Genus Spiny turtles (Heosemys). Family Land turtles (Testudinidae) Types of land turtles

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Spiny turtles (Heosemys)

The very name of the genus - “spiny turtles” - is puzzling; sometimes they are called more successfully - “forest”. The marginal scutes of the carapace of these turtles are equipped, as if bristling, with spines. Such protection is justified: in this way, in the infant stage, spiny turtles are protected from predators; As they grow older, the spines disappear almost entirely. Five species of these bizarre turtles have been described: ARAKAN FOREST (H. depressa), named after the Arakan (Rakhine) mountain region in southwestern Myanmar, INDOCHINE, or GIANT SPINE (H. grandis), PHILIPPINE (H. leytensis), FOREST PINKY, or COCHIN REED (H. silvaticd), named after the coastal region of Cochin (Kochi) in southwest India and COMMON SPINIOUS, or Jagged (H. spinosa)

TURTLES.

Habitats and behavior of spiny turtles. Spiny turtles(Heosemys spinosa).These aquatic turtles from Indochina lead a terrestrial lifestyle. Juveniles have characteristic markings on the carapace and plastron

vary greatly - from semi-aquatic to terrestrial forms. The mating ritual is the same as for land turtles. Three species of spiny turtles are critically endangered. Yes, the latest fees Arakan turtles reaching 25 cm in length did not give encouraging results; Filipino a turtle, 33 cm long, living on one island of Leyte, is known from only a few specimens; extremely rare Cochin

turtle. In 1911, two specimens were caught in the mountain forest of Kerala (India). And only in 1982-1983. We found a dozen of these secretive small turtles (they live on the forest floor and reach no more than 12-13 cm in length). One of the ancient turtles, Myolania, reached a length of 5 m. 11 families of turtles (out of 26), united into 2 suborders, including up to 295 species, have been preserved. Turtles have no teeth (rudiments were found in Triassic forms) and are replaced by a horny sheath - a beak. In most forms, the body is enclosed in a shell, consisting of a carapace (upper shell) and a flat lower one - plastron. There is no sternum. Shoulder girdle - in. The lungs are large and complex. Breathing occurs with the help of pumping movements of the hyoid apparatus and abdominal muscles, which is facilitated by the movements of the forelimbs and head. In freshwater turtles, additional respiratory organs in water are the outgrowths of the pharynx and cloaca (anal bladders) permeated with capillaries. Hearing is weak. Terrestrial species- phytophages, mostly aquatic predators, but more often the food is mixed for both. Turtles, especially terrestrial turtles, are resilient to injury. Males have an unpaired penis; their plastron often has a concave shape. The female can lay more than 200 eggs. Maximum life expectancy is 150-200 years. During winter and dry periods, turtles may go into torpor. Enemies - crocodiles, monitor lizards, birds of prey and mammals, in the sea - sharks. Man harvested turtles using meat, eggs, shell (or just its stratum corneum), also for keeping in zoos and vivariums.

The family of snapping or alligator turtles (Chelydridae) includes 2 genera and 2 species, distributed from North America to Ecuador. Known since the Eocene, i.e. 35 million years ago, they are distinguished, in particular, by a large head with a powerful beak and a long tail - more than half the length of the body - with keeled ridges, like a crocodile. The snapping or snapping turtle (Chelydra segrentina) occurs within the range of the family, reaching a length of 1 m and a weight of up to 30 kg. Predator: also attacks ducks; She bit off the fingers of people bathing. Cold-resistant: can crawl on ice. One of the turtles lived for several years in the city sewer.

The family of freshwater turtles (Emydidae) includes 31 genera and 85 species inhabiting the southern half of the North and northeast South America, south and west Europe, south and southeast Asia. Known since the Eocene. To p. Kachuga - roofing turtles include 7 species known from India and Burma. Their length is up to 40 cm, food is aquatic plants. To the family box turtles(Terrapene) belongs to 4 species, distributed from southern Canada to the southern USA and Mexico and having a length of up to 16 cm. The box-shaped, more convex shell than that of other species can be closed. In addition, they have a reduction in the membranes between their fingers, which indicates a transition to a terrestrial lifestyle. The 5 species of European water turtles (Mauremys) are distributed in northwestern Africa, southern Europe and southern Asia.

The Caspian turtle (M. caspica) inhabits water bodies from the Iberian Peninsula to southern Turkmenistan. Predator. The diet includes (according to A.G. Bannikov) medium-sized animals (turtle length up to 23 cm): amphipods, crayfish, gobies, locusts, grasshoppers, as well as seaweed, horsetails, sedges, reeds, reeds, wormwood. Food is eaten more often on land. It overwinters in silt and can be under water for up to 3 hours (at air temperature = 30°C) and up to 87 hours (at air temperature = 10°C).

The genus of marsh turtles includes 2 species, of which the European one is the most widely known. marsh turtle(Emys orbicularis), inhabiting North Africa, central and southern Europe, Asia Minor and the Caucasus. In the Volga-Kama region it goes north to the bend of the Belaya River (Bashkortostan) and the middle reaches of pp. Big Cheremshan and Small Cheremshan (Tatarstan). Findings of a turtle in 10 districts of the Nizhny Novgorod region require clarification. The plastron and carapace of the marsh turtle are connected by ligaments. Predator. The food found (according to A.G. Bannikov) included pupae of mosquitoes, locusts, grasshoppers, mole crickets, mole crickets, woodlice, tadpoles and frogs, as well as plants. Overwinters in the mud. You can stay under water from 6 to 83 hours, depending on the temperature. Lives up to 120 years.

From the genus of painted turtles Chrysemys, common in North America, C. picta is known - a decorated turtle, widely bred in captivity. There is evidence that this species has taken root in the waters of Hungary. These turtles have a mixed diet.

The family of land turtles (Testudinidae) includes 11 genera with 39 species, distributed in America, Africa, southern Europe and Asia. The genus Testudo includes 4 species living around Mediterranean Sea, in the Caucasus and Iran. The best known of these is the Mediterranean tortoise (T. graeca), which inhabits northern Africa, southern Europe and southwestern Asia. The species' range in Russia includes two areas: on the Black Sea coast, from the borders of Abkhazia to Anapa, and in Dagestan. The length of its carapace is up to 35 cm. The carapace is high. Distributed from sea ​​coasts to semi-deserts, lowland and tugai forests and mountain slopes. It is a phytophage, but also eats shellfish and insects. Active during the day. In the spring, mating takes place, accompanied by fights between males. In May-June, the female lays eggs (2-9 eggs in three clutches). Young ones appear in July-September. From October-November they go into burrows for the winter. The number is declining. Included in the Red Book of Russia.

