CATDOLL : CATDOLL: What is the difference between the Chinese soft-shell turtle and the golden coin turtle?

What is the difference between the Chinese soft-shell turtle and the golden coin turtle?

The differences between the Chinese soft-shell turtle and the golden coin turtle are as follows:

1. The appearance characteristics of the two are different

The Chinese soft-shelled turtle has an oblong body, with a slightly raised carapace, three longitudinal ridges, and obvious ridges. The top of the head is dark olive, with smooth skin in the front and fine scales in the back. The plastron is flat, with a notch at the rear. The neck, limbs, and exposed skin are gray-black or dark olive. The male is smaller in size and has a long tail. The female carapace is light brown to dark brown, the plastron is brown-black, and the tail is shorter.

The head of the golden coin turtle is smooth and scaleless, with a distinct and round tympanic membrane; the cervical horns are long and narrow, the first vertebral horn is pentagonal, the fifth is fan-shaped, and the remaining 3 are triangular, with 4 costal horns on each side and 11 marginal horns on each side; the carapace is brown with three obvious raised black longitudinal lines, the middle one is the most obvious and longest, so it is also called the Sichuan-shaped back turtle.

2. The two have different living habits

Chinese soft-shell turtles are aquatic reptiles that can also live on land. They mainly live in rivers, lakes, reservoirs, ponds and other water bodies. They often stay in the water during the day, and in the hot summer, they seek shade in groups. They have a gentle temperament. When they encounter enemies or are frightened, they retract their heads, limbs and tails into their shells.

Golden coin turtles are omnivorous. They like to live in caves or mud caves on hills near water bodies. When frightened, they dive into the water and often go to mountain streams or wet places to feed on various aquatic animals. Golden coin turtles are cold-blooded animals. Their growth temperature is between 24-32℃. When the water temperature is 28℃, they will float up to breathe every 20 minutes in the water; when the water temperature is 25℃, they will float up to breathe every 26 minutes; when the water temperature is below 12℃, they will enter hibernation.

3. The growth and reproduction of the two are different

The grass turtle does not have the habit of guarding the nest and protecting the eggs; another reproductive characteristic of it is that the eggs do not mature synchronously. Therefore, the female turtle lays eggs 3-4 times a year, and lays 5-7 eggs in one nest each time.

When the water temperature rises to about 25℃ in June of the following year, the female golden coin turtle begins to lay eggs, and the egg-laying lasts until the end of July or early August. A total of 3-4 eggs are laid during the whole period, with 3-4 eggs each time.