Hey everyone, I've finally finished my spring science report it is about turtles, tortoises and terrapins. Hope y'all like it.
___________________________________________________
Chelonians of the World
By: Sam Jacobs
Introduction
This report is all about chelonians of Georgia and chelonians of the world. I will tell you about how many species there are of chelonian: from the largest chelonian to the smallest, from turtles to tortoises to terrapins.
Snapping Turtle Picture taken by: Sam Jacobs (1)
What is a Chelonian
A chelonian is a four legged reptile that is in the reptilia class and the word chelonian is the scientific word for turtle, tortoise, and terrapin. What is the difference? The reason there is a difference is because the way the three chelonians live. Turtles spend most of their life in water, while tortoises spend most of their life on land. As for terrapins, they live on land and in the water. The word terrapin was used by Native Americans: it means “little turtle”.
A chelonian is cold blooded like other reptiles but what makes chelonians so unique from all the other reptiles is that they all have a shell.
Chelonians have been around for over two million years making them the oldest surviving reptiles on earth and they are on every continent but Antarctica. The way scientists can tell how old a chelonian is, is the chelonian’s shell has layers of plates; you count the layers of plates on top of each other and what your total is gives you the age of the chelonian.
Some chelonians can be found in salt water and fresh water; some can live from twenty (20) to one hundred and fifty (150) years. There are twenty seven (27) species of chelonian in Georgia, and 250 species in the world.
The smallest and largest species of chelonian can both be found in Georgia. The smallest chelonian is the Bog turtle; it can grow up to four inches long. The largest chelonian in the world is also the largest saltwater turtle and it is the Leatherback Sea turtle. It can grow to seventy-five (75) inches long and weigh up to one ton. The alligator snapping turtle is the largest fresh water turtle in the world and can also be found in Georgia.
Some chelonians’ habitat terrains can be almost anything; some can live in the desert, woodlands, mountains, creeks, swamps, and some can even live in the ocean. Most chelonians hibernate during the winter; they dig a burrow to sleep in it all winter and do not come out until spring is back. All chelonians are egg layers and a female will lay her eggs in a hole covering them with leaves, dirt, or sand to keep them warm. Some species lay a few eggs, some lay a dozen and some can lay up to one hundred or more eggs. After the mother lays her eggs, the eggs and the babies after they hatch are on their own and have no help from their mother even when they hatch. When the babies are born, a new born baby chelonian has an egg tooth that they use to break out of the shell. Some have a yolk sack to eat that gives them enough food for a few days. But they also have to find their own food. Whatever the temperature is in the mother’s nest is what kind of baby will hatch. If the nest is cold, most of the new born babies will be males; if it is warm, most will be female. How to tell a male chelonian from a female chelonian: the way you can tell the male from the female is the male chelonian has a longer and thicker tail.
Some species have different diets. Some chelonians eat plants; the ones that eat plants are called “herbivores” and most species of Tortoise are one of these. Some eat meat, like the Alligator snapping turtle, and they are called “carnivores”. Some that eat both plants and meat are called “omnivores”. An herbivore chelonian’s diet is leaves, wildflowers, clovers, thistle, herbs, grasses and greens. A carnivorous chelonian’s diet is worms, slugs, insects, insect larva, small mammals, snails, salamanders, and frogs.
The chelonian is in the reptilia class but they are sorted into different families. There are seven chelonian families. The seven families are:
- Snaked necked turtles, or side necked turtles; there are about thirty (30) species of the snaked necked turtle including all of the terrapin species. The snaked necked family got its name because all the turtles in the family have long necks.
- The Helmeted side turtles have twenty (20) species.
- Alligator turtles: there are three (3) species which include the Common Snapping turtle and the dangerous Alligator snapping turtle.
- Soft shelled turtles: there are twenty-two (22) species; the soft shelled turtle has a shell but on the top and has a smooth leathery texture. All of the soft shelled turtles are aquatic and they have paddle like feet to help them swim.