The Central Asian tortoise (Agrionemys horsfieldii) is the only species of the genus. Distributed from Iran to northern Pakistan and Xinjiang; in Kazakhstan, the northern border of the range runs approximately from the river. Emba to r. Turgai and khr. Tarbagatai. Lives in deserts, gorges and mountain slopes. The length of the carapace is up to 29 cm. In nature, it lives up to 30 years. Daytime activity. In spring it wakes up in March-April. Reproduction until the end of May. The female lays 1-6 eggs in 2-3 clutches. Hatched turtles remain overwintering in the ground until spring. A phytophage, it sometimes eats invertebrates, and a house mouse was once found in its stomach. Enemies - monitor lizard, fox, raven and birds of prey. In 1967, the Kazakh zoo plant sent 43 thousand copies to Paris and London. Included in the list of the International Trade Convention.

The genus Geochelone includes 16 species of large turtles from America, Africa and Asia. The best known is the elephant tortoise (G. elephantopus), which lives on the Galapagos Islands and reaches a length of 150 cm and a weight of 400 kg. Lives 200-250 years or more. Can reach speeds of up to 300 m/hour. Described by Charles Darwin back in 1835. Over 300 years, about 10 million specimens were exported mainly by sailors for meat and for zoos. The Charles Darwin Foundation is engaged in the protection of turtles. A reserve has been created. All 12 extant subspecies are included in the IUCN Red List. The giant tortoise (G. gigantea) lives in open areas of Aldabra Island in the Seychelles group of islands, where the species is seriously competed by wild goats brought to the island, which have taken over the reptiles’ pastures. They are currently being hunted. In the 1960s it was planned to create a large military base. But the scientific community managed to defend the island. In 1975, a natural reserve was created on Aldabra and a research station operates. In addition, turtles were introduced on other Seychelles islands, Reunion Island, Mauritius Island, Nosy Be Island off the coast of Madagascar, etc. The carapace length of this turtle reaches 120 and 156 cm, weight - more than 200 kg. Lives (in captivity) for more than 150 years. The species has population regulation mechanisms (changes in the number of eggs laid). Included in the IUCN Red List.

Endemic to Madagascar is the radiated tortoise (G. radiata), up to 38 cm long and weighing up to 13 kg. Distributed in xerophytic forests of the southern part of the island. A phytophage, on occasion actively eats animal food. In the XVIII-XIX centuries. used as food, which caused overharvesting. It is protected in the Tsimanampetsosa Nature Reserve and is included in the IUCN Red List by special law of the country. 2 subspecies of the leopard tortoise (G. pardalis), with a carapace length of up to 70 cm, are found in central and southern Africa. Included in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Animals. In the tropical forests of South America, on the island. Trinidad and the Lesser Antilles live the forest turtle or shabuti (G. denticulata). Phytophage. Used for food (the size of its carapace is up to 60 cm). Included in Annex II of the Convention on International Trade.

Family sea ​​turtles(Cheloniidae) unites species that live in the equatorial and tropical waters of the globe and often swim to temperate latitudes. The family has 4 genera with 6-7 species. The loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) has a carapace length of up to 105 cm and a weight of 158 kg. Floats into the hall. La Plata, in the Barents Sea (region of Murmansk), in 1940 it was mined in the hall. Peter the Great. A predator that feeds on benthos, mainly mollusks and crayfish, also sponges, jellyfish, and fish. Lays eggs (up to 150 pieces) along the shores of Oman, Florida, and Australia. Included in the IUCN Red List.

Hawksbill (Eretmochelys im - bricata), reaching a length of 90 cm, swims to the shores of England, Holland, and Italy. Food: benthic invertebrates, fish. Lays up to 200 eggs. Turtles were used for food and to produce “turtle bone” used for haberdashery. Included in the IUCN Red List. The green or soup turtle (Chelonia mydas) reaches a length of 140 cm and a weight of 450 kg. It swims as far as England and Bulgaria. Breeds off the coast of Oman and Pakistan in the Arabian Sea, Malaysia and the Philippines in the South China Sea, off Kalimantan, Australia, Mozambique, on the islands and shores of the Mediterranean Sea, in the Caribbean. It feeds on aquatic plants (zoster, kelp), occasionally crustaceans and mollusks. The eggs are eaten by raccoons, ocelots, and dogs, and the hatched turtles are eaten by birds and fish. A research station has been established in Costa Rica. Listed in the IUCN Red List.

The leatherback turtle family (Dermochelydae) includes 1 species. The leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), reaching a length of 2 m and weighing about 600 kg (fin span 3 m), nests on the tropical coasts of three oceans, feeds in temperate waters, swimming to the shores of Europe and Far East(mined in the south of the Far East and the Bering Sea). The main breeding grounds are on the Pacific coast of Mexico, off French Georgia and in Western Malaysia. Lays up to 130 eggs. Food - jellyfish, crustaceans, algae, also fish, echinoderms, mollusks. By collecting and incubating eggs with the subsequent release of young animals, it was possible in 1971-81. increase the number from 29 thousand to approximately 104 thousand. In this species, the ribs and spine are not fused with the shell, there is no horny shell. The bones are filled with fat, which in museum pieces can ooze for years. Over 400 years (since 1558), about 40 specimens have been mined. Included in the IUCN Red List.

The family of three-clawed turtles (Trionychidae) has a highly reduced bony shell. The plastron and carapace are connected by ligaments. The head ends in a soft proboscis with nostrils. The outgrowths of the pharyngeal mucosa functionally replace the gills. There are 14 genera and 24 species in the family. They live in fresh water bodies of North America, Africa, New Guinea and Asia. The Far Eastern tortoise (Pelodiscus sinensis) was previously classified in the genus Trionyx (or Amyda). It has a length of up to 40 cm and a weight of up to 4.5 kg. The species is distributed in China, Korea, northern Vietnam and Japan, introduced to the island. Guam and Hawaiian Islands. In Russia it is found in the basins of the Amur and Ussuri rivers, on lake. Hanka. Lives in slow-flowing rivers, oxbow lakes and lakes. Doesn't go far from the water. Most often hunts at dusk and at night. They overwinter in the mud. The female lays 18-75 eggs in a hole on a sandy (occasionally pebble) shore (up to 150 eggs per season). Clutches are destroyed by raccoon dogs, foxes, badgers, wild boars, and crows. Food: fish, crustaceans, insects, worms, shellfish. Very aggressive. The number of the species in Russia is falling, its range is shrinking. There have been attempts at artificial breeding and protection of clutches from predators. Included in the Red Book of Russia.

