Aquatic Turtle Species

Different types of aquatic turtles can be categorized into freshwater and marine turtles. Some of the small aquatic turtle species found in fresh water and oceans are described in the paragraphs below. These marine turtles are found in various parts of the world. The different species of turtles included in the freshwater and marine water categories include the Red-eared Sliders, Pig-nosed Turtle, Soft Shell Turtle, Flatback, Olive Ridley, Kemp's Ridley, Leatherback, Hawksbill and Green Turtle.

Fresh-water Turtle Species
The following aquatic turtle species are found in freshwater bodies.

Pig-nosed Turtle: The pig-nosed turtle is native to Australia and inhabits areas like lagoons, freshwater streams and rivers. These creatures are found in southern New Guinea region and Northern Territory of Australia. The carapace (upper exoskeleton or simply, shell) of these turtles is gray in color, while the plastron is cream-colored. Pig-nosed turtle gets its name from the shape of its nose (pig-like). These turtles weigh around 20 kg and their body is about 70 cm length.

Soft Shell Turtle: These turtles are found in lakes and streams. The body length of a soft shell turtle can be up to 2 feet; snout-shaped 'bottle nose' is the differentiating characteristic of soft shell turtles. In order to breathe properly, the turtles keep their snouts near the surface of water.

Red Eared Sliders: Native to southern United States, the red-eared slider turtles are semi-aquatic in nature. The turtle gets this name due to the red mark around its ears. Females are bigger and have a body length between 25-33 cm. Males on the other hand are 20-25 cm in length.

Marine Turtles
Here is a list of marine turtle species that are found the world over.

Olive Ridley: These turtles are named after the olive-green color of their shells. The zoological name of this sea turtle is Lepidochelys olivaceae; the average weight is 100 lbs. Olive ridleys have a carapace length of about 76 cm. India and Costa Rica are the important nesting sites for Olive Ridley turtles.

Kemp's Ridley: The Kemp's Ridley turtle falls in the same genus as Olive Ridley and has the zoological name, Lepidochelys kempii. Average weight of this turtle is 99 lbs and they reach a maximum length of 2-3 feet.

Flatback: The flatback turtles are found in the coastal areas of Papua New Guinea and inland regions of northern Australia. In northern Australia, these aquatic animals can be found in lagoons, estuaries, coral reefs and grassy waters. The flatbacks have a carapace that is low-domed; body length of these turtles is 90 cm.

Leatherback: It is the biggest sea turtle and weighs from 550-1,500 lbs. Average length of the leatherback sea turtle is 1.5 m; however, the biggest leatherback turtle was the one with a length of 3 m. This turtle can be fond in all the oceans. They can be found in regions stretching from Alaska to New Zealand.

Hawksbill: The hawksbill is an endangered species. Its appearance is similar to many other sea turtles. Hawksbill is called so because of its curvy and sharp beak. Interestingly it is the only species (Eretmochelys imbricata) under the genus Eretmochelys. Flipper-like limbs and a depressed body shape are the main features of the hawksbill sea turtle. These turtles weigh around 175 lbs. and their body length can be up to 1 m.

Green Turtle: The green turtle is called so, because of green colored skin present beneath the shell. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has declared the green turtle, an endangered species. Average weight of adult turtles is 200 lbs, while the body length is around 1.5 m. This turtle is found the world over in oceans of tropical and sub-tropical regions.

If you wish to rear aquatic turtles at home, it is important to have know-how of factors affecting the life cycle of these creatures. Cleanliness of the water being used, temperature maintenance, enough space for movement, etc. are the factors to be considered for proper care of aquatic turtles. The different species described in the article give us a rough idea about the different types of turtles found in different oceans of the world.