Tropes

Livescience_2014 01928.txt

#What Do Turtles Eat? Turtles like the humans who love them are a diverse bunch. There are over 300 species of this ancient reptile and each one has preferred its own diet. Some turtles are carnivores while others follow a strictly vegetarian diet. Most turtles however are omnivores eating both animals and plants. What a turtle eats depends on its species specifically what kind of jaw it has for masticating (chewing) food where it lives and what food sources are available to it. Sea turtles depending on the species may eat seagrasses algae sponges sea squirts squid shrimp crabs jellyfish cuttlefish or sea cucumbers. For instance leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) which can reach a whopping 1100 pounds (500 kilograms) use their scissorlike jaws to munch on a jellyfish-only diet according to the Sea turtle Conservancy. Green sea turles (Chelonia myadis) on the other hand are herbivores that feed on algae and seagrasses. A freshwater turtle's diet is varied just as and may include worms snails insect larvae aquatic insects crustaceans water plants algae and fallen fruit. Some species of freshwater turtles such as snapping turtles also eat small mammals frogs snakes fish and even other smaller turtles according to Connecticut's Department of energy and Environmental Protection. Terrestrial turtles also eat a variety of foods from earthworms grubs snails beetles and caterpillars to grasses fruit berries mushrooms and flowers. Both aquatic and land turtles have been known to eat carrion (decaying flesh) when it's available. Many species of turtles are kept commonly as pets and just like their wild cousins they eat a diverse range of foods. Commercial turtle pellets and fish pellets as well as gut-loaded insects (bugs with nutrient-rich diets) earthworms and small fish are sold often as turtle food at pet stores. Turtle owners should speak with a veterinarian or other professional when planning a diet for their pet as the diets of captive turtles also vary by species. Follow Elizabeth Palermo on Twitter@techepalermo Facebook or Google+.+Follow Livescience@livescience. We're also on Facebook & Google+e

< Back - Next >