How to know the age of a turtle?

The turtle is perhaps one of the oldest reptiles of the world .It is characterized by its slow movements and its huge shell, which serves to protect the internal organs.Initially, the turtles were terrestrial animals, but with the evolution they managed to adapt to the seabed to be aquatic.

The age of the turtles has always generated polemic, since they are very long-lived, which complicates the task of knowing the age of each specimen.That is why from Animals and Pets Online we have prepared this article, in which you We will teach how to know the age of a turtle .

Characteristics of land turtles

The tortoise is one of the quieter and quieter animals that you can have as a pet.They are characterized by a long and wide neck that can stretch and contract very easily and agility.Thanks to this and the shell, they are able to hide when they feel threatened.Also, land turtles can regulate their body temperature depending on the outside environment.In this sense, when cold temperatures occur they hide underground and considerably decrease their activity.

Land turtles have no teeth , their mouth is composed of a kind of beak with very strong jaws that they use to process their food, consisting of plants and insects.Calcium is one of the most important nutrients in your diet, as it strengthens the shell, so it is very important to provide it when having them as a pet.

Characteristics of sea turtles

Sea turtles encompass several species of different sizes, shapes and colors.Like terrestrial ones, they have a large shell, they have no visible teeth or ears, but they are covered by the skin, with which they are capable of listening to low frequencies. His body is aerodynamic , which allows him to move with great agility into the sea.In addition, they have an excellent view under water.

The sea turtle diet consists of algae, molluscs, crustaceans, fish and corals, which provide them with the energy needed to develop and strengthen their shell.Despite being solitary animals they have few predators.

Sea turtles spend most of their lives in the water, so it is very difficult to know how old they are, although it is estimated that can live more than 100 years .However, To know the age of sea and land turtles there are several ways, which explain you I'll see you next.

How to know the age of a turtle?

If you adopted a turtle from birth, it will be very easy to know its age.However, this only happens in some cases.If you volunteer in a wildlife protection center and find a turtle or several copies live in the center, most likely they are not sure of the age of each one.

If you identify with any of these cases or are simply curious to know how to calculate the age of a turtle, then we explain several ways.

Shell lines

The first method is to count the lines or circles that surround the shields that form the shell.shell.These lines appear in periods in which the animal has had a good or bad diet, so it is not an exact technique, but it can be used to make approximations.

This method is based on the fact that in the shell of the turtles there are thin and thick lines .Fine lines represent periods of poor feeding, which occur mostly in autumn and winter times, in cases where the animal is free or in a wild state.On the other hand, thick lines represent stages of good feeding, which are they give during warm times.

With this method, the idea is to count all the lines and then divide them by two , which would give the approximate age of the animal.use this method, it is more effective for land turtles, since its shell It is sharper than that of the marinas.

Observe its size

This method also serves to give an estimate regarding the age of the turtle, although it does not represent an exact way of The procedure consists in knowing the size of the turtle, and for this you must measure from the tip of the tail to the tip of its head .

Next, investigate different scientific articles where the sizes defined by the different species of turtles are defined.Thanks to this, you will be able to make a comparison between the reptile measurements you have in front of you and the details provided by the article.

With this method, however, it is necessary to take into account that the turtles that are in captivity grow more than those found in the wild.

How many years does a turtle live?

Now that you know how the age of these animals is calculated, you need to know how many years the turtles live on average depending on their habitat.

How long does a water turtle live?

Determining the life expectancy of sea turtles can be complicated, as you must keep in mind that they live in freedom, however, scientists usually place their longevity at 100 years , although There are species, such as the turtles of the Galapagos Islands, which are suspected of reaching 150 years.

Despite this life expectancy that far exceeds the human, several species of turtles Marinas face extinction.The reasons are varied, but the most important are the pollution of the oceans and bays where their eggs are buried, and the indiscriminate hunting for the consumption of their meat.

How many years do you live? a land turtle?

The difference in life expectancy of a land turtle and a marine is very different and large, because the terrestrial specimens, depending on the species, usually reach a maximum of 60 years. Did you imagine that your turtle could live so long? It will be with you for a long time!

Some species, such as the box turtle, reach 100 years.Of course, this will depend on the feeding, in the case of the turtles in freedom, and on the diet and the other care that it receives, in the cases of turtles terrestrial living in houses or in wildlife refuges.

How many years does a domestic turtle live?

It is called a domestic turtle to those that are freshwater.Hope of life of this variety is much lower than that of other turtles, since they only live between 15 and 20 years. As in the case of land turtles, their longevity will depend on the care the turtle receives He thinks he won't be exposed to predators, so everything will depend on his diet and the general care he receives.

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