When we mention pets, the very first thing that comes to mind is a dog or a cat, maybe a parrot. However, there is another species that quietly declares itself as a charming addition to the household. Here’s a hint: they lived in the Jurassic period and preceded some of the most ancient reptiles: crocodiles and snakes.
Leisurely, delicate turtle this is what we are talking about. When you think about a pet, a turtle is an interesting choice. Not all houses live in reptiles, which only increases the coefficient of coolness of the owner of the terrarium. The second reason is that the pleasant nature of turtles allows you to take care of them even to children.
Redhaired
The turtle has a unique wide red or orange (less often yellow) strip behind each eye. Wide vertical stripes (when viewed from the side) are present on the shell, the yellow plaster has round dark spots or does not have at all, and the narrow yellow stripes decorate the front surface of the front paws.
Trionics Chinese or Far Eastern
The color is olive-gray or greenish-brown with numerous yellow or yellowish dots on a black background in young individuals. Yellow spots disappear with age. Adult turtles do not have a pattern on evenly olive shell.
Caspian
Shell from olive to black, often with a yellow/cream pattern on the shields. Dorsal keel is most noticeable in young animals, without zazubin along the edge. Plastron has a zazubin from behind, black and yellow marks, yellow-painted or brown spots.
Ilovaya gloomy
The main color of the wide oval shell with a high dome olive-black, olive-gray or olive-pier. Plastron at the turtle is small. The seams of the shield are darker than the surrounding shell. The shell of the elderly animals can be harassed.
European swamp
This type needs two types of habitats: water and ground. These turtles eat only in water, so they completely depend on the reservoirs. Turtles live in small and large ponds (50-5000 m2) with flooded and floating vegetable cover.
Types of small turtles
Threekilled
Small turtle, the color of the shell is brown or black, depends on the copy. The body is gray or brown. The head is dark green, with stripes of pale beige lines. These are omnivorous turtles, but as they grow, they love more and more plants in the diet.
Muscular
Small turtles (5-12 cm) with dark brown or black shells have stripes or stains. There are two distinct stripes on the head and antennae on the chin and throat. Live in small reservoirs with a weak current, abundant aquatic vegetation and a soft bottom.
Spotted
Small turtles 9-11.5 cm, black with yellow spots. The cubs usually have one stain on the shell, patterns in adults vary. The sink is flattened, orange or yellow color appears on the head, neck and front paws.
Pond Reeves
The shell of the turtle is a little rectangular. The shell has three keel, which go along the entire length. They become less pronounced when the turtle becomes older, and Kili wear out over time. The female plastron is slightly convex or flat, and the male is concave.
Closing turtles
Muskoye Kyalyan
This species is almost completely water, but the turtles sometimes come out of the water to warm up. They have a convex, large head and long neck. They also have a noticeable sharp beak, short paws. And these turtles have sharp keel, which runs in the center and the entire length of the sink.
Reddish silt turtle
Turtles live in ponds, in reservoirs with and without vegetation, although they prefer ponds with great vegetation. In nature live in streams, prefer clean water, oxygen. Prefer sandy and dirty bottoms, as they hibernate, hiding in the mud.
Silt yellow
Cute turtles are found in quiet waters with a soft bottom. Their bodies are long and narrow, dark brown shells, white or yellow head. They are completely closed inside their shells. They need only a small swimming area, and it is not always used.
Flat
Relatively small, dark, flat turtle with a shell of only 145-200 mm long. The flattened shell has a wide median groove or hollow bordered by two raised rollers (keels), and a wide plastron of pigmented black or dark brown color.
Types of land turtles
Central Asian
The painting of the shell varies from light brown and yellow-green to olive, often with brown or black marks on large shields. Plastron is covered with brown or black spot on each shield, and in some cases purely black.
Star or Indian
The color of the shell is light cream or dark yellow-brown. Females are rounded and their tail is less than that of males. Other dimorphic features: the male has a concentrated plastron, the female has completely flat. In females, the gap between the anal and supracaudal plates is larger.
Mediterranean
The turtle has a small spur on each thigh and the only supracaudal plate. On the front of the front paws are rather rude scales. The color of the shell is yellow, orange, brown or black and, like the length of the shell, depends on the subspecies.
Egyptian
The color of the sink is gray, ivory color or saturated golden, the body of the turtle, as a rule, is pale yellow. The shell has dark brown or black marks on the front and side sides of each shield. This dark pigment with age fades to a lighter shade.
Balkan
Arched rounded shell has an intense yellow pattern on a dark background. Plastron is decorated with two black stripes along the central seam. The color of the head is olive or yellowish with dark spots. Most turtles also have characteristic yellow spots near the mouth.
Conclusion
Turtles are contained as pets, and the choice of the right species is an important solution. Make sure you want the reptile. They live for a long time, so the turtle, which you will probably choose, will be a pet for many years.
Another way to look at a hobby: for example, a teenager is 16 years old, and he was given a young turtle. If he cares well of her, then time will pass, he will start a family and children, or, perhaps, even grandchildren and witness to all this a turtle! This is a great responsibility and longterm obligation, so be sure that you want it before buying a turtle.
