Magnificent Mute Tortoise
| Magnificent Mute Tortoise | ||||||||||||
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Juvenile Mute Turtle, Graptemys oculifera |
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Graptemys oculifera | ||||||||||||
| ( Baur , 1890) |
The great mute turtle ( Graptemys oculifera ) is a species of the mute turtle genus , which belongs to the New World pond turtle family, native to the US states of Mississippi and Louisiana .
Appearance
The magnificent mute turtle is a medium-sized water turtle with a length of 10 to 21.5 centimeters. However, maximum lengths are only achieved by females that are significantly larger than the males of this species. This mute turtle is characterized, among other things, by the pronounced central keel on the carapace . The rings and sickles on the pleural and marginal shields, which led to the specific epithet oculifera ("eye-bearing"), are considered clear identifying features . The carapace is brown to olive and the rings and sickles stand out red or yellow. The plastron is light yellow to white with black patterns along the seams. The head is narrow and streaked with yellow. Two to four of the head stripes converge towards the eye. In addition, there is often a square yellow dot behind each eye. In males, the claws of the forelegs are often elongated and are therefore considered to be courtship instruments.
distribution and habitat
Its distribution is limited to the river system of the Pearl River . It is very often found in the Bogue Chitto River in the states of Mississippi and Louisiana. The Pearl River is quite wide and fast flowing. There are often sandbars and sandy subsoil in the shallow water zones. In addition, there are many branches, roots and fallen trees near the shore, which are very good places to sunbathe or hide. The great mute turtles also inhabit estuaries in the Gulf of Mexico , which appear rather swamp-like due to the slow flow speeds. However, the salty brackish water sections in the Gulf are avoided.
threat
The great mute turtle is endangered by the pollution of the Pearl River , and the pet trade has also reduced their numbers.
Way of life
The great mute turtle is extremely vigilant when basking on branches or roots and drops into the water with every disturbance or movement.
nutrition
Both sexes prefer to feed mainly on aquatic insects . Small plants and algae are not spurned. Freshwater mussels are rarely eaten.
literature
- Carl H. Ernst, Jeffrey E. Lovich: Turtles of the United States and Canada . Johns Hopkins University Press , Baltimore 2009, pp. 364-399, ISBN 0-8018-9121-3
- Kurt Buhlmann, Tracey Tuberville, J. Whitfield Gibbons: Turtles of the Southeast . University of Georgia Press, Athens 2008, ISBN 0-8203-2902-9
- The Encyclopedia of Animals , National Geographic Germany, Hamburg 2012, p. 362, ISBN 978-3-86690-246-6
Web links
Graptemys oculifera at Turtles of the World (engl.)
- Graptemys oculifera in The Reptile Database
- Graptemys oculifera inthe IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2013.2. Posted by: van Dijk, PP, 2010. Accessed February 1, 2014.