Of the diapsid groups, representatives of the subclasses of archosaurs and lepidosaurs have survived to this day. Order Pseudosuchia, known from the end Permian period, divided into several branches. Representatives of the aquatic branch - crocodiles - have been known since the Triassic, i.e. their age is more than 230 million years.

A turtle is an animal of the chordate type, class Reptiles, order Tortoise (Testudines). These animals have existed on planet Earth for more than 220 million years.

The tortoise got its Latin name from the word “testa”, meaning “brick”, “tile” or “clay vessel”. The Russian analogue came from the Proto-Slavic word čerpaxa, which in turn came from the modified Old Slavic word “čerpъ”, “shard”.

Turtle - description, characteristics and photographs

turtle shell

A characteristic feature of turtles is the presence of a shell, which is designed to protect the animal from natural enemies. turtle shell consists of a dorsal (carapace) and abdominal (plastron) part. The strength of this protective cover is such that it can easily withstand a load exceeding the weight of the turtle by 200 times. The carapace consists of two parts: internal armor made of bone plates, and external armor made of horny scutes. In some species of turtles, the bony plates are covered with thick skin. The plastron was formed due to the fused and ossified sternum, clavicles and abdominal ribs.

Depending on the species, the size and weight of the turtle vary significantly.

Among these animals there are giants weighing more than 900 kg with a carapace size of 2.5 meters or more, but there are small turtles whose body weight does not exceed 125 grams and whose shell length is only 9.7-10 cm.

Head and eyes of a turtle

Turtle head It has a streamlined shape and medium size, which allows you to quickly hide it inside a safe shelter. However, there are species with large heads that fit poorly or not at all into the shell. In some representatives of the genus, the tip of the muzzle looks like a kind of “proboscis” ending in nostrils.

Due to the peculiarities of the way of life on land, the turtle's eyes look at the ground. In aquatic representatives of the order they are located closer to the top of the head and directed forward and upward.

The neck of most turtles is short, however, in some species it can be comparable to the length of the carapace.

Does a turtle have teeth? How many teeth does a turtle have?

To bite and grind food, turtles use a hard and powerful beak, the surface of which is covered with rough bulges that replace teeth. Depending on the type of food, they can be razor-sharp (in predators) or with jagged edges (in herbivores). The ancient turtles that lived 200 million years ago, unlike modern individuals, had real teeth. The tongue of turtles is short and serves only for swallowing, and not for capturing food, so it does not stick out.

Limbs and tail of turtles

A turtle has a total of 4 legs. The structure and functions of the limbs depend on the animal’s lifestyle. Species that live on land have flattened forelimbs adapted for digging and powerful hind legs. Freshwater turtles are characterized by the presence of leathery membranes between the toes on all four paws that facilitate swimming. In sea turtles, during the process of evolution, the limbs have been transformed into a kind of flippers, and the size of the front ones is much larger than the back ones.

Almost all turtles have a tail, which, like the head, is hidden inside the shell. In some species it ends in a nail-shaped or pointed spine.

Turtles have well-developed color vision, which helps them find food, and excellent hearing, which allows them to hear enemies at a considerable distance.

Turtles molt, like many reptiles. In land species, molting affects the skin in large quantities In aquatic turtles, molting occurs unnoticed.

During molting, transparent shields peel off from the shell, and the skin from the paws and neck comes off in rags.

The lifespan of a turtle in natural conditions can reach 180-250 years. When winter cold or summer drought sets in, turtles go into hibernation, the duration of which can exceed six months.

Due to the weakly expressed sexual characteristics of turtles, it is very difficult to determine which of the animals is a “boy” and which is a “girl”. However, if you approach the issue carefully, having studied some of the external and behavioral characteristics of these exotic and interesting reptiles, then finding out their gender will not seem such a difficult matter.

• Carapace

In the female it usually has a more elongated, elongated shape compared to the male.

• Plastron (lower part of the shell)

Turn the turtle over and look at it carefully - the shell on the side of the abdomen closer to the anus in female turtles is flat, in males it is slightly concave (by the way, this nuance facilitates the mating process).

• Tail

Male turtles have a tail that is slightly longer, wider and thicker at the base, most often curved down. The tail of the “young ladies” is short and straight.

• Anal opening (cloaca)

In females it is located somewhat closer to the tip of the tail, shaped like an asterisk or a circle compressed on the sides. In male turtles, the anus has a narrow oblong or slit shape.

• Claws

In almost all species, except the leopard tortoise, the claws of males on the forelimbs are longer than those of females.

• Notch at the tail

Males have a V-shaped notch in the back of their shell, which is necessary for turtles to mate.

• Behavior

Male turtles are most often more active, and during the mating season they are distinguished by their aggressiveness towards their rival and towards the “lady of the heart”, they chase her, trying to bite her, and nod their heads funny. At this time, the female can calmly watch the “courtship”, hiding her head in her shell.

• Some species of turtles have specific differences between females and males, such as color, size or head shape.

Types of turtles - photos and descriptions

The tortoise order consists of two suborders, divided by the way the animal retracts its head into its shell:

• Hidden-necked turtles, folding their necks in the shape of the Latin letter “S”;
• Side-necked turtles, hiding their head towards one of their front legs.

According to the habitat of turtles, there is the following classification:

• Sea turtles (live in seas and oceans)
• Terrestrial turtles (live on land or in fresh water)
  • Land turtles
  • Freshwater turtles

In total, there are more than 328 species of turtles, forming 14 families.

Types of land turtles

• Galapagos tortoise (elephant) (Chelonoidis elephantopus)

The length of the shell of these turtles can reach 1.9 meters, and the weight of the turtle can exceed 400 kg. The size of the animal and the shape of its shell depend on the climate. In arid areas, the carapace is saddle-shaped, and the limbs of the reptile are long and thin. The weight of large males rarely exceeds 50 kg. In a humid climate, the shape of the dorsal shell becomes dome-shaped, and the size of the animal increases significantly. The elephant tortoise lives in the Galapagos Islands.

• Egyptian tortoise (Testudo kleinmanni)

a small representative of land turtles. The size of the carapace of males barely reaches 10 cm, females are slightly larger. The color of the shell of this type of turtle is brown-yellow with a small border along the edges of the horny scutes. The Egyptian tortoise lives in northern Africa and the Middle East.

• Central Asian tortoise (Testudo (Agrionemys) horsfieldii)

a small reptile with a shell size of up to 20 cm. The carapace has a rounded shape and is colored yellowish-brown with darker spots of uncertain shape. These turtles have 4 toes on their forelimbs. The most popular type of turtle for home keeping, lives about 40-50 years. Lives in Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Syria, northeastern Iran, northwestern Pakistan and India.

