Ornamental turtle

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ornamental turtle
Mediterranean ornamental turtle (Chrysemys picta marginata)

Mediterranean ornamental turtle ( Chrysemys picta marginata )

Systematics
Order : Turtles (Testudinata)
Subordination : Halsberger tortoises (Cryptodira)
Family : New World pond turtles (Emydidae)
Subfamily : Deirochelyinae
Genre : Chrysemys
Type : Ornamental turtle
Scientific name
Chrysemys picta
( Schneider , 1783)

The ornamental tortoise ( Chrysemys picta ) is the only species of the genus of the ornamental tortoise ( Chrysemys ). In Central Europe it is best known as a terrarium animal.

Distribution area

It occurs from the east coast of North America to the west coast. The eastern ornamental turtle occurs from southeastern Canada via New England and the Atlantic coastline to Georgia, in a westerly direction to eastern Alabama. The distribution area of ​​the Mediterranean ornamental turtle extends in Canada over southern Quebec, Ontario, in the USA in Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Vermont West Virginia and Wisconsin. The western ornamental turtle has the largest range of all subspecies, it ranges from western Ontario over southern Canada to British Columbia and in the south to Missouri, northern Oklahoma, eastern Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho and northern Oregon. The southern ornamental turtle is found in the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas.

habitat

Ornamental turtles prefer slow-flowing, shallow bodies of water with a soft, muddy bottom and thick vegetation . They are also found in brackish water and in sewage. In addition, stones and thick woods that protrude from the water and offer a "vantage point" and sunbathing area should be available.

behavior

The general behavior of the loners alternates between foraging for food and sunbathing on stones above the water surface. The mating behavior of ornamental turtles differs only slightly from that of other species. In the "courtship dance" the forelegs are stretched in the direction of the partner with the help of the claws and the head is "curled" with rapid trembling movements. However, the behavior has also been determined regardless of mating time and gender.

size

Southern ornamental turtle ( Chrysemys picta dorsalis )
Eastern ornamental turtle ( Chrysemys picta picta )
Western ornamental turtle ( Chrysemys picta bellii (Watercolor by Gordon) )

Ornamental turtles can grow up to 25 cm, depending on the subspecies, whereby the females also grow larger than the males. The southern ornamental turtle ( Chrysemys picta doralis ) is the smallest subspecies. It reaches a back armor length of 12-15 cm. The Eastern ornamental tortoise ( Chrysemys picta picta ) and the Mediterranean ornamental tortoise ( Chrysemys picta marginata ) can grow to be 14-18 cm. The western ornamental tortoise ( Chrysemys picta bellii ), also known as the Indian ornamental tortoise, is the largest subspecies and can reach a length of over 20 cm.

Subspecies

Distribution of the four subspecies in North America
  • Eastern ( C. p. Picta )
  • Mediterranean ( C. p. Marginata )
  • Southern ( C. p. Dorsalis )
  • Western ( C. p. Bellii )
  • Mixed form of western and Mediterranean
  • Mixed form of Eastern and Central Mediterranean
  • Mixed form of southern and eastern

    • There are four subspecies :

    The subspecies status of C. p. bellii and C. p. marginata is partly doubted.

    determination

    • without belly armor markings
      • picta : The seam between the 2nd and 3rd vertebral shield runs almost straight into the seam between the 2nd and 3rd costal shield. Seams between the front discus shields light and wide.
      • dorsalis : clearly visible orange to red dorsal line (along the center of the armor from front to back)
    • with belly armor drawing
      • marginata : plastron drawing exclusively along the central seam
      • bellii : plastron drawing along the central and transverse seams

    Individual evidence

    1. ↑ Rogner, p. 60

    literature

    • Manfred Rogner: Tortoises - biology, keeping, reproduction. Eugen Ulmer KG, Stuttgart 2008, ISBN 978-3-8001-5440-1

    Web links

    Commons : Ornamental Turtle  - Album with pictures, videos and audio files