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Turtles | Turtle Overview | Turtle Damage Assessment | Turtle Damage Management | Turtle Resources | Turtle Acknowledgments | ICWDM | Wildlife Species Information |
Figure 1. Eastern box turtle, Terrapene carolina
Identification
Most turtles have good field characteristics that are visible and can be easily identified. Some species, however, require close examination of the shields on the plastron (underside shell) for a positive identification.
Range
Turtles occur on all continents except Antarctica. Over 240 species occur worldwide but turtles are most abundant in eastern North America.
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Turtles | Turtle Overview | Turtle Damage Assessment | Turtle Damage Management | Turtle Resources | Turtle Acknowledgments | ICWDM | Wildlife Species Information |
General Biology, Reproduction, and Behavior
Any permanent body of water is a potential home for turtles. Some species will also tolerate brackish water, but the sea turtles are the only true saltwater species.
Unlike most other turtles, including softshells, snapping turtles rarely bask. Turtles feed on a combination of plant and animal material that includes items such as aquatic weeds, crayfish, carrion, insects, fish, and other small organisms. The diet of snapping turtles, however, usually includes a relatively high proportion of fish. They are relatively aggressive predators, occasionally known to take fish off fish stringers.
All turtles reproduce by laying eggs in early spring. Hatching begins in late summer and extends into the fall, depending on summer temperatures associated with the climate of their range. During winter, turtles usually bury themselves in soft mud or sand in shallow water with only the eyes and snout exposed.
Turtles are easy prey for a number of predator species such as alligators, otters, raccoons, and bears. Humans are probably the greatest threat to turtle populations, particularly for the most commercial species, such as snappers and softshells.
James F. Fowler. Wildlife Specialist . Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service. Louisiana State University Agricultural Center Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803
Jimmy L. Avery. Area Aquaculture Agent. Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service. Louisiana State University Agricultural Center. Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803
