GC1M1RH Terrapin (Traditional Cache) in Kwazulu Natal, South Africa created by DRDM & Raider

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DRDM & Raider: .

GC1M1RH ▼

A cache by DRDM & Raider Message this owner

Hidden : 1/24/2009

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

The cache is located inside the New Germany Nature Reserve. The reserve is open from 7:30 to 17:00 seven days a week. Entrance is free, but please leave a small donation.

The terms 'turtle,' 'tortoise,' and 'terrapin' are often used interchangeably, and depending on which country you are in, may describe a completely different type of 'turtle.' But before you get too concerned about the common names, let us take a step back and identify them as belonging to one common order, the Chelonia. If it has a shell and is a reptile, then it is going to fall into the order Chelonia, which includes 244 different species.

For most Americans, the term 'turtle' describes the Chelonians that are aquatic or semi-aquatic. The term 'tortoise' describes a Chelonian that lives primarily on land. 'Terrapin' can describe some freshwater or saltwater turtles, but is not often used.

If you were in Australia, you might call all of the turtles 'tortoises,' and in Britain, a 'turtle' would mean a saltwater species and a 'terrapin' would be a freshwater species. In South Africa the name TORTOISE is used to refer to the true LAND TORTOISES - (Family Testudinidae). The name TERRAPIN is used to refer to the FRESHWATER TORTOISES - (Family Pelomedusidae), and the name TURTLE is used to refer to MARINE TORTOISES of the Families - Cheloniidae and Dermochelyidae.

All South African species are classified under the Suborder Cryptodira (hiddennecked tortoises) EXCEPT the terrapins, which fold their necks in sideways, which are classified in the Suborder Pleurodira. Both of these Suborders fall under the Order Chelonia, which is one of the FOUR Orders of the Class Reptilia - the other three being - Crocodilia (Crocodiles) - Squamata (lizards and snakes) and Rhynchocephalia (Tuatara - of New Zealand). The whole Order is very old and the crocodiles and tortoises are presumed to have been in existence long before the DINOSAURS.

The bony, convex, upper section of the shell is the ‘carapace’ and the flat, lower part of the shell is called the ‘plastron’. The shells of the various species may vary with age and wear from a plain grey / brown to quite brightly marked with cream and black patterns, depending on the species. The growth rings on the scales, if visible, can be used as an indicator of age but do not always correlate to annual growth.

Growth rate depends on various conditions, mainly temperature and food intake, like many other reptiles. All the Chelonia have powerful, horny ‘beaks’, with sharp cutting edges, with which they gather food.

Lacking teeth, they chew food to a suitable size for swallowing, helped down by a blunt ‘tongue’, Although they have been noted ‘sniffing’ at food and often make ‘choices’, they do not appear to have the subtle tasting ability of other animals and will often eat bitter items unpalatable to other species. Tortoises, which have blunt claws, are generally herbivorous, but are known to eat snails, millipedes and certain invertebrates.

The latter, in addition to bone-chewing and egg shells, are apparently taken for their calcium content. Terrapins, which have quite sharp claws, are generally carnivorous and feed on water animals and mammal carcasses. Turtles, which have clawless, paddle-like flippers, are normally carnivorous when young, becoming more specialised when mature. The ‘hinged tortoises’ are able to close the back section of the carapace for protection, while the hinged terrapins close the front section of the plastron.

Tortoises pull their heads straight back into the shell and gain further protection from the armoured scales of the withdrawn front legs. Terrapins tuck their heads in sideways and withdraw the front legs before closing the hinged section. Cape terrapins just pull the head in sideways and use the protection of the clawed, front feet. They can use their powerful bite to good effect. In terrapins, the eyes and nostrils are situated far forward on the head so that they can breathe and see while the rest of their body remains submerged. Terrapins also have ‘stink glands’ from which they can emit a foul smelling fluid to repel predators.

Other caches in the New Germany Nature Reserve: