How do you know the age of a turtle?

There are two ways to identify the age of a tortoise. One is to look at the abdominal spots of the turtle towards the sky, each abdominal spot has a circle pattern, each circle represents a year (some have two circles or no circles), and a few circles represent how old they are, basically so; Another way is to look at the carapace on the back (the so-called thirteen hexagons), each carapace also has circles, and the number of circles represents the age. Generally, it is estimated by the number of concentric rings on the tortoiseshell shield, and every 1 circle represents a growth cycle, that is, 1 year.

The number of concentric rings on the shield, and then add 1 (1 year after the birth of the broken shell), that is, the age of the turtle. This method can only be calculated accurately when the concentric rings of the tortoise carapace are clear, and the approximate age of the turtle can only be estimated and deduced for the old turtle or the turtle with the concentric rings are blurred. The growth of turtles is relatively slow, and under normal conditions, the growth rate of female turtles is:

The weight of the first-year-old turtle is about 15 grams, the second-year turtle is 50 grams, the third-year turtle is 100 grams, the fourth-year-old turtle is 200 grams, the fifth-year turtle is 250 250 grams, and the six-year-old turtle is about 400 grams. Male turtles grow slowly, and the maximum sexual maturity is generally less than 250 grams. Age calculation is calculated by the number of concentric rings (growth rings) on the tortoiseshell shield, and one ring is the growth period of one year.

Of course, factors such as different turtle species, ring clarity, and the presence of rings at hatching can also affect the accuracy of age. The life span of the turtle is generally long, can live for decades, it is recorded that there is a kind of tortoise with a life span of more than 150 years, so there is a longevity reputation of "a thousand-year-old turtle".

Look at the growth lines of the turtle shell 1, generally speaking, the growth lines of wild turtles are relatively fine and clear, and the growth lines of the inner circle are often not as clear as the outer ring, but some artificial turtles that have no time to take care of are usually fed less, and they can also grow with very fine honey. 2. Most artificial turtles have relatively wide growth lines, and often the inner and outer rings are almost clear, but many wild turtles also have wide growth lines due to the abundant food in the growth environment. 3. In most cases, a circle of growth lines represents a year, but the growth lines of many turtles will gradually disappear after the influence of environmental wear and tear, so the growth lines can only be used as a reference to see the age, some turtles are originally barebacked, such as bareback yellow throat, you can't know the age through the growth lines.

4. Some growth lines are pseudo-growth lines, false growth lines are generally more common in artificial turtles, especially warmed and raised, just like the 13th floor said that the 2-year-old turtle has 15 growth lines, the texture of the false growth lines is relatively shallow, and it is blurry, the growth environment of wild turtles is relatively large, the quality of water sources, diet, etc. are also relatively stable, so wild turtles rarely get sick, and the growth rate is basically stable, so there are fewer false growth lines, which is why we see that most wild turtles have almost the same width and narrowness. Due to problems such as water quality, environment, diet, and susceptibility to disease, artificial turtles often change their growth rate, which will form false growth lines that are wide and narrow.

<> red-legged tortoise When it comes to calculating the age of the tortoise, many people's first reaction is to count the lines on the tortoise shell like counting the rings, is this really accurate? The shell of some wild turtles can really see the lines clearly after the baptism of time?

1. Concentric rings on the shield

With the periodic change of nature, the turtle has an obvious growth period and hibernation period, the dorsal carapace shield grows like the body during the growth period, forming a loose and wide concentric ring circle, the tortoise enters a dormant state during the hibernation period and stops growing, and the dorsal carapace shield almost stops growing, forming a narrow and tight concentric ring circle. Such dense concentric rings are similar to the age of a tree based on its growth rings, and a growth ring occurs when it experiences a winter when development stops. Based on this, the age of the turtle can be determined, that is, the number of concentric rings on the shield, and then add 1 (the broken shell is born as a ring), which is equal to the actual age of the turtle.

This method can only be calculated when the concentric ring pattern of the turtle's back carapace is clear, the annual ring of the turtle is clearer before the age of 10, and soon after the birth of the juvenile turtle, the shield outside the shell ** on the outer hard ** see some radial lines, and there is no round wheel, there are several rings of the turtle's back carapace, that is, how old the turtle is, the longer the age is more difficult to identify with the naked eye, only according to the weight of the turtle to calculate, except for artificial breeding, the wild turtle per 500g weight of the turtle age, about 20 years in the south of our country, about 40 years in the north of the turtle.

2. Weight

The growth rate of the turtle is relatively slow, under normal conditions, the growth rate of the female turtle is about 15 grams, the weight of the first-year-old turtle is about 15 grams, the second-year turtle is 50 grams, the third-year turtle is 100 grams, the fourth-year-old turtle is 200 grams, the fifth-year-old turtle is 250 300 grams, and the six-year-old turtle is about 400 grams. Male turtles grow slowly, and the maximum sexual maturity is generally less than 250 grams.

3. Turtle shell pattern

The approximate age can be derived from the texture of the turtle shell**, the darker the color, the clearer the texture and the older it is, and vice versa, if it is the actual age, it is difficult to judge. Methods for identifying the age of a tortoise. It is to look at the lines 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 laps you have, the older you get. The age of the turtle is generally calculated by the number of concentric rings on the shield on the back of the turtle, and each circle represents a growth cycle, that is, one year. The number of concentric rings on the shield, and then add 1 (one year after the broken shell is born) is the age of the turtle.

This method can only be calculated accurately when the concentric rings of the tortoise carapace are clear, and the approximate age of the old turtle or the concentric rings are blurred, can only be estimated.

Normal feeding can be seen through the above 3 methods, but some turtles, early feeding is turtle food, everyone knows that turtle food has hormone components, so the turtle will grow faster, so it is difficult to calculate his age, can only be roughly judged, so that the above methods can really only be referenced. There are also some turtles that are caught from the river or elsewhere, either released or wild, so the approximate age can only be obtained using the above method, which is not accurate.

Tortoises are different from terrauges and semi-water, so the calculation method is also different, so it is not suitable to use the above method to calculate.

There are three ways to do this:

1.Look at the abdominal spots of the turtle facing the sky, each abdominal spot has circular lines, and each circle of the year represents [individual has two circles or no circles].

2.Look at the carapace on the back of the empty socks [the so-called thirteen hexagonals], there are also circles on each carapace, and each circle represents a year, but now many turtles are artificially fed in the greenhouse, although the turtles are larger, but the growth lines are more difficult to see.

3.Based on the number of concentric rings on the shield of the tortoise's back carapace, every 1 circle represents one year of growth cycle, and then 1 year is added to the tortoise (1 year after the shell is born), that is, the age of the tortoise.

Of course, factors such as different turtle species and the presence of rings when hatching a good ruler will also affect the accuracy of age. For old turtles or turtles with indistinct concentric rings, the approximate age can only be estimated.

Just look at the pattern on the turtle's body.