• Leopard tortoise (panther tortoise) (Geochelone pardalis)

The carapace length of this turtle exceeds 0.7 m, and the weight can reach 50 kg. The shell of this type of turtle is high and dome-shaped. Its color has sandy-yellow tones, on which in young individuals a spotted pattern of black or dark brown is clearly visible, disappearing as they grow older. This species of turtle lives in African countries.

• Cape speckled tortoise ( Homopus Signatus)

the world's smallest turtle. The length of its carapace does not exceed 10 cm, and its weight reaches 95-165 grams. Lives in South Africa and southern Namibia.

Types of freshwater turtles

• Painted turtle (decorated turtle) (Chrysemys picta)

A rather small species of turtles with individual sizes ranging from 10 to 25 cm. The upper part of the oval dorsal shell has a smooth surface, and its color can be either olive green or black. The skin has the same color, but with different stripes of red or yellow tone. They have leathery membranes between their toes. Lives in Canada and the USA.

• European marsh turtle (Emys orbicularis)

The size of individuals can reach up to 35 cm and weight 1.5 kg. The smooth, oval carapace is movably connected to the plastron and has a slightly convex shape. Representatives of this species have a very long tail (up to 20 cm). The color of the upper shell is brown or olive. The skin color is dark with yellow spots. The turtle lives in European countries, the Caucasus, and Asian countries.

• Red-eared turtle (yellow-bellied turtle) (Trachemys scripta)

The shell of these turtles can be up to 30 cm long. Its coloring is bright green in young individuals, over time it turns into yellow-brown or olive. Next to the eyes on the head there are two spots of yellow, orange or red. This feature gave the species its name. lives in the USA, Canada, northwestern South America (northern Venezuela and Colombia).

• Snapping turtle (biting) (Chelydra serpentina)

A characteristic feature of a turtle is a cross-shaped plastron and a long tail, which is covered with scales with small spines, as well as the skin of the head and neck. The shell dimensions of these turtles can reach 35 cm, and the weight of an adult animal can be 30 kg. The snapping turtle waits out unfavorable conditions in hibernation. This turtle lives in the USA and southeastern Canada.

Types of sea turtles

• Hawksbill turtle (true carriage) (Eretmochelys imbricata)

The carapace of these turtles is heart-shaped and up to 0.9 m in size. The upper layer of the shell is painted in brown tones with a pattern of multi-colored spots. In young individuals, the horny plates overlap each other like tiles, but as it grows, the overlap disappears. The front flippers of the animal are equipped with two claws. The hawksbill lives both in the latitudes of the northern hemisphere and in southern countries.

• Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)

this is the most big turtle in the world. The span of its front flipper-like limbs reaches 2.5 meters, the mass of reptiles is more than 900 kg, and the dimensions of the shell exceed 2.6 m. The surface of the upper shell is covered not with keratinized plates, but with dense skin, for which the species received its name. The turtle lives in tropical areas of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans.

• Green turtle (soup turtle) (Chelonia mydas)

The weight of the turtle ranges from 70 to 450 kg, and the size of the shell is from 80 to 150 cm. The color of the skin and carapace can be either olive with a green tint or dark brown with various spots and stripes of white or yellow. The turtle's shell is short and oval shape, and its surface is covered with large horny scutes. Due to the large size of their heads, these reptiles do not hide their heads inside. The green turtle lives in tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

The land turtle family includes 6 genera with 37 species. All of them are terrestrial animals, with a high, less often flattened shell, with thick columnar legs. The toes are fused together, and only the short claws remain free. The head and legs are covered with scutes and scales.

Among land turtles you can find both small forms about 12 cm in length, and giant animals up to a meter or more in length. Gigantic species have been preserved only on a few islands.

The vast majority of land turtles live in Africa (about 20 species), the second focus is in Southeast Asia (8 species). Several species penetrate into southern Europe, three species live in South America and one in North America.

Land turtles usually inhabit open spaces, steppes, savannas and deserts; only a few species are found in damp and wooded areas. Compared to freshwater turtles, they are very slow and clumsy, so when in danger they usually do not flee, but only use passive protection, hiding inside the shell.

They eat a variety of green vegetation; only occasionally turtles eat some small, sedentary animals. Land turtles can go for an amazingly long time without food and water, and in the presence of lush vegetation they do not need water at all.

However, if possible, they happily drink water, especially in the heat.

Land turtles are characterized by unusual vitality and resistance to adverse conditions. Life expectancy is very long - up to 50-100, and occasionally up to 150 years. An original feature in the structure of the shell distinguishes African turtles cynic

(genus Kinixys). The posterior third of their carapace is connected to the main part by a transverse tendon layer. Therefore, unlike all other turtles, kinixes can lower the back part of the carapace in moments of danger, pressing it to the plastron. Jagged Kinix

(Kinixys erosa) is the largest turtle of this genus, reaching 30 cm in shell length. The carapace, slightly flattened on top, has a jagged border along the perimeter, formed by sharp protrusions of the marginal scutes of the carapace. Two yellowish longitudinal stripes run along the brown background of the back. The top of the head is light yellow.

This turtle lives in the tropical rainforests of West Africa and often goes into the water. In captivity, it eats bananas especially willingly, but it also gets used to other vegetable foods. Remains active only in high humidity and plenty of heat. Another West African species (K. homeana) is equally moisture-loving. A different way of life smooth kinix

(K. belliana), widespread throughout Central and Southern Africa, as well as in Madagascar (it may have been brought here by humans). The smooth quinix inhabits dry, hilly areas with bushy areas. One of the smallest land turtles - flat turtles (genus Homopus), 4 species of which live in semi-deserts and dry woodlands South Africa

. One species (N. boulengeri) penetrates the B mountains up to 2400 m above sea level. The dimensions of these miniature turtles do not exceed 10-11 cm in shell length. Only the largest species, Homopus femoralis, with awl-shaped projections on the hips, reaches a maximum length of 15 cm. Has a strange appearance(Malacochersus tornieri), living in Kenya and Tanzania. Its shell, up to 20 cm long, is soft to the touch, it is formed by very thin perforated bone plates. From the ventral side, you can even distinguish the breathing movements of the turtle. The carapace is strongly flattened and cut off almost vertically at the back, and the marginal scutes protrude backwards in the form of jagged lobes. The elastic turtle inhabits dry rocky mountain slopes overgrown with bushes. She climbs beautifully and climbs between rocks, and in a moment of danger she hides in the cracks of rocks or under stones. If they try to pull it out of the crack, it becomes firmly wedged with their feet and, apparently, even swells a little.”

