Pet Turtle Species

In general, turtles live in fresh, saline and brackish bodies of water. For over a hundred million years now, sea turtles, among the pet turtle species, have already inhabited earth. Sea turtles have hard beak-like mouths in order to tear and mash foods. They also have a big carapace or shell, lungs for breathing air and two pairs of strong flippers to swim the ocean. Because humans hunt for their eggs and meat, demolish and pollute their natural territory like coral reefs, mangrove forests and nesting beaches, they are now threatened.

Here are some of the pet turtle species found in the sea. First is the green sea turtle or the Chelonia mydas. They are known as such because of their green-colored fat. They can grow to about 80 to 120 centimeters and weigh 130 to 150 kilograms. The hatchlings are black while the adults are brown in color. They have two scales on their forehead with a single claw on every fore-flipper and tough jagged claws. Green sea turtles are omnivorous.

The second among the sea pet turtle species is the loggerhead turtle or the Caretta caretta. They are vertebral and coastal scutes in pairs. They can grow from 55 to 95 centimeters and weigh about 55 kilograms. They have three pairs of intra-marginal scutes. They have front-flippers with two claws and a big head with sturdy jaws. Among the sea turtles, they are carnivorous with the males having thicker and longer tails and slimmer shells.

Then there is the leatherback turtle or the Dermochelys coriacea. It is not among the common pet turtle species found. This is the biggest sea turtle with their dark blue to black with white or pink patches. They can grow from 120 to 210 centimeters in length and weigh as much as 900 kilograms. They have smooth and leathery skin with so many tiny bones. Like the loggerheads, they also feed on meat. They do not have claws but have serrated jaws and can endure different temperatures.

The fourth of the pet turtle species is the olive ridley turtle or the Lepidochelys olivacea. These sea turtles have grayish-brown hatchlings. They turn olive green when they older. They are the smallest of the sea turtles at 50 to 70 centimeters and 50 kilograms in weight. They have almost-round shells with six to nine lateral scutes. Meanwhile, the hawksbill turtle or the Eretmochelys imbricate have greenish-brown to dark color and grows from 55 to 95 centimeters long and up to 55 kilograms.

Of the pet turtle species, the black turtle is the one with single claw on every flipper. They are grayish-black with black markings. Their jaws are jagged and can grow up to 117 centimeters and 126 kilograms in weight. Just like the majority of water turtles, they are omnivorous.