in the Mediterranean basin, and also in Asia and Eastern Europe. It is a middleweight tortoise that reaches 20-30 centimeters as an adult. The head, neck and members can be withdrawn totally in the shell. All the older animals have a wider behind. The color of the shell is yellow or light red, and the edges could have a dark brown color. The shell is ornate with brown spots also, on a green background. The tale is shorter compared with the ones of other tortoises.
Picture: steppe tortoise
The steppe tortoise (testudo horsfieldii) has a reduced dimension, between 20-30 centimeters. It can sometimes be confused with the Greek tortoise. It is different from this one because it has claws on all the four members. The contour is almost circular, with large scales of a brown color, and with black nuances. This tortoise can be found in Central Asia and India. It usually lives in deserts, steppes and oasis, or in the mountain valleys. The exterior is mostly dependent on the environment where it lives.
The males have a reduced corporal weight compared with the one of females of the same age. The mating period is characterized by fights. It is an omnivore species, eating flowers, fruits but also small insects. It is exported in many countries in the world because it is really popular as a pet, but transporting it requires special conditions, so it is better to find a special carrier that can bring you one.
Even if the turtles require water, it is a lot easier to take care of a turtle than it is to take care of a tortoise. The tortoise needs space, and it usually required an outdoor environment. The environment must have elements of the natural habitat of the tortoise, if you want it to be happy and to live for a long time.
Related Posts:
The African Spurred Tortoise
Common Tortoises in Europe
Different types of turtles
Taking Care of Baby Turtles
The Sea Turtles: General Characteristics
Why Are The Sea Turtles Not Suited As Pets?
The Decision of Having a Turtle as a Pet
The Dry Land Turtle (Testudo Hermani) is common in Europe. They like to live in the forest, but always close to a watercourse or a lake. They have a convex shape, rounded at the back, and the general shape of such a tortoise is rounded. The color of this species is yellow or orange, with black spots and two stripes of the same color. It is a vegetarian species by excellence, eating fruits, vegetables and rarely, insects. It hibernates since October until the end of April, buried in the ground or small caves on the shores of rivers. Usually, it reproduces at the end of April, when the female lays 11-12 white eggs with a diameter of 3.5 centimeters. The eggs hatch after three or four months, and the babies are only 4 centimeters long. Because of the modifications of the climate, this species is currently endangered, therefore protected by law.
Picture: Greek tortoise
The Greek tortoise (testudo greaca ibera) is spread in Africa, in the Mediterranean basin, and also in Asia and Eastern Europe. It is a middleweight tortoise that reaches 20-30 centimeters as an adult. The head, neck and members can be withdrawn totally in the shell. All the older animals have a wider behind. The color of the shell is yellow or light red, and the edges could have a dark brown color. The shell is ornate with brown spots also, on a green background. The tale is shorter compared with the ones of other tortoises.
Picture: steppe tortoise
The steppe tortoise (testudo horsfieldii) has a reduced dimension, between 20-30 centimeters. It can sometimes be confused with the Greek tortoise. It is different from this one because it has claws on all the four members. The contour is almost circular, with large scales of a brown color, and with black nuances. This tortoise can be found in Central Asia and India. It usually lives in deserts, steppes and oasis, or in the mountain valleys. The exterior is mostly dependent on the environment where it lives.
The males have a reduced corporal weight compared with the one of females of the same age. The mating period is characterized by fights. It is an omnivore species, eating flowers, fruits but also small insects. It is exported in many countries in the world because it is really popular as a pet, but transporting it requires special conditions, so it is better to find a special carrier that can bring you one.
Even if the turtles require water, it is a lot easier to take care of a turtle than it is to take care of a tortoise. The tortoise needs space, and it usually required an outdoor environment. The environment must have elements of the natural habitat of the tortoise, if you want it to be happy and to live for a long time.
Related Posts:
The African Spurred Tortoise
Common Tortoises in Europe
Different types of turtles
Taking Care of Baby Turtles
The Sea Turtles: General Characteristics
Why Are The Sea Turtles Not Suited As Pets?
The Decision of Having a Turtle as a Pet
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Different types of turtles
Before analyzing the types of turtles, we must establish the differences between turtles and tortoises. The turtles are the ones that live in the water. The tortoises live on dry land, but they also have the capacity to swim.
