Trachemys decussata (lat.) Is a species of reptile from the family of American freshwater turtles.
| Trachemys decussata | ||||||||||||||||||
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| Trachemys decussata ( Bell , 1830) |
The total length of the carapace is 27–39 cm. Sexual dimorphism is observed: females are larger than males. The head is medium in size. Muzzle dull and rounded. The neck is rather long. Carapax is wide, flat, oval, elongated, with a small keel. Carapax has numerous wrinkles. The back is tapered. Plastron elongated, flat. Males have long claws, long and thick tails .
Head green or olive-brown with yellow stripes. On the sides of the head there are 2-3 bands and one more goes from the corner of the mouth to the neck. Jaws are yellow or pale, neck, limbs and tail with yellow stripes. Carapax color varies from brown, olive-brown to green. The pattern of light circles with a dark point in the center is visible only in young turtles. Plastron yellow color with a dark pattern of spots.
Subspecies differ in pattern and carapace. Trachemys decussata decussata has carapax wide, elongated, flat or domed. The skin is colored green or olive. The plastron pattern is dark and stretches along the seams. Trachemys decussata angusta has a grayish-brown color, carapax is elongated and moderately dome-shaped.
Loves swamps and lakes, flat streams and rivers with soft ground and abundant vegetation. Often sunbathes on the shore. It feeds on fish , crustaceans , insects , aquatic plants.
During courtship, the males swim backwards in front of the female and tickle her face with their long claws. Egg laying takes place from April to July. In laying 6-18 eggs. The incubation period lasts 60-80 days. Newborn turtle appear in July-September. Their body length is from 31 to 33.5 cm, their medial carina is clearly visible, they are brighter colored than adults.
The species is distributed on the islands of Cuba, Juventud , introduced to the Islands of Grand Cayman , Cayman Brac and Marie-Galant [1] .
- Subspecies
- Trachemys decussata decussata
- Trachemys decussata angusta
Notes
- ↑ Trachemys decussata Gray, 1831 . The Reptiles Database . J. Craig Venter Institute. The appeal date is March 3, 2010. (not available link)
Literature
- Lever, C. 2003. Naturalized reptiles and amphibians of the world. Oxford University Press, 338 pp.
- Wermuth, H., and R. Mertens. 1961. Schildkröten, Krokodile, Brückenechsen. Gustav Fischer Verlag, Jena. 422 pp.