The European marsh turtle
Under natural conditions, it lives in the southern half of the European part of the CIS. The northern border of its range passes through Belarus, Ukraine. The length of the shell of a swamp turtle is 16-18 cm (up to 22 cm), its width is up to 17 cm and height is up to 8 cm. On top of the turtle can be painted in dark olive, dark brown or dark gray. Coal-black individuals also occur. Against a dark background, small light yellow dashes and spots are painted, especially bright with proper maintenance and care
The European marsh turtle
Plastron is colored lighter, from yellow to dark brown. The head, neck and limbs are painted in dark colors and are also covered with small yellow dots. The marsh turtle inhabits shallow calm ponds, swampy river elders, grassy banks of rivers and lakes.
The turtle, despite the fact that it lives in the water, loves to go on land, on which it creeps more lively, than land specimens. The marsh turtle swims and dives very well. In the summer, being active, it may not float out of the water for up to 2 days. The marsh turtle spends autumn and winter at the bottom of the reservoir in hibernation. Mating usually occurs in water.
The sperm of males can remain in the female’s pathways for up to 1 year or more, therefore, a female caught in nature is able to “lay” completely full-fledged eggs in six months or more. During the season, the female makes from one to three clutches of 5 ~ 10 eggs in each. Tortoise eggs are well incubated even in very primitive “incubators”:
loose moist sand, at a temperature of 28-30 ° C. After 68 days, turtles hatch from the eggs. In water, the turtle catches insects and their larvae, crustaceans and mollusks, tadpoles, frogs, newts, fish. On the shore, it preys mainly on invertebrates: beetles, locusts, worms, wood lice, shellfish. In addition, she regularly eats the soft parts of aquatic and coastal plants. Captive conditions are common, as with other freshwater turtles. A marsh turtle lives for a long time, up to 120 years.
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