D'Orbigny's slider or the black-bellied slider (''Trachemys dorbigni''), commonly known in
Brazil
Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...
as ''tartaruga-tigre'' or ''tartaruga-tigre-d'água'' (which mean "tiger turtle" and "water tiger turtle" in Portuguese), is a
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
of
water turtle in the
family
Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...
Emydidae
Emydidae (Latin ''emys'' (freshwater tortoise) + Ancient Greek εἶδος (''eîdos'', “appearance, resemblance”)) is a family of testudines (turtles) that includes close to 50 species in 10 genera. Members of this family are commonly calle ...
. The species is found in southern
Brazil
Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...
, northeastern
Argentina
Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, th ...
, and
Uruguay
Uruguay (; ), officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay ( es, República Oriental del Uruguay), is a country in South America. It shares borders with Argentina to its west and southwest and Brazil to its north and northeast; while bordering ...
.
Two
subspecies
In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...
(in addition to the
nominate subspecies
In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...
) are recognized as being valid, ''
Trachemys dorbigni adiutrix'' and ''
Trachemys dorbigni brasiliensis''.
Etymology
The
specific name, ''dorbigni'', is in honor of French
naturalist Alcide d'Orbigny
Alcide Charles Victor Marie Dessalines d'Orbigny (6 September 1802 – 30 June 1857) was a French naturalist who made major contributions in many areas, including zoology (including malacology), palaeontology, geology, archaeology and anthrop ...
.
[Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson Michael (2011). ''The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles''. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. . (''Trachemys dorbigni'', p. 195).]
Description
The form of the
plastron determines its
gender
Gender is the range of characteristics pertaining to femininity and masculinity and differentiating between them. Depending on the context, this may include sex-based social structures (i.e. gender roles) and gender identity. Most cultures u ...
. After a few years of life, show differences between male and female. Males have a
penis
A penis (plural ''penises'' or ''penes'' () is the primary sexual organ that male animals use to inseminate females (or hermaphrodites) during copulation. Such organs occur in many animals, both vertebrate and invertebrate, but males do n ...
that is inserted into the tail. It becomes apparent only during the mating season when it is inserted into the female's
cloaca
In animal anatomy, a cloaca ( ), plural cloacae ( or ), is the posterior orifice that serves as the only opening for the digestive, reproductive, and urinary tracts (if present) of many vertebrate animals. All amphibians, reptiles and birds, a ...
.
D'Orbigny's slider has a life span between 30
to 100 years in captivity.
They are usually found in water bodies such as lakes, marshes, streams and rivers. They have a preference for waters with low or moderate currents, soft bottoms and abundant aquatic vegetation.
Babies are born weighing with a
carapace
A carapace is a Dorsum (biology), dorsal (upper) section of the exoskeleton or shell in a number of animal groups, including arthropods, such as crustaceans and arachnids, as well as vertebrates, such as turtles and tortoises. In turtles and tor ...
. The average growth rate is about per year on wild, but in captivity it can grow faster being able to grow over in a year. The females can grow up to carapace and weight over ,
while the male can only grow carapace. When the males reach sexual maturity (after 2 years), they acquire a dark color while the females keep the same green after maturity (at 5 years).
Sexual dimorphism
The sex identification is only possible when adult, at 5 or 6 years. The female is bigger and may reach in length and has the bottom of the shell (plastron) slightly
convex
Convex or convexity may refer to:
Science and technology
* Convex lens, in optics
Mathematics
* Convex set, containing the whole line segment that joins points
** Convex polygon, a polygon which encloses a convex set of points
** Convex polytope ...
so as to provide more space for eggs. The male reaches to and has a longer and bulky tail, furthermore, the male bottom of the shell is straight or slightly
concave
Concave or concavity may refer to:
Science and technology
* Concave lens
* Concave mirror
Mathematics
* Concave function, the negative of a convex function
* Concave polygon, a polygon which is not convex
* Concave set
* The concavity
In ca ...
to fit better upon females.
The male's cloaca is located 2/3 the distance between the tail beginning and the shell, while the female is very close to the shell.
Reproduction
Females produce an average of 10 eggs per buried nest; usually they bury two nests per season. Incubation ranges from 2 to 4 months. The eggs are laid under approximately of sand. The eggs are white-colored. Each egg on average measures in length and in width, weighing on average .
Only 31% of the female population lays egg each year.
