CATDOLL : CATDOLL: What kind of turtle is a southern golden coin turtle? And how can you tell how old it is?

1. What kind of turtle is a southern golden coin turtle? And how to tell how old it is?

The most common method of determining the age of a turtle is to calculate the age of the turtle from the concentric rings on the turtle's carapace. Generally, the number of concentric rings on the turtle's carapace is used to calculate the age of the turtle. Each ring represents a growth cycle, i.e. one year. The number of concentric rings on the scutes plus 1 (one year after hatching) is the turtle's age. This method can only be used to calculate more accurately when the concentric rings on the turtle's carapace are clear. For old turtles or turtles with unclear concentric rings and greenhouse turtles (one-year-old multi-layer false concentric patterns), we need to refer to the following methods to infer the turtle's approximate age:

(This method takes the southern species of golden coin turtle as an example)

1. Look at the middle line of the plastron: Generally, the middle line of the plastron of turtles under 5 years old (some 6 years old) is a straight thick white or light silvery white line. The color of this middle line of the plastron will gradually become darker, thinner and more curved as the turtle ages. When the turtle is more than 5 years old, this middle line will be as thin as a hair, and when it is more than 7 years old, this middle line will become curved.

Seven-year-old stone turtle

2. Look at the color of the plastron: The plastron of purebred Southern Stone Turtle is a light waxy yellow from the beginning, and the color becomes darker as it ages, until the waxy yellow is tinged with a light pink.

3. Look at the thickness and shape of the gular shield: The gular shield and O-shield of turtles from hatchlings to adult turtles are relatively thin and flat. As the turtle ages, the thickness of the gular shield will slowly increase, and the shape will slowly bend inward. Generally speaking, the gular shield and O-shield of turtles over 5 years old will have such performance.

4. Look at the wrinkles on the neck when the glans shrinks into the shell: When a turtle is frightened, its head shrinks into the shell to protect itself, but the wrinkles on the neck are different for each age group. The older the turtle, the more obvious the wrinkles on the neck. The wrinkles on the neck of turtles over 12 years old are quite obvious when they shrink their heads. The skin that shrinks together is similar to the wrinkles of an old man.

5. Look at the fleshy boil next to the cloaca at the tail: Generally speaking, the fleshy boil next to the cloaca of a turtle that has not yet reached gonadal maturity is in the form of smaller and smoother particles. Once the turtle reaches gonadal maturity, the fleshy boil next to the cloaca is in the form of pointed and larger particles. For the Southern Stone Turtle, the real stable production is about 8 years.

Eight-year-old stone turtle

Eight-year-old stone turtle

Eight-year-old stone turtle

In fact, the identification of a turtle’s age also needs to refer to the growth habits, growth environment, feeding methods, etc. of the turtle’s population. . .

The above are my personal opinions and identification experience as well as the observations and summary of some veteran breeders. Only with real objects or pictures can we roughly and accurately judge the age of turtles. It cannot generalize everything. . . . .

The identification of turtle age also requires long-term observation, analysis and summary by the breeder himself, and more observation of the physical characteristics of turtles of different ages. The simplest truth is that turtles look like humans, and different age groups have different physical characteristics. Only in this way can we accumulate and summarize more accurate methods for identifying turtle age.

Golden head characteristics I am a turtle lover! The golden coin turtle is also known as: QQ~Q platform search 987~730~279 will have a lot of information. In fact, there is no unified or regulated price for the golden coin turtle. The carapace is dark brown, raised and the ridge is relatively flat, with obvious ridges, 78-127mm long (male), 109-152mm long (female). The plastron is yellow, and the left and right shields have basically symmetrical large black spots. The front and back shells are connected by ligaments and can be completely closed to the carapace. The head is golden yellow, the side of the head is slightly yellowish brown, and there are 2 black lines. It is a species endemic to my country. Living habits: Living in ravines in hilly areas or in mountain pools with clear water quality, and is also commonly seen in bushes and grass not far from the water. Under breeding conditions, it can eat small fish, shrimps, snail meat, tadpoles, etc., and also eat a small amount of plants. The spawning period is from the end of July to the beginning of August. Eggs are laid once a year, which can be produced in two batches, with 2 eggs in each batch. The eggs are milky white, oval, with a diameter of about 40mm*21mm and a weight of about 12-15g. Trade: Occasionally traded. Identification characteristics: The carapace length is 78-127mm for males and 109-152mm for females. The carapace is raised, the ridge is relatively flat, and there is a ridge in the midline; the plastron is large, the front end is rounded and the back end is slightly missing, connected to the carapace by ligaments, and there are also ligaments between the chest and abdominal shields. The front and back halves of the abdomen can be completely closed to the carapace, the anal shield groove is the longest, and the humeral shield groove is the shortest. The head is of moderate size, the back of the head is smooth, the snout slightly protrudes from the upper beak, the upper beak is slightly curved, and the lower beak is shorter than the upper beak. The limbs are weak, the back is covered with imbricate scales, the forelimbs have 5 claws, the hind limbs have 4 claws, and the webs between the fingers and toes are well developed. The tail is short and conical, with paired scales under the tail and a longitudinal groove in the middle. The carapace is dark brown, with darker colors in the scutes and the surrounding areas. Juveniles have a small brownish-red spot on the lower edge of the second pair of rib shields, while adults have a light-colored spot on the corresponding part. The plastron is yellow with several large black spots arranged symmetrically. The head is golden yellow, with slightly yellowish-brown on the sides of the head and three thin black lines.

Close

2. Is this a southern golden coin turtle?

Judging from the color of its head, it should be a northern golden coin turtle. You can compare it with the following points.

The golden coin turtle, scientifically known as the yellow-throated terrapin, is called yellow-throated by turtle lovers. The southern yellow-throated terrapin is called southern-throated or southern-stone. To identify whether the southern-throated terrapin is purebred, you can use the following methods:

head

South Throat

North Throat

The head of the southern throat is bronze or gray-black, while the head of the northern throat is turquoise.

There is a black line running through the eyeball of the southern throat. The more obvious the black line is, the purer the southern throat breed is. However, there is no black line in the middle of the eyeball of the northern throat.

The yellow vertical stripes behind the eyes of the southern fish have obvious color difference from those on the head. The yellow vertical stripes are sandwiched by two wider black lines. The black lines are sometimes similar in color to the head and the boundary is not obvious. However, the yellow vertical stripes behind the eyes of the northern fish have no obvious color difference from those on the head. The yellow vertical stripes only have a very thin black border.

Carapace

The longitudinal protrusion in the middle of the carapace of the southern throat is black, while that of the northern throat is not obvious. This difference exists from the hatchling stage.

The marginal shields on both sides of the middle of the southern glottal shield can be seen from above, while the marginal shields of the northern glottal shield cannot be seen from above.

Abdomen: The black spots on the plastron of the southern trochlea are connected to form an arc, which is the shape of a mouth. The black spots on the plastron of the northern trochlea are small or even absent.

3. How much is a southern golden coin turtle seedling? Are there seedlings available for sale every month?

The price varies from year to year. It is usually sold from July to October of the Gregorian calendar. The specific prices for each year are:

Year turtle seedlings price 3rd anniversary commercial turtle price stable production wild (simulated wild) breeding turtle price

(Yuan/piece) (Yuan/jin) (Yuan/piece)

2007 70 320 3600

2008 120 450 4800

2009 200 530 6300

2010 280 650 7500

2011 750 1300 11800

2012 350 750 7800

2013 550 910 9000

May 2014 1200 10000

The seedlings only appear from June to October every year. Generally, they cost several hundred each.