- The American Mud Musk turtles have twenty (20) species.
- Pond turtles: eighty five (85) species which includes the popular Box turtle.
- Tortoises: there are forty-one (41) species of tortoise.
Chelonian Anatomy
A chelonian’s shell covers just about the entire body of the chelonian. The shell has three purposes: it provides shelter, protection from predators, and camouflage so it can blend in with its surroundings. The top of a chelonian’s shell is called a carapace. A chelonian can pull its head and feet into its shell for defense. But some chelonians’ necks are too long for them to pull in so they pull their head in sideways; they are called side necked chelonians. Here is an example of how chelonians can pull there head in. On the left is how a short necked chelonian pulls their head in and on the right is how a long necked chelonian pulls in its head.
Image from: Encarta (2)
Chelonians do not have ears, but they can feel vibrations and changes in the water pressure when swimming. That tells them where food is or where a predator might be. They also have a great sense of smell which also helps them find food. Chelonians do not have teeth, they do, however, have a sharp edged beak or jaw. The beak is called a tomia. Turtles use their tomia to eat and also use it as a weapon against predators.
Turtle Species
The Snapping turtle is a large freshwater turtle that be found in the United States, Canada and Mexico in rivers, lakes, ponds, and swamps. They can grow to eighteen (18) inches in length and can weigh up to forty-five (45) pounds. They have an omnivore diet of aquatic plants, fish, even other turtles, snails, slugs, and worms, amphibians such as frogs, tadpoles, and salamanders. The Snapping turtle is said to be a smaller version of the dangerous Alligator snapping turtle. Below is a large Snapping turtle:
The Snapping turtle and the Alligator snapping turtle have a unique way of hunting fish. They open their mouth under water and lure a fish with their tongue; the fish thinks it is food and swims into the turtle’s mouth. During mating season, a female Snapping turtle can lay twenty (20) to forty (40) eggs. The species of Snapping turtle is not endangered or threatened by anything at this time.
The Alligator snapping turtle is a larger version of the common snapping turtle. Below is the dangerous Alligator Snapping Turtle:
The Alligator snapping turtle is the largest fresh water turtle in the world; it can weigh up to 155 pounds. Its diet is small mammals, birds, fish, and other turtles. This species of turtle can be found in the United States Canada, and some parts of Mexico. They can be found in rivers, lakes, ponds, and swamps. April through November is mating season for the Alligator snapping turtle and a female will dig a four (4) to eight (8) inch nest and lay up to eighty-three (83) eggs. The babies will hatch in as few as nine (9) weeks or as long as up to eighteen (18) weeks. A female Alligator snapping turtle can save some of the male’s fertilization and lay eggs for several years without mating. This species is not really threatened except for predators killing babies.
The Big headed turtle is one of the most endangered species of turtle in the world. This species is in the side necked family and can only be found in Madagascar. Their habitat is rivers, lakes, and ponds. This turtle is also an herbivore. In mating season a female can lay ten (10) to twenty five (25) eggs. Below is the Big headed turtle:
What threatens this endangered species of turtle are fishermen’s nets, being illegally sold for medicine and pollution in their environment.
The Pacific Pond turtle can be found in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Their habitat is mostly ponds, and large rivers. This species of turtle can go 1,500 meters (4,921.26 feet) deep under water. Below is the Pacific Pond turtle:
The Pacific Pond turtles breed in late spring, mate under water, and the female will make a nest out of dirt on a bank and lay her eggs. The eggs will hatch in twelve (12) weeks. It will take the babies eight (8) years to reach full size. A Pacific Pond turtle can live thirty (30) to forty (40) years. The Pacific Pond turtles are omnivores; their diet is aquatic plants, small fish, frogs, aquatic insects, and insect larva. This turtle is threatened by predators and land development.
