Box Turtles

Box Turtles

Scientific Classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Subphylum: Vertebrata Class: Reptilia Order: Testudines Family: Emydidae Genus: Terrapene Type Species: Terrapene carolina Box turtles are turtles of the genus Terrapene, living in North America (United States and Mexico). In addition, they also go by the name “box tortoise”, even though they are terrestrial associates of the American…

Eastern Painted Turtles

Eastern Painted Turtles

Scientific Classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Subphylum: Vertebrata Class: Reptilia Order: Testudines Family: Emydidae Subfamily: Deirochelyinae Genus: Chrysemys Species: C. picta Binomial name: Chrysemys picta This article is about the North American Turtle, Chrysemys picta, or the painted turtle that inhabits North America and has increased its population greatly. You can find them in semi-still…

Bog Turtle

Bog Turtle

Scientific Classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Subphylum: Vertebrata Class: Reptilia Order: Testudines Family: Emydidae Subfamily: Emydinae Genus: Glyptemys Species: G. muhlenbergii Binomial name: Glyptemys muhlenbergii The turtle (Glyptemys mublenbergii), a semi-aquatic turtle, is widespread in the eastern United States. This turtle is the tiniest one in North America. A fully developed turtle can reach a…

Black Marsh Turtle – Fresh Water and Terrestrial

Black Marsh Turtle – Fresh Water and Terrestrial

Scientific Classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Testudines Family: Geoemydidae Subfamily: Geoemydinae Genus: Siebenrockiella Species: S. crassicollis Binomial name: Siebenrockiella crassicollis Siebenrockiella crassicollis go under the names Black marsh turtle, Siamese temple turtle, and smiling terrapin, among others, are freshwater turtles widespread in the southeastern part of Asia. Out of the two species,…

Big Headed Turtle

Big Headed Turtle

Scientific Classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Testudines Suborder: Cryptodira Family: Platysternidae Genus: Platysternon Species: P. megacephalum Binomial name: Platysternon megacephalum Southeast Asia, as well as Southern China, is the original homeland of the big-headed turtle Platysternon megacephalum, belonging to the family Platysternidae. Anatomy Big headed turtle, as the name rightly suggests has…

Asian Leaf Turtle – Sold for Pet Trade, Food, Or Traditional Medicine

Asian Leaf Turtle – Sold for Pet Trade, Food, Or Traditional Medicine

Scientific Classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Testudines Family: Geoemydidae Genus: Cyclemys Species: C. dentata Binomial name: Cyclemys dentata The Asian leaf turtle Cyclemys Dentata is a variety of turtles seen in South Eastern part of Asia. In the pet trade, we see them quite often with their shell similar to a hybrid…

Amboina Box Turtle – With a Life Span of 100 Years

Amboina Box Turtle – With a Life Span of 100 Years

Scientific Classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Testudines Suborder: Cryptodira Superfamily: Testudinoidea Family: Geoemydidae Subfamily: Geoemydinae Genus: Cuora Species: C. amboinensis Binomial name: Cuora amboinensis Amboina box turtle (Cuora Amboinensis), otherwise called the South Asian box turtle, is one of the species of the Malayan box turtle. They are inhabitants of the low-lying…

African Helmeted Turtle

African Helmeted Turtle

Scientific Classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Testudines Suborder: Pleurodira Family: Pelomedusidae Genus: Pelomedusa Species: P. subrufa Binomial name: Pelomedusa subrufa The African helmeted turtle Pelomedusa subrufa also goes by the name “crocodile turtle” or the “marsh terrapin.” In nature, you can find this turtle in the sluggish and freshwater bodies almost throughout…

Alligator Snapping Turtle

Alligator Snapping Turtle

Scientific Classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Testudines Family: Chelydridae Genus: Macrochelys Species: M. temminckii Binomial name: Macrochelys temminckii Weight is often the criteria on which one determines the size of a turtle. Accordingly, the alligator snapping turtles or “turtles Macrochelys temminckii” are the world’s largest freshwater turtles. They are associated, but only…

Wood Turtle

Wood Turtle

Scientific Classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Testudines Family: Emydidae Subfamily: Emydinae Genus: Glyptemys Species: G. insculpta Binomial name: Glyptemys insculpta The wood turtle Glyptemys insculpta, is a turtle widespread in the continent of North America, particularly in Canada and the United States. In the west, it ranges from the region of the…

What do Turtles Eat?

What do Turtles Eat?

Most Turtles are good as pets. They are herbivorous, omnivorous, or carnivorous. Given below are guidelines on their diet: Turtles are reptiles; as such, they are ectothermic or ‘cold-blooded’, just as reptiles are. In addition, turtles come under the amniotes classification. They breathe air and do not lay eggs underwater. The aquatic turtles represent their…

What do Sea Turtles Eat?

What do Sea Turtles Eat?

The species it belongs to determines a sea turtle’s diet Some omnivorous turtles eat all types of plants and animals, whereas the leatherback and the hawksbill are peculiar, surviving mainly on jellyfish (leatherbacks) and sponges (hawksbills). Hawksbills mainly reside in the close vicinity of coral reefs; it is here where they find their principal food,…