Common name:Donut turtle
English name:Pseudemys concinna
Latin name: Pseudemys peninsularis
Geographic distribution: Distributed in the United States and Mexico.
Growth method: Oviparous.
Donut Turtle
Personality of the turtle species< /p>
Relaxation situations: Streams and rivers with slow flow; huge lakes, springs, and occasionally salt marshes with tidal fluctuations. Dispersion range: the coastal plain from southeastern Virginia to Georgia, south to Florida, west to Texas and New Mexico, south to the Mississippi River Basin, to southern Illinois . Donut turtles have been exported to the reptile market in Shanghai for many years. The special ring-like markings on the carapace of the hatchlings are not as bright as the Florida donut turtles. However, their larvae are still favored by the turtles because of their gorgeous markings. Welcome from the feeder. For others who don’t want to raise a Brazilian turtle, but want to raise it like a Brazilian turtle, a donut turtle would be a good choice.
Characteristics
The donut turtle’s carapace markings are completely different from those of the ordinary Florida donut turtle, and the color of the Florida donut turtle is More distinct. The donut turtle's carapace is mainly olive green, with circles of yellow, beige and dark brown ring-like markings on it. However, as it grows, the markings and color will darken, even turning into brown. As for the abdomen, it is goose yellow with brown and black markings. Even when it grows up, the color and markings on its abdomen will not disappear. The head, tail, hands and feet are mostly olive green darker than the carapace, with stripes of yellow-white or off-white winding lines scattered on the skin. The character is gorgeous, but it is more introverted than the Brazilian turtle and the red-bellied turtle. It can adapt to the situation in a short time. During the day, it spends a lot of time walking on the shore and enjoys sunbathing (artificial sun). When eating, it likes to drag food into the water and is frightened when surprised. They will also run into the water.
Feeding equipment
A tall and wide aquarium with coreIt is best to divide the heart into three parts, one is the continent, for them to climb up and rest, and the other should have a spotlight that shines directly on the continent, so that they can keep warm when needed. Other equipment includes UVB light tubes, a heating tube and water filters. As for the water depth, it is about the length of its carapace, or even two or three times.
Temperature and Humidity
Feeding
For young turtles, the optimal water temperature can be maintained at 28 degrees Celsius, but try to avoid water temperatures below 26 degrees Celsius or lower. Adults can be kept in an environment with a water temperature of 25 or 6 degrees Celsius. In Hong Kong's summer, special insulation is basically not required.
Feeding
Turtle food, chopped small fish and shrimps, dark green vegetables, and small moving insects can all be fed. The owner often provides vegetables as food, and occasionally feeds turtle food and chopped small fish. Feeding time is mostly in the morning, because it allows them more time to digest food, and the morning time is more lively and their appetite is better. In terms of food intake, each donut turtle larvae eats about 3 or 4 strips of turtle food throughout the day.
General management
The donut turtle is similar to the Brazilian turtle. It eats well and poops well. When the water filter is not installed, the owner It is necessary to change the water and clean the aquarium frequently, so Kimo suggests that it is better to set up a water filter. If the water filter is effective, the water in the aquarium should be completely changed every week to ten days. Young turtles are very easy to catch cold and can die in a short period of time, so attention must be paid to temperature changes and the insulation of the breeding environment. In addition, in recent years, the market has mostly supplied super larvae that have just been hatched. In addition to constant temperature time, more UVB must be provided to prevent soft armor.
Turtle customs
They like to bask on logs or rocks, and they can often be found mixed with other water turtles that like to bask. (Sliders and Painted Turtles), occasionally they will pile on top of each other. Once disturbed, they all slide into the water. In nature, these turtles are reminded by the warm sunshine every morning to start basking on their backs and looking for food. The speed with which they move through water and on land is astonishing. They rarely leave a certain freshwater body and then move to another body of water. Instead, many turtles form a large family, and they rarely or even never leave this group. They sleep in the water and disappear under vegetation. Donut turtles that live in warm areas remain active all winter, but those in colder areas will burrow into the mud during the winter and spend a two-month hibernation period underwater. During this time, their metabolism is very low and they do not need to breathe, but they can obtain oxygen from the water through their cloaca. Donut turtles like to hide under aquatic plants when they are hibernating, or when sleeping every night.
