It was an amazing experience to observe the reptiles that were presented to our class, namely, the African Hinge-back Tortoise, the Central American Ornated Red-foot Turtle, the Mud Turtle from the U.S., the Texas Box Turtle, the African-Spur Turtle, and the Russian Turtle.
Tortoises differ from turtles as they live on land and use water only for bathing and drinking. These reptiles use their shells or carapaces to protect themselves from their predators. Growth rings appear on the carapace. Their bodies adapt to their habitats and this is evident in the differences in their snouts which may be sharp in carnivores or dull if they are herbivores. Their feet may be webbed for swimming or limbs may be present for stronger muscles needed for walking or digging holes. They also vary in size, skin-texture, and color.
The Central American Ornated Red-foot Turtle is a great example of the variety of texture and color. This attractive animal’s face is adorned with thin red lines, and the legs, tail, plastron (underside of the shell), and marginal scutes (sides of the shell) are heavily marked with red and black. The shell is moderately elongated in shape. Males can be distinguished from females by the thicker tail and concave plastron. They can reach up to 7 inches long whereas females can be about two inches longer. They are endangered as they are domesticated because of their beauty, and they also require more care and do not do well in captivity.
Hinge backs are a species of tortoise that have hinges on the bottom part of their shells. The African hinge back tortoise is not listed as endangered; however, these animals are being exported out of their native areas in large numbers because of their unique shells, with a movable hinge. The hinges allow the back of the shell to clamp down so the back legs and tail have increased protection from predators. They can retreat their head quite far when threatened, bringing the front legs in to seal the anterior opening in the carapace; the knees meet in front of the head with the feet pointing to either side. The enlarged scales of the forelegs face outward in this position, protecting the legs themselves. Overall, they are rather small in size, but the largest type can grow to be nearly 12 inches long.
The Texas Box Turtle is very ornated, and it has a single hinge at the front of the lower shell (plastron), allowing to fold it up and closing the front of the shell entirely; thus the common name of “box turtle”. They also have a hooked upper jaw (“beak”). Males have a longer tail thank females with a thick base and a somewhat concave plastron, whereas females have a flat one. They used to be seen in backyards, on ranches, and along roadways, but many Texans report that they are now hard to find. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department would like to know if you see a box turtle in the state.
The Mud Turtle is another American turtle that is found in the Southeast of the country. It has a double-hinged plastron, similar to the box turtle, and the males have longer and thicker tails than the females. Interestingly, the Florida striped mud turtle differs from those found in the Carolinas or in Georgia. It has yellow head stripes and three light longitudinal stripes on a dark carapace whereas other mud turtles lack these stripes, retaining only the light stripe between the eye and nostril. Furthermore, the females of the striped mud turle nest in the fall, rather than the spring or summer as other mud turtles do.
The tan-colored Russian Tortoise is the smallest of them all. It generally reaches a length of 6 to 8 inches. Their carapace is very round, and the vertebral scutes of the carapace are noticeably flat. The tail has a terminal claw, and it is generally longer and thicker in males than in females. The Russian Tortoise has four claws on each foot.
For its part, the African Spur Tortoise is the largest of these reptiles. Its shell length ranges up to 36 inches and weighs up to 240 lbs. Well cared for in a pen, it can live up to 70 years. This tortoise has a uniform brown to golden yellow color. Growth rings on each scute appear on the carapace. There are also well-defined spurs on the rear legs, which gives it its name African spur thigh tortoise. The skin is thick which may serve to reduce fluid loss through transpiration.
This brief encounter with these different tortoises illustrates how diverse the same species can be. It is important to remember that in many places it is illegal to take wildlife out of the wild without the proper permits from local, state, or federal authorities. Also, it is important to remember that captive reptiles or amphibians should not be released into the wild as this will disrupt the natural order of our environment.
For more information, please visit the following websites:
http://www.wnyherp.org/
http://www.turtlesite.info.html/
http://www.centralpets.com/
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/
http://www.rollinghillswildlife.com/
Tortoises differ from turtles as they live on land and use water only for bathing and drinking. These reptiles use their shells or carapaces to protect themselves from their predators. Growth rings appear on the carapace. Their bodies adapt to their habitats and this is evident in the differences in their snouts which may be sharp in carnivores or dull if they are herbivores. Their feet may be webbed for swimming or limbs may be present for stronger muscles needed for walking or digging holes. They also vary in size, skin-texture, and color.
The Central American Ornated Red-foot Turtle is a great example of the variety of texture and color. This attractive animal’s face is adorned with thin red lines, and the legs, tail, plastron (underside of the shell), and marginal scutes (sides of the shell) are heavily marked with red and black. The shell is moderately elongated in shape. Males can be distinguished from females by the thicker tail and concave plastron. They can reach up to 7 inches long whereas females can be about two inches longer. They are endangered as they are domesticated because of their beauty, and they also require more care and do not do well in captivity.
Hinge backs are a species of tortoise that have hinges on the bottom part of their shells. The African hinge back tortoise is not listed as endangered; however, these animals are being exported out of their native areas in large numbers because of their unique shells, with a movable hinge. The hinges allow the back of the shell to clamp down so the back legs and tail have increased protection from predators. They can retreat their head quite far when threatened, bringing the front legs in to seal the anterior opening in the carapace; the knees meet in front of the head with the feet pointing to either side. The enlarged scales of the forelegs face outward in this position, protecting the legs themselves. Overall, they are rather small in size, but the largest type can grow to be nearly 12 inches long.
The Texas Box Turtle is very ornated, and it has a single hinge at the front of the lower shell (plastron), allowing to fold it up and closing the front of the shell entirely; thus the common name of “box turtle”. They also have a hooked upper jaw (“beak”). Males have a longer tail thank females with a thick base and a somewhat concave plastron, whereas females have a flat one. They used to be seen in backyards, on ranches, and along roadways, but many Texans report that they are now hard to find. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department would like to know if you see a box turtle in the state.
The Mud Turtle is another American turtle that is found in the Southeast of the country. It has a double-hinged plastron, similar to the box turtle, and the males have longer and thicker tails than the females. Interestingly, the Florida striped mud turtle differs from those found in the Carolinas or in Georgia. It has yellow head stripes and three light longitudinal stripes on a dark carapace whereas other mud turtles lack these stripes, retaining only the light stripe between the eye and nostril. Furthermore, the females of the striped mud turle nest in the fall, rather than the spring or summer as other mud turtles do.
The tan-colored Russian Tortoise is the smallest of them all. It generally reaches a length of 6 to 8 inches. Their carapace is very round, and the vertebral scutes of the carapace are noticeably flat. The tail has a terminal claw, and it is generally longer and thicker in males than in females. The Russian Tortoise has four claws on each foot.
For its part, the African Spur Tortoise is the largest of these reptiles. Its shell length ranges up to 36 inches and weighs up to 240 lbs. Well cared for in a pen, it can live up to 70 years. This tortoise has a uniform brown to golden yellow color. Growth rings on each scute appear on the carapace. There are also well-defined spurs on the rear legs, which gives it its name African spur thigh tortoise. The skin is thick which may serve to reduce fluid loss through transpiration.
This brief encounter with these different tortoises illustrates how diverse the same species can be. It is important to remember that in many places it is illegal to take wildlife out of the wild without the proper permits from local, state, or federal authorities. Also, it is important to remember that captive reptiles or amphibians should not be released into the wild as this will disrupt the natural order of our environment.
For more information, please visit the following websites:
http://www.wnyherp.org/
http://www.turtlesite.info.html/
http://www.centralpets.com/
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/
http://www.rollinghillswildlife.com/
No comments:
Post a Comment