Who's ready to "SHELL-ebrate?"
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is home to between 20 and 30 species of turtles and tortoises, most of them living in the Zoo's historic Reptile Building.
To highlight the wide variety of turtle and tortoise species in the Zoo’s care, we spoke to reptile keeper, Sydnee Fenn, who introduced us to some of her favorite species and taught us all about these “turtle-y” amazing animals.
Narrow-Headed Softshell Turtle
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is one of only two zoo facilities that house the critically endangered Chitra species of narrow-headed softshell turtles. The female in our care has been part of the Zoo family since 2002, and she's still growing up! This species can grow to be up to 5 feet long, making them one of the largest species of freshwater turtles. They have an average lifespan of 80 years, and they have extremely powerful jaws that they use to eat fish and crustaceans.
Alligator Snapping Turtle
One of the more recognizable turtle species inside the Reptile Building is the alligator snapping turtle. He is at least 33 years old and weighs roughly 80 pounds. Zoo guests commonly point out that this turtle is often in the same position when they visit the Zoo, sitting still in the water with his mount wide open. This is called lingual luring, and is their method of catching prey. "Alligator snapping turtles will stay stationary and use their worm-like tongue to lure in their prey. These snapping turtles can be submerged in water for up to 50 minutes, so he can hold this position for quite a while," Fenn explained.
Spider Tortoises
This small species of tortoise only grows to be about 7 inches in length but can live up to 70 years. "The spider tortoises in our care are all roughly 8 to 10 years old and only weigh around 300 grams. They are the cutest, in my opinion," Fenn said. These little guys only lay one egg at a time with an average of 3 clutches per year. "These tortoises are apart of the Species Survival Plan (SSP) because of their critically endangered status. Our work here at the Zoo in coordination with other facilities helps to keep this amazing population alive," Fenn said.
Unfortunately, many species of turtles and tortoises, including those mentioned above, are critically-endangered because of pet trades and other threats facing their habitats. As part of our organization's continued efforts to make our world safer for wildlife, the Columbus Zoo is proud to be part of the species-saving work done by several organizations worldwide, including Turtle Survival Alliance and the Species Survival Plan.
The next time you visit the Columbus Zoo, be sure to take a stroll through the historic Reptile Building to learn more about the wide variety of turtle and tortoise species in our care and discover how YOUR actions can help ensure that these incredible animals stay permanent members of our shared world.
