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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
Scientific Classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Testudines Family: Emydidae Genus: Actinemys or Emys Species: A. marmorata Binomial name: Actinemys marmorata or Emys marmorata The Pacific pond turtles or the amazing western pond turtles belong to the species Actinemys marmorata / Emys marmorata. They are small or medium in size. They grow nearly…
Scientific Classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Subphylum: Vertebrata Class: Reptilia Order: Testudines Family: Emydidae Subfamily: Deirochelyinae Genus: Graptemys Species: G. geographica Binomial name: Graptemys geographica Turtles, in their entirety, belong to the Chelonian group (American English) and refer to the freshwater and sea-dwelling chelonian (British English). Turtles fall under the group” amniotes”, along with mammals…
Turtles are reptiles under the Testudines or Chelonii classification. The peculiarity of this variety is that it has a cartilaginous or bony shell, grown from their ribs which functions like a shield. Turtles trace back to the Chelonian class altogether (American English) or they belong to fresh water and sea dwelling chelonians (British English). The…
Story of How the Turtle Got Its Shell Randy JonesHaving discovered a fondness for insects while pursuing her degree in Biology, Randi Jones was quite bugged to know that people usually dismissed these little creatures as “creepy-crawlies”.