In the west of Madagascar, a tiny spider turtle(Pyxis arachnoides). The length of its high, round-ovoid shell does not exceed 10 cm. The anterior lobe of the plastron is movably connected to the main part by means of a transverse tendon ligament, which allows the turtle to close in front when attacked by an enemy. Each carapace scute is decorated with a light yellow median spot. The spider turtle lives in dry savanna woodlands and bushes.

The central genus of the family is land turtles(Testudo) - includes 27 species distributed in Africa, South and West Asia, Southern Europe and South America. Obviously, the most ancient species among them are the giant tortoises, which have survived to this day on the Galapagos and Seychelles Islands. In favorable conditions of island isolation, where there were no large predators, huge herds of these antediluvian giants lazily grazed in the meadows and among the thickets of bushes. Only the appearance of man put an end to their serene existence, and in a few centuries people destroyed what nature had preserved for millennia. Now the pitiful remnants of the once numerous herds huddle in remote and inaccessible corners of the islands. Only the most decisive conservation measures will help preserve these wonderful natural monuments for future generations.

At one time, taxonomists described more than ten species of giant tortoises - each island had its own special species. But subsequently, order was established in this matter, and now two species are distinguished, and populations from individual islands are rightly regarded as subspecies.

Lives in the Galapagos Islands elephant turtle(Testudo elephantopus). Its huge shell reaches 110 cm in length and 60 cm in height. Thick and powerful columnar legs support the heavy body. The weight of adult specimens is about 100 kg, and individual giants weigh up to 400 kg. The carapace descends rather steeply at the back, and almost does not bend downwards at the front, leaving a wide opening for the front legs and a long, relatively thin neck. Males are noticeably larger than females and have a longer tail. Elephant tortoises are undoubtedly the most striking attraction of the Galapagos Islands. No wonder the Spanish navigators who discovered in the 17th century. these islands gave them their name (galapago - large turtle). In those days, turtles lived there in countless numbers. The mountain slopes were literally strewn with them. Such an abundance of easily accessible food attracted whalers and pirates to these islands. Before a long journey, they filled the holds of their ships with hundreds of turtles, which provided them with fresh and tasty meat and relieved hunger and scurvy. Hardy animals spent up to 12-14 months in the holds without food or drink, without showing noticeable exhaustion. The extermination of turtles assumed gigantic proportions - according to ship logs, it is estimated that only 79 whaling ships over 36 years in the middle of the last century took 10,373 turtles from the islands. According to a rough estimate, over three centuries, sailors destroyed about 10 million of these animals. Since catching and transporting large individuals to the ship was very difficult, foragers caught mainly small and medium-sized turtles, that is, immature individuals and females. In addition, females were found more often because they descended to the sandy lowlands of the coast to lay eggs, and large males constantly stayed on the higher slopes of the mountains, with a more humid climate and lush vegetation. It is curious that when not pirates, but zoo collectors began hunting for turtles, they, on the contrary, brought almost only males. In pursuit of the most spectacular huge specimens, collectors spared no effort and time in delivering them several kilometers to the ship, and these largest specimens always turned out to be males.

Charles Darwin, who visited the Galapagos Islands in 1835 during his voyage around the world on the Beagle, described his impressions of turtles with unusual vividness. Excerpts from his classic observations will bring real pleasure to the modern reader. “These animals are apparently found on all the islands of the archipelago and, probably, on most of them. They prefer high, damp places, but also live in low-lying and arid areas. Turtles living on islands where there are no fresh water, or in low-lying and arid places on other islands, feed mainly on succulent cactus. Those that are found in mountainous and humid areas eat leaves various trees, sour and tart guavaite berries, and greenish fibrous lichen, strands of which hang from tree branches.

Turtles love water very much; they drink it little by little and willingly, lying in the mud. Springs are found only on larger islands, and even those are always located in the interior of the island, at a considerable altitude. Therefore, turtles living in low-lying areas are forced to make long journeys to quench their thirst. Thanks to this, wide trampled paths were formed, diverging in all directions from the springs to the seashore, and the Spaniards, following them, discovered sources of fresh water. When I landed on Chatham Island, I could not imagine what kind of animal was passing so methodically along certain paths. These huge creatures presented an interesting sight at the springs, where they came in large numbers: some, stretching out their necks, impatiently hurried forward, others, having drunk enough, returned back. When the turtle approaches the source, it, not paying attention to the audience, plunges its head into the water up to its eyes and greedily drinks in large sips, taking about ten sips per minute.

Local residents consider these animals to be completely deaf; they really do not hear the steps of the person walking behind them. It always gave me pleasure to overtake one of these huge monsters, calmly walking along the road: at the moment when I passed by, it retracted its head and legs and, emitting a low whistling sound, fell heavily as if struck to death. Often I would climb onto their back, and after hitting the back of the shield several times, they would rise and crawl away, but it was already difficult for me to maintain my balance.

The meat of this animal is widely consumed both fresh and salted, and a remarkably clear oil is obtained from its fat. When a turtle is caught, a person cuts the skin near its tail to see if the layer of fat under its dorsal shield is thick enough. If there is little fat, the animal is released, and they say that it will soon recover from such an extraordinary operation.”

During the time of Charles Darwin, the extermination of turtles proceeded with maximum intensity, but subsequently interest in them dropped markedly. Turtle stocks were greatly depleted, with the advent of steam engines, whaling sharply declined due to a decline in whale populations, and the number of pirates also decreased. And then canned food was invented, refrigerators appeared on ships, and the need for turtle food disappeared altogether.

But the troubles of the Galapagos tortoises did not end there. Ecuadorian settlers brought dogs, cats, pigs, goats and horses to the islands. Some of them went wild and settled on the slopes of the mountains. Dogs, cats and pigs began eating turtle eggs and juveniles, and goats, cows and horses, destroying vegetation, deprived adult turtles of available food. And finally, the last sad page of history was the turtle oil fishery that the settlers took up. They catch mainly large males, from which a lot of valuable fat can be rendered. The oil is then sold to Guayaquil for $9 per 100 pounds.

Each island is home to a different subspecies of the elephant tortoise. A total of 10 subspecies have been described, some of which have apparently already been completely exterminated. The situation is most favorable with the population on the island of Santa Cruz, where about a thousand heads of Testudo elephantopus nigrita are still preserved. Quite a few turtles also remain on Isabela Island, where the nominal subspecies (i.e. elephantopus) lives.