Another pond turtle species is the Red Eared Slider. Its habitat is rivers, ponds, creeks, and swamps. Below is a picture of the Red Eared Slider:
The Red Eared Slider is also called the “dime store turtle”. Millions have been raised on turtle farms and sold as pets and became very popular. It is called the Red Eared Slider because on each side of its head is a red spot right behind the turtle’s eye where if turtles had ears, it would be on its ear. The Red Eared Slider can grow five (5) to nine (9) inches in length. This species can be found in the eastern and southern part of the United States. They are omnivores so their diet is worms, fish, tadpoles, frogs, insects and aquatic plants. They are threatened by predators such as raccoons, foxes, skunks, alligators, storks, and herons.
The Painted turtle is a very common turtle in North America and they can be found in the United States, southern parts of Canada, and northern parts of Mexico. Their habitat is ponds, lakes, rivers, creeks, and marshes. They can live thirty five (35) to forty (40) years. Breeding starts in late spring; a female can lay four (4) to fifteen (15) eggs. They are omnivores so they eat fish, crawfish, insects, and carrion. As for plants, they eat aquatic plants, and leaves. They are only threatened by predators. Below is the Painted turtle:
The Bog turtle is the smallest and one of the rarest turtles in the world. It can grow up to four and one half (4.5) inches long. It can be found in the eastern part of the United States. The Bog turtle’s habitat is wetlands, and streams. They are omnivores and they eat worms, slugs, insects, carrion, and leaves. They will mate in spring and a female can lay two (2) to four (4) eggs. Below is the rare Bog turtle:
The rare Bog turtle can live over thirty (30) years. What threatens this species is loss of habitat, being illegally captured, and land development.
The Eastern Box turtle can only be found in the eastern part of the United States. There are only two species of box turtle in the United States and they are the Eastern Box turtle, and the Western Box turtle. Below is a picture of the Eastern Box Turtle:
Their habitat is woods and brush. The Eastern Box turtle can grow up to eight (8) inches in length. The Eastern Box turtle is the state reptile of North Carolina. They are omnivores so their diet is worms, slugs, insects, insect larva and carrion; their plant diet is leaves, berries, fruits, and mushrooms. The Box turtle got its name because it is the only species that has a hinged flap on its shell. The hinge is in the front on the bottom part of the shell. When the Box turtle pulls its head in its shell, the hinged flap seals the turtle in the shell and protects them from harm. It takes a box turtle seven (7) to ten (10) years until it can mate. A female can lay three (3) to six (6) eggs. When the baby Box turtles are born they are only one (1) to one and one half (1.5) inches long. Box turtles can live twenty five (25) to a hundred (100) years. The Box turtle is threatened by human vehicles such as cars, trains, tractors, and farm equipment as well as lawn mowers and weed eaters.
The Indochinese Box turtle is a fresh water turtle that can only be found in North Vietnam, Hainan Island, and China. Its habitat is bushy woods. They are omnivores; their diet is plants and worms. Here’s a picture of the Indochinese Box turtle:
The South American turtle is the largest fresh water turtle in South America and is in the side necked family. Below is the Giant South American Turtle:
This turtle’s habitat is fresh water rivers. A female South American turtle lays her eggs either on a sand bar or on a river bank; the female can lay seventy five (75) to a hundred and twenty-five (125) eggs. The eggs take forty-two (42) to forty-seven (47) days to hatch. These turtles are threatened by poachers and city development.
Sea Turtles
Sea turtles are turtles but they are built differently. A sea turtle is built for swimming; as for all other chelonians, they are built just for land and some are built for both. Sea turtles do not come on land unless they are laying eggs. Sea turtles also do not have claws and their legs are paddle-like to help them swim fast. All sea turtles and the diamond terrapin are the only chelonians on earth that can live in salt water. There are seven (7) species of sea turtle and all female sea turtles lay their eggs at night.