The sex of baby turtles is determined by the temperature of the sand during incubation, lower temperatures increase the number of females.
Diseases
The turtles are susceptible to diseases such as
pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung primarily affecting the small air sacs known as alveoli. Symptoms typically include some combination of productive or dry cough, chest pain, fever, and difficulty breathing. The severity ...
,
dystocia
Obstructed labour, also known as labour dystocia, is the baby not exiting the pelvis because it is physically block during childbirth although the uterus contracts normally. Complications for the baby include not getting enough oxygen which may ...
, bone
decalcification Bone decalcification is the softening of bones due to the removal of calcium ions, and can be performed as a histological technique to study bones and extract DNA. This process also occurs naturally during bone development and growth, and when uninh ...
,
vitamin deficiency
Vitamin deficiency is the condition of a long-term lack of a vitamin. When caused by not enough vitamin intake it is classified as a ''primary deficiency'', whereas when due to an underlying disorder such as malabsorption it is called a ''seconda ...
,
gastroenteritis
Gastroenteritis, also known as infectious diarrhea and gastro, is an inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract including the stomach and intestine. Symptoms may include diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Fever, lack of energy, and dehydra ...
, and
prolapse
In medicine, prolapse is a condition in which organs fall down or slip out of place. It is used for organs protruding through the vagina, rectum, or for the misalignment of the valves of the heart. A spinal disc herniation is also sometimes call ...
s.
Pet owners must avoid using small objects as decoration in their tank, because they tend to eat everything they can. Such small objects, such as pebbles and plastic decorations, may lead to gut impaction, which is very likely to require surgical intervention.
Despite being very hardy, they may have rachitis, a disease that makes the shell soft due to protein deficiency. It may be corrected by adding protein to meals, especially through fish.
Placing turtles in abrasive surfaces can also cause plastron injuries, which provide an entrance point to
fungi
A fungus ( : fungi or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, separately from ...
and
bacteria
Bacteria (; singular: bacterium) are ubiquitous, mostly free-living organisms often consisting of one biological cell. They constitute a large domain of prokaryotic microorganisms. Typically a few micrometres in length, bacteria were among ...
.
Allowing the animal to maintain its temperature around an optimal point (between 28 and 34 degrees Celsius) is a necessity. Providing the turtles with daily sun light or special UV light so that they can properly metabolize
vitamin D
Vitamin D is a group of fat-soluble secosteroids responsible for increasing intestinal absorption of calcium, magnesium, and phosphate, and many other biological effects. In humans, the most important compounds in this group are vitamin D3 (c ...
will avoid metabolic issues.
Diet
These
omnivorous
An omnivore () is an animal that has the ability to eat and survive on both plant and animal matter. Obtaining energy and nutrients from plant and animal matter, omnivores digest carbohydrates, protein, fat, and fiber, and metabolize the nutri ...
turtles can eat almost anything in nature shrimps, vegetables, fruit, carrion, small fishes, snails, worms, etc.
During the first two years of life these turtles are mainly carnivorous, eating small animals and carrion, but then they switch to being mainly vegetarian eating more vegetables and algae then meat.
Diet in captivity
For pet keepers it is recommended that you feed them more than once every day in the first two-years, then shift to feeding once every two days.
Protection
Brazil
This species can be owned only with specific documentation. The purchase invoice must contain the popular and
scientific name
In taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called nomenclature ("two-name naming system") or binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, bot ...
, and designate the number of animals. Also required is a certificate of origin, invoice number and the number of commercial breeding of wildlife as recorded in the Brazilian
IBAMA
Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources ( pt, Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais Renováveis, IBAMA) is the Brazilian Ministry of the Environment's administrative arm. IBAMA supports anti-d ...
.
It is forbidden to release the animals in nature and is subject to the penalties provided in the law No. 6.938/81
and No. 9.605/98.
If the owner can no longer keep it, the store that made the sale is obliged to take the animal back, the animal will be shipped back to the only farm allowed to breed them in Brazil.
Uruguay
In Uruguay turtles can only be owned with specific documentation and as they are a protected species commercialization is forbidden.
References
Bibliography
*
{{Taxonbar, from=Q2158286
Trachemys
Turtles of South America
Reptiles of Brazil
Reptiles of Argentina
Reptiles of Uruguay
Reptiles described in 1835
Taxa named by André Marie Constant Duméril
Taxa named by Gabriel Bibron