The egg-laying period for elephant turtles lasts from November to April. Females make long-distance migrations to coastal areas in search of suitable places to lay eggs. Having dug a pitcher-shaped hole about 40 cm deep with its hind legs, the turtle lays there from 2 to 22 white, almost spherical eggs. Each of them has a diameter of 5-6 cm and weighs about 110 g. After about 6-7 months, young individuals weighing up to 70 g emerge from the eggs.

Elephant tortoises are taken to many zoos around the world, where they live for a hundred years or more. Unpretentious animals only need sun, warmth and plenty of green food. They especially love tomatoes. Having become accustomed to this delicacy, they rush to any red object, hoping to find their favorite food.

Due to the threatening situation for turtles in their native places, it is very important to achieve their constant reproduction in captivity. Such work is being successfully carried out at the San Diego Zoo, where about twenty young turtles have already been hatched.

Another area of ​​the globe where giant tortoises were common is Madagascar, Mascarene Islands, Rodrigues Island, Seychelles, Isabela Island. Until two centuries ago, various geographical forms were found on all these islands gigantic turtle(Testudo gigantea). It is easily distinguished from the elephant tortoise by the presence of a neck scute. The length of the shell of adults is up to 123 cm (in a straight line). The longevity of these turtles is also remarkable: individuals are known to have been caught as adults and then lived in captivity for 150 years.

Unfortunately, hunting turtles for their meat has led to their extinction on most islands. Now they can only be found on Aldabra Atoll. The Italian zoologist F. Prosperi, who visited there in 1953, describes his observations this way: “We got out of the mangroves and walked along the dry and uneven soil of the island itself. Oxorwood and pandanus, low trees bent by the wind, bizarrely twisted and squeezed between whitish rocks, stood under the scorching rays of the sun. This was the kingdom of giant turtles.

Soon we saw them themselves among the stones and bushes. Huge, black, they lay in hundreds next to each other, enjoying themselves in the shade of the trees. With slow, calm movements they stretched out their wrinkled necks. And so great was their thirst for coolness that some turtles climbed under their neighbors to hide from the sun. In their watery eyes and in the entire expression of their muzzles covered with dried skin, we seemed to read unbearable suffering. Their appearance was extraordinary - the appearance of creatures who, by some whim of nature, continue to exist in an era not intended for them.

According to our calculations carried out throughout the atoll, their number reaches approximately eighty thousand. They feed on roots, rare grass and dry leaves and therefore seem to be specially created for this infertile land and dry bushes.

However, currently the natural conditions on the atoll have changed and these rare creatures are in serious danger. The goats that were once brought here have bred on the island, and the natural balance has undergone profound upheavals. More mobile mammals took over the reptile pastures. When there is no grass, which grows here only in winter, goats eat leaves from the lower branches of trees. Therefore, the poor turtles can no longer reach the leaves and during the long months of the dry period they feed only on those leaves that sometimes fall from the trees... Despite all the laws protecting turtles, the hour of death of this species has already struck.”

The picture drawn by the eyewitness is very alarming, but I don’t want to agree with his sad conclusion. If a reserve is created on Al-Dabra and the feral goats are completely killed, the disturbed balance will be restored.

Although the two species described above are unsurpassed giants among land turtles, other representatives of the genus Testudo can reach impressive sizes. These are the spurred and panther turtles that live in Africa. Both of them have a shell up to 70 cm long. Panther turtle(Testudo pardalis) is distributed from Sudan to the southern tip of the mainland. Its tall, rounded shell is light brown with small black spots. Coloring spurred tortoise(T. sulcata) monotonous, brownish-yellow. This species lives in the desert regions of Central Africa from Senegal to Ethiopia.

Gorgeous coloring Madagascar radiated tortoise T. radiata, reaching half a meter in length. Its strongly convex black carapace is decorated with bright yellow rays radiating from the center or corner of each scute. This turtle is numerous on the island and is caught in large number because of its delicious meat. In addition to the radiated tortoise, two other species live in Madagascar - Madagascar beaked tortoise(T. yniphora) and flat turtle(T. planicauda). The latter is remarkable for its dwarf size - adult individuals do not exceed 12 cm in length.

The South African is just as tiny knobby turtle(T. tentoria). Each scute of her dorsal shield rises in the form of a pyramid, decorated with bright yellow radial stripes. Equally colorful ocellated turtle(T. oculifera). Light rays diverging from the center of each scute form bright diamonds and ocellated spots on its back. This tiny turtle (up to 12 cm) lives in the sandy deserts of South and South-West Africa. Two larger species, up to 25 cm long, also inhabit the southern regions of the mainland. This beaked turtle(T. angulata), with a strongly projecting anterior edge of the plastron, and geometric turtle(T. geometrica), the tuberculate scutes of which are painted with light radial lines. Bushmen readily use South African tortoise shells as snuff boxes.

Unlike South Africa, which is so rich in the diversity of land turtles, the northern regions of the mainland are inhabited by only two species of the genus Testudo. The tiny Egyptian tortoise (T. kleinmanni), only up to 12 cm long, yellow in color with dark spots, lives in the deserts of Northeast Africa. When in danger, she quickly buries herself in the sand.

Mediterranean turtle(T. graeca) has a wide range. It lives in North Africa from Morocco to Egypt, southern Spain, the eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula, Asia Minor, the Caucasus, the Eastern Mediterranean countries and Iran. In the Soviet Union, the Mediterranean turtle is distributed on the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus, in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Dagestan.

The Mediterranean tortoise is often called the Caucasian and Asia Minor, as well as the Greek. The last name, like Latin name, is completely unfortunate, since it is in Greece that this species is absent, being replaced there by another, close species - Balkan turtle(T. hermarmi).

The shell of the Mediterranean tortoise is convex, smooth, slightly jagged along the posterior edge, up to 30 cm long. The head is covered on top with large symmetrical scutes. Large overlapping scutes cover the outer surface of the front legs; there is one large conical tubercles on the hips. The tail is blunt and short. The coloration above is yellowish-brown, usually with dark spots on the scutes. The habitats of this turtle are varied: dry steppes, semi-deserts, mountain slopes covered with bushes, dry sparse forests. It is quite common in the lowlands, but also penetrates into the mountains up to altitudes of about 1100 m above sea level. Willingly visits gardens and fields in search of tasty fruits. It feeds on all kinds of juicy greens, sometimes diversifying its diet with worms, snails and small insects.

