Red-legged tortoise
When it comes to estimating the age of a turtle, many people first react. Just count the patterns on the tortoise shell like annual rings. Is this really correct? The tortoise shells of some wild tortoises have been baptized by time. Can you really see the patterns?
1. Concentric rings on the scutes
Sui Da Natural cyclical changes, turtles have obvious growth and hibernation periods. During the growth period, the carapace scutes and the body grow generally, forming a loose and wide concentric annular ring. During the hibernation period, the black turtle enters the hibernation state, stops growth, and the back The scutes also almost stop growing, and the resulting concentric rings are small and dense. Such dense and alternating concentric rings are based on the growth rings of trees to resemble the age of the tree. When a winter stops growth, a growth ring appears. Based on this, we can infer the age of the black turtle, that is, the number of concentric rings on the scutes, and then adding 1 (the shell is broken into a ring), which is equal to the actual age of the turtle.
This method can only be estimated when the concentric rings of the turtle's carapace are clear. The annual rings of the turtle are relatively clear before the age of 10, and not long after the hatchling is born. , some radial lines can be seen on the crisp skin of the scutes in the center of the back shell, which are not round. There are several rings of turtle carapace lines, which means how many years of lifespan it is. The older it gets, the harder it becomes. The only way to distinguish with the naked eye is based on the weight of the turtle. Except for artificial breeding, the longevity of wild turtles per 500g weight is about 20 years in the south of our country, and about 40 years for turtles in the north.
Two, body weight
The growth of black turtles is relatively slow , Under normal conditions, the growth rate of female turtles is: the body weight of first-year-old turtles is around 15 grams, the weight of two-year-old turtles is 50 grams, the third-year-old turtles are 100 grams, the fourth-year-old turtles are 200 grams, the fifth-year-old turtles are 250-300 grams, and the sixth-year-old turtles are 250-300 grams. About 400 grams for old turtle. Male turtles grow slowly, and the maximum size of sexually mature turtles is generally less than 250 grams.
3. Turtle shell texture
The approximate age can be seen from the lines of the tortoise shell. The darker the color and the clearer the lines, the older it is. On the contrary, it is younger. If it is the actual age, it is difficult to judge. Ways to tell the age of a black turtle. Look at the patterns on the carapace on the back of the turtle, that is, the number of circles. There are circles on each carapace, and the number of circles represents the age. The more circles you have, the older you are. The age of a turtle is generally estimated based on the concentric ring patterns on the scutes of the turtle's back. Each circle represents a growth cycle, that is, one year. The number of concentric rings on the scutes, and then adding 1 (the year after hatching) equals the age of the turtle. This method can only be estimated more accurately when the concentric rings on the turtle's carapace are known. For young turtles or turtles with unclear concentric rings, the approximate age of the turtle can only be estimated.
Daily feeding can be done through the above three methods. However, some turtles are fed turtle food in the early stage. Everyone knows that turtle food has hormonal factors, so Turtle grows faster, so it is difficult to estimate his age. We can only estimate it roughly, so the above method can only be used as a reference. Some people's turtles were caught from the river or other places. This turtle was released or wild. Therefore, only the above method can be used to get an approximate age, which is not accurate.
Land turtles can be distinguished from aquatic turtles and semi-aquatic turtles, so the estimation method is not the same, so it is not suitable to use the above method to estimate.
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