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Northern map turtles spend the winter under water and do not surface to breathe, especially when ice cover makes this impossible. Adults rest on the bottom or wedged underneath rocks or logs and often hibernate communally with other northern map turtles where they may remain somewhat active throughout the entirety of the winter. [9]
Like other amniotes (reptiles, birds, and mammals) they breathe air and do not lay eggs underwater, although many species live in or around water. Turtle shells are made mostly of bone ; the upper part is the domed carapace , while the underside is the flatter plastron or belly-plate.
Box turtles in North America are increasingly becoming a conservation concern because of habitat loss and because they are being harvested for the pet trade. [2] The destruction of prairies due to land renovations has led to the decline of the desert box turtles ( Terrapene ornata luteola ) across much of their geographical range.
Common snapping turtles are "quite docile" animals underwater that prefer to avoid confrontations rather than provoke them. [41] The ability to bite forcefully is extremely useful for consuming hard-bodied prey items such as mollusks, crustaceans, and turtles along with some plant matter, like nuts and seeds. [42]
General American usage agrees; turtle is often a general term; tortoise is used only in reference to terrestrial turtles or, more narrowly, only those members of Testudinidae, the family of modern land tortoises; and terrapin may refer to turtles that are small and live in fresh and brackish water, in particular the diamondback terrapin ...
Box turtles require an enclosed outdoor location, consistent sun exposure and a varied diet. Without this, a turtle's growth can be stunted and its immune system weakened. Finding box turtles in the wild and taking them as pets, even for a short period, can have detrimental effects. Box turtles want to stay within the area where they were hatched.
Sea turtles spend a majority of their time underwater, so they must be able to hold their breath for long periods. [57] Dive duration largely depends on activity. A foraging sea turtle may typically spend 5–40 minutes underwater [ 57 ] while a sleeping sea turtle can remain underwater for 4–7 hours.
These animals can generally be found in spring-fed streams, and they prefer clean, oxygenated water. The Eastern mud turtle rarely basks, but in the instance they do, they will bask on rocks or debris floating on the surface of the water. [10] In the wild, they also prefer sandy and muddy areas, as they will hibernate by burrowing into the mud.