Turtle Facts #2

• The Colombian Slider (Trachemys callirostris) is facing mercury contamination due to nearby gold mining. 1 kg of gold produced releases 1 kg of mercury into the environment. The amount of mercury in an organism increases as you move up the food chain. In organisms, mercury can lead to neurological problems, reduced hatchling success, and/or reduced growth rates. A relatively small amount of mercury can be harmful for humans, but when tissue samples were analyzed from turtles in the food market, mercury values were much higher than the known harmful level. Turtles unfortunately represent a money source and food source, so it is hard to educate others about the harms of eating the animals due to mercury. 
• Source/for more information: Mercury Contamination in the Colombian Slider (Trachemys callirostris) by Bock, Brian B., et. al.

  

  Colombian Slider

• The Western Chicken Turtle (Deirochelys reticularia miaria) sometimes will burry itself in the ground and go into a dormant phase in response to a stressful situation. The trigger to end their yearly dormant phase is potentially a substantial amount of rain followed by a few days of warming.

  

  Western Chicken Turtle

  
  
• Gopher Tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus) serve an important role in the food chain (hatchlings can be eaten by other animals), as well as seed dispersers, and aid in the nutrient cycle (through their digging). They rely on controlled burns in order to thin out ground vegetation in order to move around and dig their burrows. They are considered a keystone species because their burrows create homes for other animals as well.

  

  Gopher Tortoise

  
  
• Migrations of Galapagos Tortoises is triggered by vegetation dynamics. After the rain greens the vegetation, tortoises move to the new area to browse.
  
  
  
• The Burmese Star Tortoise (Geochelone platynota) is functionally extinct in the wild. Thankfully, there are several hundred in assurance colonies throughout the world. 

Burmese Start Tortoise

• In 1996, 39% of Asian turtle species were listed under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List (list for species with a high need of protection). In 2000, 76% of Asian turtle species were listed with the IUCN. 

• The Three-striped Box Turtle (Cuora trifasciata) is critically endangered and is currently approaching extinction in the wild. 

  

  Three-striped Box Turtle

  
  
• The Plowshare Tortoise (Astrochelys yniphora), native to Madagascar, is a critically endangered species known for the gold coloration of its shell. Unfortunately, this species is being decimated by poaching. There are only about 600 left in the wild. There are current conservation steps being taken, such as patrols of plowshare areas to deter/stop poachers, as well as defacing the shells of the turtles to make them worthless to poachers. It is a shame that we have to take away some of the natural beauty of the animal's shell in order to keep the species alive. 

  

  Plowshare Tortoise

• 54% of all turtle species are threatened.
• Chelonians use sounds to communicate. Sounds have been documented so far in at least 17 species. For Leatherback sea turtles, the hatchlings start to vocalize in the egg after 51 days of incubation. Other sea turtles as well as freshwater turtles have been recorded producing different types of sound.