Japanese pond turtle facts for kids
The Japanese pond turtle (Mauremys japonica) is a special kind of turtle. It is also known as the Japanese pond terrapin or Japanese pond tortoise. This turtle lives only in Japan. Its Japanese name is nihon ishigame, which means "Japanese stone turtle."
Quick facts for kids Japanese pond turtle |
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| Japanese pond turtle (Mauremys japonica) | |
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Mauremys
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| Species: |
japonica
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About the Japanese Pond Turtle
The Japanese pond turtle is a type of turtle that lives in water. It belongs to the family called Geoemydidae. These turtles are endemic to Japan. This means they are found naturally only in Japan and nowhere else in the world.
Sadly, the number of these turtles has gone down a bit. This is mainly because their habitat (the place where they live) is being lost. However, they are not yet considered a threatened species. This means they are not in immediate danger of disappearing.
Where Do Japanese Pond Turtles Live?
Japanese pond turtles love freshwater. You can find them in many different watery places. These include:
- Rivers
- Lakes
- Ponds
- Swamps
- Marshes
- Rice paddies that are watered
They live in flat areas around highlands. They can also be found on the slopes of mountains. However, studies show they do better in the flatlands. Knowing this helps experts protect them. It guides where to focus efforts to keep their population healthy.
What About Other Turtles?
Sometimes, Japanese pond turtles can hybridize with other turtle species. This means they can have babies with different kinds of turtles. This has happened in places where turtles are kept by people.
Some of these other turtles include:
- The Chinese pond turtle
- The Chinese stripe-necked turtle
- The Chinese box turtle
These three species are much rarer in the wild. Their numbers are also dropping quickly. Because of this, it is very important to prevent these turtles from mixing. This helps keep each species pure and healthy in the wild.
