Yellow-bellied eared turtle

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Yellow-bellied eared turtle
Yellow-bellied Slider 2.jpg

Yellow-bellied ear turtle ( Trachemys scripta scripta )

Systematics
Subordination : Halsberger tortoises (Cryptodira)
Family : New World pond turtles (Emydidae)
Subfamily : Deirochelyinae
Genre : Letter ear turtles ( Trachemys )
Type : North American alphabet
turtle
( Trachemys scripta )
Subspecies : Yellow-bellied eared turtle
Scientific name
Trachemys scripta scripta
( Schoepf , 1792)
Yellow-cheeked ear turtle on the Neckar in Stuttgart
Yellow-cheeked ear turtle at the Aradosee in Potsdam

The yellow-bellied ear turtle ( Trachemys scripta scripta ), also known as the yellow-cheeked ear turtle , is a very well-known subspecies of turtles and is considered to be “the typical water turtle” in large parts of the world, as hatchlings of these animals can be found in large numbers in pet shops mostly come from American breeding farms. Due to import restrictions, the previously frequently traded red- eared slider turtle ( Trachemys scripta elegans ) has been pushed out of the market.

The yellow-bellied slider turtle comes from calm waters in the USA between southeast Virginia and northern Florida , but is now also found in Germany due to abandoned animals. It is not yet known whether the animals can reproduce in Germany.

features

On the sides of the head, this subspecies has a noticeable yellow spot on the green to olive skin. The oval greenish to brownish back armor ( carapace ) with a flat keel has a wide yellow stripe on each pleural shield. The belly armor ( plastron ) is yellow. In some cases there patterns appear only on the foremost shields.

height

While adult males reach a size of about 15 cm, females grow up to 25 cm - but there are also specimens that are larger than 30 cm.

Gender differences

In addition to the primary gender characteristic of turtles, namely the different position of the cloaca , which is located further back on the comparatively longer tail of the male, the very long claws on the forelegs of the male are particularly noticeable.

The frequent occurrence of melanism in older males is striking .

Life expectancy

In the absence of more accurate statistics, it can only be assumed from observations of individual animals living in captivity that the silver turtle can live between 50 and 55 years.

Way of life

Their way of life is similar to that of all tortoises (see there). They spend the day looking for food and sunbathing to regulate their body temperature. As soon as the temperatures remain permanently below 15 ° C, the animals begin to overwinter.

nutrition

Young yellow-bellied ear turtles are mixed dieters, so they eat animal and vegetable food. The proportion of plant-based food increases with age. When kept in captivity, the diet can be similar to that of the red-eared slider turtle .

Reproduction

Video of a yellow-bellied ear turtle laying eggs.

In autumn and spring the males and females seek mating. After successful fertilization, the females remain fertile for several years. They lay soft-shelled eggs in spring, often in four clutches per year, around four eggs depending on the species. Preferred egg-laying sites are sunny bank zones with a slightly sandy bottom well above the water surface. The pregnant female seeks out these spots early in the morning or when it gets dark for oviposition (laying eggs). There she digs a bottle-shaped pit, which she carefully closes after laying eggs so that it can no longer be distinguished from its surroundings. The eggs are incubated for around three months. The sex of the young depends on the incubation temperature.

Keeping in captivity

In addition to the basics that apply to all turtles, it is primarily important to ensure extremely good water quality with plenty of room to move and bright light of at least 7,000 lux . If the animals are kept exclusively in the house, they absolutely need artificial irradiation with UV-B . The seasons must also be simulated, meaning that a two to three month hibernation period or at least a shortened period of activity should be observed for healthy turtles. Young animals are not to be treated differently from adults. In Central Europe, wintering outdoors is urgently not recommended. The long and changeable winters in Central Europe lead to diseases and premature death in animals. An egg-laying facility must also be provided for females if no breeding is sought, since unfertilized eggs are also laid and without a suitable egg-laying site there can be a problem of laying . Before purchasing jewelry turtles, the high life expectancy should be considered as well as the expected body size and the associated increased space requirements.

literature

  • Carl H. Ernst, Jeffrey E. Lovich: Turtles of the United States and Canada . Johns Hopkins University Press 2009, ISBN 978-0-8018-9121-2 , pp. 444-470 ( excerpt from Google book search)
  • Holger Vetter: Turtles of the World - turtles of the world. Chimaira, Frankfurt / M. 2004, Volume 2: North America ISBN 3-930612-57-7

Web links

Commons : Yellow-bellied eared turtle ( Trachemys scripta scripta )  - Collection of images, videos and audio files