How Do Turtles Get Their Food?
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Types
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Turtles are varied creatures, and there are many species with each having differing behaviors, diets and habits. Some turtles are carnivores, some are omnivores and some are vegetarians. For all turtles, food is obtained in one of two ways--they hunt for it or they depend upon their environment to provide it. To know what type of food a turtle eats, and how the turtle acquires it, you must first know what type of turtle you have and if that turtle is an omnivore, carnivore or herbivore.
Hunters
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Carnivores hunt. Turtle species that are carnivores usually have diets that are at least 65 percent meat with some as high as 90 percent meat. Snapping turtles are an example of the turtles that fall in the category of carnivores--in actuality, snappers will eat just about anything that comes in front of them. Snappers are hunters and prey on night crawlers, meal worms, crayfish, crickets and minnows. They will also eat small mammals, birds, other reptiles--including smaller turtles, amphibians, fish, crayfish, crabs, clams, snails, earthworms, leeches, insects and carrion. They also eat plants and are said to love sweet potatoes, squash, collards, strawberries and lettuce. The Loggerhead, a species of sea turtle, is another carnivorous turtle. Loggerheads catch mollusks, crustaceans, giant clams and conchs. Eastern Spiny Softshells and the Diamondback Terrapin are other examples of carnivores that hunt prey.
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Opportunists
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Omnivores are basically opportunists. These turtles will eat insects and small creatures, if they're an easy catch. But they'll also feed off of plants, grasses and fruits in their environments. Turtle species that are omnivores usually have a diet divided nearly equally between meat and vegetables. Box turtles are examples of an omnivorous species. Box turtles eat earthworms, snails, grubs, beetles, caterpillars, carrion, grasses, mushrooms and flowers. Box turtles obtain insects by hunting and find the plants that make up their diets in their environment. The Hawksbill and Leatherback, both species of sea turtle, are also omnivores. The Hawksbill eats plants and small animals it catches in the water. The Leatherback eats jellyfish and some other fish, along with planktonic tunicates. Wood turtles, spotted turtles, sliders and painted turtles are other examples of omnivorous species.
Environment
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Vegetarian species rely on their environments to provide them with the plants they need to survive. Eastern River Cooters are a species of turtle that are true vegetarians. Found in the coastal plains of Virginia and Alabama, River Cooters live in the backwater near open bodies of water. They eat the aquatic plants in their environment. Also in the herbivore category are many sea turtles, including the Green Turtle, whose diet consists of sea grass and algae.
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References
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