Turtles spend the winter hibernating, climbing into holes, crevices between stones, or burrowing into the ground to a shallow depth. In the spring they appear very early - already in February - March - and soon begin to reproduce. Mating occurs vigorously. Married couples can be found everywhere in the clearings and in the forest. Females, trying to get away from the annoying males, hide in the bushes of the eagles, in the thick of the grass, and excited males force the females to leave the shelter with blows of the shield and strong bites on the hind legs. They either run ahead or try to climb onto the female. During the act of mating, the male opens his mouth wide, tensely stretches his neck and emits strong growling wheezes. If one female is pursued by several males, which is quite rare, then fights occur between the males. Enraged males grab each other by the head and legs, sometimes inflicting serious wounds, tearing out pieces of meat along with hard, keratinized skin. When the strongest male manages to climb onto the female, the remaining males, despite their wounds, knock him down with blows of their shells, and the fight begins anew. This is repeated many times until, finally, only the strongest male remains, who manages to fertilize the female. Mating occurs up to 8-10 times a day, and there are cases when one female is fertilized by several males.

In June-July, females lay 2-8 white, almost spherical, slightly flattened eggs about 35 mm long. Oviposition occurs three times per season, and thus, during the summer, one female lays an average of 16 eggs. After 2-3 months, young turtles emerge from them. In most cases, they do not come out, but burrow even deeper and spend the winter next to the nesting chamber. Only the following spring, having become stronger and grown due to the yolk sac, do they appear on the surface.

The Mediterranean tortoise is very often kept in captivity. She is unpretentious and, with plenty of warmth and food, lives for decades. Individuals are known to have lived in captivity for about a hundred years. The meat and eggs of this species are eaten in some areas. Only occasionally can a turtle cause harm by damaging crops.

Very similar to the Mediterranean balkan tortoise(Testudo hermanni). It was previously called Testudo graeca, and the name “Greek” is quite suitable for it, but in view of the change in Latin names, it is better to completely abandon such a Russian name in order to avoid confusion. It differs from the Mediterranean tortoise by the absence of conical tubercles on the hips and a longer tail topped with a conical spine. The length of the Balkan tortoise does not exceed 25 cm. Its color is yellowish-brown with black spots. The range covers Eastern Spain, Southern France, Italy, the countries of the Balkan Peninsula, Sicily, Corsica, Sardinia and the Balearic Islands. The Balkan tortoise inhabits dry steppes, shrubs and woodlands in the lowlands and foothills, without entering the mountains above 700 m above sea level. Its numbers are high in suitable locations and it is caught in large numbers for captivity, as well as for consumption.

Larger fringed turtle(T. marginata) lives in Southern Greece. The length of its carapace is up to 35 cm. The posterior marginal scutes are greatly expanded and directed almost horizontally backwards, forming a serrated edge. The coloration is black above with yellow spots in the middle of the scutes.

The bandaged tortoise lives on dry slopes of the foothills, densely covered with bushes. She eats all kinds of greens, especially figs. In its area, each individual tramples permanent paths along which it makes daily rounds. From Greece, the banded turtle was brought to Sardinia, where it took root well.

In our country, in pet stores and among animal lovers, you can most often see Central Asian or steppe tortoise(T. horsfieldi). Its shell is low, round, yellowish-brown in color, with vague dark spots. The size of the turtle usually does not exceed 20 cm (the record specimen is 28 cm). Females are on average noticeably larger than males. There are 4 toes on the front legs, and several small horny tubercles on the back of the hips.

The Central Asian tortoise is distributed in the southern regions of Kazakhstan, throughout the plain Central Asia, and outside our country in North-Eastern Iran, Afghanistan, in the north-western regions of India and Pakistan. It lives in clayey and sandy deserts with thickets of wormwood, tamarisk or saxaul, in the foothills up to altitudes of 1200 m above sea level, in river valleys, and on agricultural lands. Its numbers in many places are very high. The usual density in suitable biotopes is 1-10 individuals per hectare, and in particularly attractive places, for example on young melon shoots, up to 20 or more individuals can gather in the same area.

Into the diet Central Asian turtles includes a variety of ephemerals, as well as seedlings of shrubs and agricultural crops - melons, watermelons, wheat, cotton, etc. Sometimes they eat small insects, eat droppings or gnaw dry bones. If there is water nearby, turtles willingly drink a lot of it, especially in the hot season. However, in the presence of succulent vegetation, they can do without water altogether.

In early spring, turtles emerge from their wintering shelters and within a few days begin breeding. During mating, the males are very active, and when the number of turtles is high, the sounds of striking shells are constantly heard around (by striking the shell, males encourage females to mate) and the hoarse cries of males. Already in May-June, females lay 2-5 eggs 5 cm long, managing to make three clutches in a short season. In August-October, the turtles hatch from the eggs and remain to overwinter in the ground, emerging to the surface only in the spring of next year. Although they grow during the winter, their shell is still soft, and therefore they easily become prey for foxes, wolves, ravens, and eagles. Adult turtles turn out to be prey for hyenas, who alone are capable of chewing their shells.

Adult turtles, having finished the troubles of reproduction and laying eggs, already in June rush to hibernate, since the ephemeral vegetation burns out by this time. To do this, they dig holes on their own or expand the holes of gerbils and jerboas. For short-term rest, turtles dig a hole up to 50 cm long under a bush or in a slope. Before summer hibernation, they dig a hole up to 1 m long, and before winter hibernation, up to 2 m long. In autumn, some turtles interrupt their summer hibernation and go outside for a short time to feed on the meager autumn greenery. Most, however, without leaving the hole, deepen it (to avoid winter frosts) and remain underground until next spring.

Turtles grow slowly and become sexually mature only in their tenth year of life. After this, their growth does not stop, although it slows down: apparently, they grow throughout their lives. By the age of 20-30, animals reach a length of 18-20 cm and a weight of 1.5-2 kg.

In captivity, Central Asian turtles live very well; with a clear regime, they quickly get used to the place and time of feeding. They most readily eat lettuce, dandelion, the pulp of watermelons and melons, as well as cabbage, apples, and carrots. The most important thing for them is the abundance of warmth and light. For the winter, it is useful to put them into hibernation (a box with sand at a temperature of + 1-5°).

Eating cultivated plants, turtles cause significant harm. By destroying ephemeral vegetation in deserts, they also reduce the value of pastures. The burrowing activity of turtles sometimes leads to the destruction of dams and irrigation canals. Therefore, in a number of places it is necessary to catch turtles to prevent their harm. However, you can use their meat, which has an excellent taste. In addition, captured turtles are sold to pet stores. Orders for Central Asian turtles also come from abroad. According to newspapers, in the summer of 1967, the Kazakh zoo plant, at the request of foreign companies, sent 43 thousand turtles by plane to Paris and London.

