Turtles as a species of reptiles are represented by individuals of various sizes - from dwarf to gigantic. If large representatives live in the oceans and are the object of study of zoologists, then small turtles feel great in aquariums and have become pets.
Amazing reptiles. They appeared on the earth long before man began to rule on it. And survived all the cataclysms that dinosaurs and mammoths could not endure. The turtle calmly drags its shell, not pretending to be human, but people are happy to keep them at home as pets. It is believed that these animals live for hundreds of years and can outlive the hostesses and their descendants. Whether this is a myth or truth, zoologists have long since figured out.
Longevity record holders
In nature, this type of reptile is indeed the leader among living creatures in terms of life expectancy. At the same time, the living conditions do not apply to them at all. When studying their physiological characteristics, scientists found out an amazing fact. It turns out that these reptiles practically do not age. The organism of an individual that has just hatched from an egg and that which is already 200 years old functions in the same way. And what a deceiving look - wrinkled skin, inhibited movements and delayed perception.
The large turtle, which lives in the oceans and occasionally comes to land to breed, lives indefinitely. Scientists have not figured out how many years of life nature measured them. All of them died only from complex viral diseases, not a single individual who died a natural death has yet been found. These animals know how to stop the heart and fall into a state of suspended animation, and then easily come out of it back. Currently, geneticists are studying the genome of these reptiles in order to find out which gene triggers the longevity program.
It is also true that many domesticated turtles live for hundreds of years and can be inherited by descendants. However, they die early due to human fault under the wheels of a car, in the teeth of a predator, due to improper care or as a result of disease.
Pets
Most often, small turtles belonging to the species of red-eared turtles live at home. Such reptiles have a life expectancy of 30 years, but with proper care and good living conditions. They no longer exist in nature, this explains their exactingness to the conditions of detention.
Despite the fact that the turtle is small, it needs a large water terrarium, designed for 100-150 liters with islands of sushi for rest and eating. The terrarium should be warm, reptiles love to warm up. It is necessary to feed them:
- a bloodworm;
- raw minced meat;
- boiled fish without bones;
- vegetables: carrots, cabbage, lettuce.
With improper nutrition, reptiles develop rickets.
Armored reptiles are the object of jokes for their slowness and sluggishness, but for some reason no one pays tribute to their records of longevity and amazing features of the organism, in which there is no place for aging.