The Logger head sea turtle is the most wide ranged of all the sea turtles. They can be found in the Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, the Mediterranean, and the Gulf of Mexico. The Logger heads are carnivores. They use their tomia (mouth) to crack open shells of crabs, clams, and conch shells. Breeding starts in the summer and a female will lay up to a hundred (100) eggs. A female Logger head can lay three (3) to five (5) nests in one season. Below is a picture of the Logger head sea turtle:
The largest breeding population of Loggerheads is in the southeastern part of the United States. This species of sea turtle is endangered; it is threatened by fishermen nets, shrimp nets, pollution, land development on nesting beaches, habitat disturbance, and are illegally hunted for their meat. In 1987, over 3,200 Logger heads were captured in the Atlantic and over 10,500 were captured in the Gulf of Mexico for their meat.
The Leatherback sea turtle is the largest chelonian in the world. The Leatherback sea turtle can withstand cold waters; it has been spotted as far north as Alaska and as far south as South Africa. Their diet is mainly jelly fish and other soft-bodied species. The Leatherback sea turtle can go 1000 meters (3,280.84 feet) deep under water. Below is the Leatherback sea turtle:
During mating season a female will lay her eggs on a beach and lay up to one hundred (100) eggs. What threatens this species of sea turtle are fishermen nets, shrimp nets, getting hit by boats, loss of habitat, humans illegally stealing their eggs, and pollution. It is said that there are only 2000 breeding female Leatherbacks in the world making this species not only endangered but close to extinction.
The Green sea turtle is the only sea turtle that has two different species. Some of the Green sea turtles do not have green shells they have blackish shells, so the two species of this sea turtle are the Green sea turtle and the Black sea turtle. This species of sea turtle can weigh up to 400 pounds. They are herbivores mostly eating sea grasses, and algae. During mating season, a female Green or Black turtle can lay up to one hundred (100) to one hundred and fifty (150) eggs. This species of turtle is endangered also; they are threatened by nets, pollution, and the worse thing that threatens them is a disease that creates tumors on the turtle’s body and eventually kills the turtle. Below is a picture of the Green sea turtle:
The Hawksbill sea turtle can be spotted all over the world. They have been spotted nesting in over sixty (60) different countries. Its diet is mainly sea bed sponges, and mussels; over the last century this species has lost 80% percent of its kind. They are the most endangered species of sea turtle and are threatened by nets, pollution, and loss of habitat. Below is a picture of the Hawksbill sea turtle:
Tortoise Species
Tortoises are built differently than turtles. Tortoises are built for land, they are taller and most species have a bigger dome like shell than turtles. Here is a picture of a tortoise’s skeleton:
Spanish explorers discovered the Galapagos Islands. “Galapagos” means “tortoise” in Spanish. The Giant Galapagos tortoise can only be found off the coast of South America on the Galapagos Islands. It is the biggest of all the tortoises. They can weigh up to 500 pounds. Below is the giant Galapagos Tortoise:
Only 2,500 out originally 100,000 of Galapagos tortoises remain on earth are endangered and close to extinction. Eleven (11) different species of tortoise are on the Galapagos Islands. During mating season, the female Galapagos tortoise will make a nest out of sand and can lay two (2) to sixteen (16) eggs. After laying, she covers the eggs with dirt or leaves. The babies will hatch between four (4) to four and a half (4.5) months. The Galapagos tortoise has been threatened by poachers and passing ships would stop and capture the tortoises for meat on their journey. Three species of tortoise have already become extinct. When the tortoises became very threatened and close to extinction they created a national park on the Galapagos Islands. It was established in 1959.
There is one tortoise that can live in the desert and that is the Desert tortoise. The Desert tortoise is able to live in 140 degrees Fahrenheit conditions. Below is a picture of the Desert tortoise:
The Gofer tortoise can be found in the Southeastern part of the United States. The Gofer tortoise’s habitat is dry lands, sand dunes, woods and pines. The Gofer tortoise breeds in the spring, the male will yell a rough call to attract females. A female Gofer tortoise can lay one (1) to twenty five (25) eggs. The female will dig multiple holes to lay her eggs in. The babies will hatch in about one hundred days after being laid. Gofer tortoises can live over forty years (40). Below is the Gofer tortoise:
These tortoises eat at night, they are plant eaters, and they eat grasses and berries. Gofer tortoises dig a lot of burrows but most of them they eventually abandon becoming homes for other animals such as rodents, snakes and small mammals.