One of the most beautiful land turtles is widespread in India and Ceylon - star turtle(Testudo elegans). Its convex shell is decorated with pyramidal swellings on each shield. Against a black background, yellow stripes stand out brightly, radiating from the tops of the pyramids. The marginal scutes protrude in the form of teeth directed backwards. Females reach a length of 25 cm, males are smaller.

The star tortoise lives in dry, bushy areas in India and Ceylon. It is active during the wet season and goes into hibernation during the dry season.

Seven species of land turtles inhabit Southeast Asia. Among them yellow head turtle(T. elongata), Burmese(T. platynota), Celebes(T. forsteni), brown(T. emys). Representatives of land turtles are also found in South America.

The most famous among them is large, up to 60 cm in length, wood turtle, or shabuti(T. denticulata). Its shell is flattened and has an oblong-ovoid shape, with a widening at the back. The blackish-brown coloration is complemented by vague yellow spots on each scute.

Shabuti inhabits rainforests South America east of the Cordillera, as well as the Lesser Antilles and Trinidad. She eats all kinds of fruits and greens. The female buries a clutch of 4-12 eggs in fallen leaves. Wood turtle meat is consumed by local residents. In captivity, the shabuti readily eats fruits and raw meat.

Very similar to shabuti coal turtle(T. carbonaria), almost entirely black. It also lives in the forests of South America, and some scientists consider it to be just a color form of shabuti. In Argentina and Uruguay there is a smaller one, up to 22 cm, argentine tortoise(T. chilensis), with a strongly flattened carapace and a beak-shaped edge of the upper jaw.

Close to land turtles genus gopher(Gopherus). Species of this genus differ from terrestrial turtles by flattened front legs, wide and short claws, adapted for intensive digging in the ground. Only one species belongs to this genus - gopher tortoise(Gopherus polyphemus). Its range occupies the southern regions of the United States and northern Mexico. The geographical varieties are very clearly distinguished from each other, and American zoologists generally consider them to be three different types. The dimensions of the gopher tortoise reach 34 cm. The low, sometimes slightly lumpy shell is brown in color with indistinct light spots.

The gopher tortoise inhabits dry sandy areas, dunes, pine woodlands on sands, sandy deserts. With its wide and strong front legs, it digs long holes, from 3 to 12 years. The passage of the burrow descends obliquely, reaching solid layers or ending above the groundwater table. In some areas, turtles are very numerous, and their burrows give the landscape a distinctive appearance. Various small animals, mainly arthropods, but also frogs, snakes, rabbits, rats, opossums, and raccoons, live in turtle burrows. The gopher frog (Rana capito) and the gopher snake (Drymarchon corais couperi) are named for their affinity for turtle burrows.

Gopher tortoises feed on green vegetation, fruits, and occasionally eat insects. Although they live alone, at feeding time you can see groups of 10-20 turtles grazing in a herd like livestock. During the summer, from April to June, females lay 4-7 eggs.

Encyclopedic Dictionary Encyclopedic Dictionary F.A. Brockhaus and I.A. Efron

Land turtles ... Wikipedia

Turtles Scientific classification Kingdom: Animals Type: Chordata Subtype ... Wikipedia

Mediterranean turtle, Testudo graeca (Linnaeus, 1758). In the past, an incorrect name, copied from a Latin zoonym, was also used - “Greek tortoise”. A medium-sized turtle with a high carapace and a maximum length of up to 30 cm. Forepaws with 5 claws. The carapace is yellowish-brown or light olive in color with dark spots. General range The species covers diverse, predominantly mountainous and foothill dry landscapes in northern Africa, southern Europe, southwest Asia, as well as on some islands in the Mediterranean Sea. By the way, this species is not found in Greece. On the territory of Russia it is found along the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus and in Dagestan. Intraspecific taxonomy has not been sufficiently studied. Currently, from 4 to 8 subspecies are distinguished, the status of some of them is debatable. They feed mainly plant foods, but often eat invertebrates and carrion. They overwinter from late October to November in various underground shelters. They emerge from wintering in March–April. The mating period lasts from April to mid-June. A month and a half after mating, females lay eggs. The clutch contains from 1 to 7 eggs measuring 3.2–4.6×2.9–3.7 cm and weighing 19–23 g. The female makes up to 3 clutches per season. Incubation duration is from 60 to 110 days. Young turtles hatch from eggs from late July to mid-September, with a carapace length of 3.5–4.5 cm. Often from late clutches or under unfavorable conditions, turtle hatchlings emerge to the surface only next spring. Sexual maturity is reached at 12–14 years of age with a carapace length of 16–18 cm. The number of the species is rapidly declining due to the transformation of natural habitats and long-term uncontrolled trapping. Thus, A. Schleyer wrote back in 1912 (p. 73): “All the turtles that can sometimes be seen on the windows of grocery stores in St. Petersburg and Moscow belong precisely to this species.” It is no longer found in some parts of its range. The species is listed in the Red Book of Russia, the International Red Book and Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES).

Balkan turtle, Testudo hermanni(Gmelin, 1789). A land turtle with a carapace up to 20–23 cm long. Females are larger than males. The top of the shell is painted in gray or yellowish tones. The species is distributed in southern Europe: southeastern Spain, southern France, central and southern Italy, Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, Macedonia, Albania, Greece, Romania and Bulgaria. It is also found on many large islands of the Mediterranean Sea. Intraspecific taxonomy cannot be considered final; at the moment, 2 subspecies are distinguished. Nominative subspecies T.h. hermanni distributed over most of its range, and the eastern Balkan tortoise, T.h. boettgeri inhabits the Balkan Peninsula. Mainly adheres to evergreen dry forests in the foothills and low mountains. It feeds mainly on plant foods, but also eats small invertebrates and picks up fallen fruits. Hibernates in winter and during summer drought. It emerges from wintering in March–April, and the first matings are observed 1–3 weeks after the end of diapause. From April to June, females lay from 3 to 12 eggs measuring 3.0x2.4 cm. Repeated clutches are noted. The duration of incubation varies depending on temperature and humidity from 53 to 120 days. They reach sexual maturity at the age of 5–11 years, females later than males. The main reasons for the decline in the number of Balkan turtles are the destruction of forests due to logging and fires, as well as uncontrolled fishing for commercial purposes. Currently, Balkan tortoises are protected by a number of national legislations; special reserves have been created in France. Successfully divorced in artificial conditions. The species is listed in the IUCN Red List, Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) and Appendix II of the Berne Convention.