Growing
basking with others
Common aquatic turtles mating, the male donut turtle Often smaller than female turtles. The male turtles flex their straight and long claws as part of the continuous dance. After sniffing the tail of the female turtle, presumably detecting some kind of pheromone information, the male turtle will swim up to the female turtle, vibrate his long claws, tap her face, and woo her. Some people have observed that female turtles will also perform such actions to initiate courtship. If the female turtle accepts it, she will return to the bottom of the river and let the male turtle climb up her body to connect. The reception is held in early spring. Nesting and egg-laying usually occur from May to June. Female turtles will choose a sandy or soilless place within 100' of the river. They should choose a relatively open place so that when the hatchlings crawl to the river in the future, there will be no huge obstacles to overcome. The nest is dug with its hind feet. They lay one or more clutches of 10-25 eggs each. Turtle eggs are oval in shape and about 11/2" long. The length of the incubation period is determined by temperature, but the average time is 90-100 days. Hatchlings generally hatch in August or September. Late births have also been reported. The eggs hatch in the spring after overwintering. The hatchlings have a round carapace, about 11/2" in diameter, that is green with yellowish markings.
Food
Even though the donut turtle is a highly herbivorous turtle, they will eat anything, whether animal or plant. , the dead are still alive. The recipes seem to be determined by the types of food that can be won. Although some writers believe that these turtles do not eat meat, some people have still observed their catching behavior. Even though they cannot swallow out of water, they will go out of the water to find delicious insects or worms, and then return to the water to swallow. Donut turtles will also actively chase and catch small fish. They have also been observed eating carrion found along riverbanks. The donut turtle's upper jaw has a tooth-like tip, which may be an adaptive change to facilitate the feeding of twigs and fiber-rich plants.
Lifespan
Donut turtles face the loss of resting areas, predation by other animals, carnage on highways, and being killed by certain See people as food. And hatchlings are more likely to be killed. As they crawl across the mainland toward the river, many are preyed upon by birds and mammals. Crocodiles and muskrats wait for them on the water. Some were caught and sold to pet stores. Turtle populations are shrinking in some areas, and reports of damage to turtles are increasing, but the species overall remains very strong and continues to thrive. These turtles can live 35-40 years.
Donut turtle-morphological characteristics
The donut turtle is a large freshwater turtle
The fine-grained donut turtle (carapace 12-16" long). The carapace is fairly flat. , instead of a high raised pattern, the color is brown or olive, with yellow or cream markings. These markings vary depending on the subspecies. There is a characteristic "C" on the second rib shield. " type pattern. The pattern on the carapace of older male turtles will become dim and hazy (blackened). Young turtles have a ridge in the center of the carapace that disappears as adults. The broad stripe on the chin forms an inverted The "Y" is sometimes bordered by black, and the carapace is yellow, at least on the front. The pattern on the carapace often fades when it reaches adulthood. The tail is obvious, the plastron may be slightly concave, and female turtles are often larger than males. Ernst, Lovich and Barbour (1994) listed five subspecies based on geography. Species:
(Eastern Donut Turtle) Found in Virginia and as far north as Florida. The stripes running down the legs are a distinguishing feature.
The Eastern Donut Turtle
The Suwanee Donut Turtle is found on the west coast of the Florida Peninsula. Although the markings on its body are very similar to those of the former, it lacks those on its hind feet. Striped.
This is a larger subspecies found in western Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, and western Georgia. The pattern on the carapace is messy, and there is a notch on the carapace. The pattern on the carapace is more beautiful.
(Mobil Bay Donut Turtle) is scattered in Mexico in the Florida panhandle. Bay Divide to the southeastern tip of Texas. Compared with other donut turtles, it is smaller and has lighter coloration.
(Missouri) The donut turtle is found in southwestern Missouri, southeastern Kansas, and southward through eastern Oklahoma, eastern Texas, western Arkansas, and western Louisiana on its carapace. The patterns may be straight or curved lines, and there may or may not be a "C"-shaped pattern.
(Grids) The Lander's Donut Turtle is found in the inner bay of the Rio Grande in Texas, Mexico, and the Pecos River Basin in New Mexico and Texas. It does not have what is often called a "C" pattern. , but a concentric circle with two colors of yellow and black. (1992) did not include P. c. mobilensis, but regarded it as a part of P. elegans in his early paper and regarded it as an independent species. A subspecies of action
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