The Elongated tortoise can be found in the south and southeastern part of Asia, northern parts of India, and countries like Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, and Burma. Its habitat is wooded and dry areas. The Elongated tortoise feeds at night; it is an omnivore meaning they eat meat and plants. Their diet is worms, slugs, greens, and fruits. Once mating season comes, a female Elongated tortoise will make a nest out of dirt using only her back legs and will lay two (2) to four (4) eggs. The eggs will hatch in 130 to 190 days. What threatens this tortoise is that it is the most common to be captured and sold for meat and sold as pets. From 1989 to 1997 over 700 tortoises were sold as pets in the United States.
This is another tortoise that is endangered. Below is a picture of a young Elongated tortoise:
The Ploughshare tortoise is one of the rarest land tortoises in the world. The Ploughshare tortoise can only be found in Madagascar; it is said that there are only 600 remaining in the wild. This tortoise’s habitat is dry woods, bamboo forests, and thick brush. This tortoise is an herbivore eating mainly grasses and other plants. Below is the Ploughshare Tortoise:
During mating season a female tortoise can lay two (2) to six (6) eggs. It takes this species of tortoise 20 years to fully grow and breed. What threatens this rare tortoise are wild fires, predators, and poachers.
The Leopard tortoise can only be found in parts of Africa; its habitat is grassland. Their diet is grasses, fruits, and thistle. They can grow up to twenty four (24) inches in length and weigh up to seventy (70) pounds. The Leopard tortoise can live up to one hundred (100) years. Below is the Leopard tortoise:
The Radiated tortoise can only be found in Madagascar. Their habitat is dry and tropical woods. Below is the Radiated Tortoise:
This species of tortoise feed on leaves, grasses, wild flowers, and fruits. During mating season, a female can lay three (3) to twelve (12) eggs. Baby tortoises will hatch ten (10) months later.
Terrapin Species
The Painted terrapin is an aquatic fresh water turtle and one of the most endangered terrapins in South East Asia. The Painted terrapin has webbed feet to help it swim; the Painted terrapin can be found in South East Asia, Borneo, and Thailand. Their habitat is swamps and large rivers. In mating season, a female will lay her eggs at night and lay up to twelve (12) eggs. The Painted terrapin’s diet is leaves, fruits, and aquatic plants. This species is really rare and the population is dropping. Only two rivers have 100 females. Their eggs are stolen and sold in Asia. Their eggs are five (5) times more valuable than chicken eggs. Below is the Painted terrapin:
The Diamond terrapin is the only chelonian on earth that can live on land and the ocean. They can be found in New England to the Gulf of Mexico. They can grow up to nine inches in length and live to over forty (40) years. They are carnivores so they eat snails, clams, and mussels. Below is the Diamond terrapin:
Mating season is in May, and a female Diamond terrapin will dig a six (6) inch deep nest and lay five (5) to twenty two (22) eggs. The eggs will hatch between sixty (60) to one hundred (100) days. They are threatened by poachers stealing their eggs and for hunting them, human vehicles, and predators. Today, it is illegal to touch or steal the Diamond terrapin’s eggs; you must have a license to hunt Diamond terrapins.
As you can see chelonians are very unique reptiles and some of them are on the brink of extinction. So we must do our best to respect and care for one of God’s greatest creatures before it’s too late.
“So God made the wild animals, the tame animals and all the small crawling animals to produce more of their own kind. God saw that this was good.”
Genesis 1:25
International Children’s Bible
•
Talk to Me •
Send to a Friend!
|
Posted by 
Posted by 
Posted by 
Posted by 
Posted by 
Posted by 
Apr. 7, 2006 - Untitled Comment
Great job reporting on the turtles.