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The most common type of turtle in USA that is also popular as a pet is the Florida Turtle (chrysemys scripta elegans). It is a middleweight species that reaches 20-25 centimeters as an adult, and a weight of 1.5-2 kilograms. Many times, it is appreciated like a small turtle considering that it only measures 3-4 centimeters at birth, and a weight of 10 grams. When she is young, the turtle has about the same dimensions. It is found in North America subtropical areas, but it is easily adaptable and spread all over the world. The young baby turtles have an intense color, with a green shell with yellow and green stripes. As the baby grows, those expand to the neck, head and members. On each part of the body, on the posterior side of the eye, a red dot can be observed. Sometimes, there is also a red stripe on the head, but this has a less intense color.
As the turtle gets old, the general color of the turtle becomes darker, and when it reaches maturity, it has a brown-green color with violet reflexes. The yellow stripes are less obvious. In the natural environment, they can be found on watercourses that are less deep and flooded areas.
The European turtle (emys obicularis) has small dimensions, with varieties of 15-25 centimeters. The body is different considering the age category, evolving from a rounded shape to an oval one for an adult.
The members of the European turtle are strong, with long claws for the five anterior members and the four posterior ones. As a particularity, we can say that the claws are united with a membrane that allows them to swim easily.
The body is enclosed with a bone shell, covered with bone scales. Even if it is called the European Turtle, it can be found in Northern Africa and Eastern Asia also. This turtle likes to stay on the shore of the river, but at the smallest alarm, it jumps into the water and disappears. It is an agile species that can swim easily, where it also eats. It is carnivore, expecting the pray covered by aquatic vegetation. The European turtle eats roaches, rodents and even small birds, worms and insects. During the winter, the turtle hibernates on the bottom of the water. At the end of May, the female lays 3-16 eggs in flooded areas, but not far from the shores of the water.
There are many other types of turtles, but those two species are the most common one as pets. They are small enough for an average aquarium, and they are not so pretentious when it comes to food. It is estimated that 60% of pet turtles are a part of one of those species.
.jpg)
The most common type of turtle in USA that is also popular as a pet is the Florida Turtle (chrysemys scripta elegans). It is a middleweight species that reaches 20-25 centimeters as an adult, and a weight of 1.5-2 kilograms. Many times, it is appreciated like a small turtle considering that it only measures 3-4 centimeters at birth, and a weight of 10 grams. When she is young, the turtle has about the same dimensions. It is found in North America subtropical areas, but it is easily adaptable and spread all over the world. The young baby turtles have an intense color, with a green shell with yellow and green stripes. As the baby grows, those expand to the neck, head and members. On each part of the body, on the posterior side of the eye, a red dot can be observed. Sometimes, there is also a red stripe on the head, but this has a less intense color. As the turtle gets old, the general color of the turtle becomes darker, and when it reaches maturity, it has a brown-green color with violet reflexes. The yellow stripes are less obvious. In the natural environment, they can be found on watercourses that are less deep and flooded areas.
The European turtle (emys obicularis) has small dimensions, with varieties of 15-25 centimeters. The body is different considering the age category, evolving from a rounded shape to an oval one for an adult.
The members of the European turtle are strong, with long claws for the five anterior members and the four posterior ones. As a particularity, we can say that the claws are united with a membrane that allows them to swim easily.
The body is enclosed with a bone shell, covered with bone scales. Even if it is called the European Turtle, it can be found in Northern Africa and Eastern Asia also. This turtle likes to stay on the shore of the river, but at the smallest alarm, it jumps into the water and disappears. It is an agile species that can swim easily, where it also eats. It is carnivore, expecting the pray covered by aquatic vegetation. The European turtle eats roaches, rodents and even small birds, worms and insects. During the winter, the turtle hibernates on the bottom of the water. At the end of May, the female lays 3-16 eggs in flooded areas, but not far from the shores of the water.
There are many other types of turtles, but those two species are the most common one as pets. They are small enough for an average aquarium, and they are not so pretentious when it comes to food. It is estimated that 60% of pet turtles are a part of one of those species.
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