TurtleKingdom: AnimaliaPhylum: ChordataClass: ReptiliaOrder: Testudines

#Sachin Regmi

FactsMember of reptilian more older than snakes

or crocodile.Cold blooded so undergo hibernation and

aestivation.Also called turtle, tortoise or terrapin in

generalReptiles with hard shells.Live all over the world on any climate.14 families with 300 species

• Turtle: mostly aquatic with webbed feet or flippers.• Tortoises: land animal, round and stumpy feet.• Terrapins: Live on land and water.

• Chelonian: all members of super phylum chelodia (living and extinct turtle with their ancestors)

Size • Largest: Galapagos tortoise

• Wt 300-680 kg• Height 150-200 cm

• Smallest:Specked cape tortoise• Wt 40 gm• Height 8 cm

The shell of turtle is modified ribcage.

Habitat• They are not social animals so they don't love to live in group.• They are active during day, spend most time searching food.• However they have exceptional night vision but are colorblind

to red.• Turtle are not silent creature some sound like electric motor,

some like barking dog, some even like chicken

Diet• Omnivorous• Feed on small fishes, insects plants etc.

Reproduction• Lay egg on land.• No species nurtures their young.•Matures at different age according to their species.• Lays 50-100 eggs at a time.• Sex determination depends on temperature of

sand.• Live for over 100 years.

Common disease in turtleNecrotic stomatitisCause: Bacteria Pseudomonas or Aeromonas,Mouth injuries .It is commonly known as

'mouth rot‘. Treatment: Swabbing the infected areas with diluted Betadine. antibiotics including

cephalosporins and amoxicillin are used in severe cases.

Eye infections and conjunctivitisCause:Contaminated water in aquatic or semi aquatic turtles, or low

environmental humidity in tortoises.

Cloacitis Cause: bacterial infection of the cloaca.Treatment: Treatment consists of removing the stone, treating the parasitic infection, if

present, and then irrigating the cloacal area with a dilute Betadine or chlorhexidine solution

Pneumonia Acute type: appear suddenly and cause death in just a matter of hours, if not

treated quickly. Chronic: may have symptoms of respiratory distress and chronic nasal discharge.Treatment:Common antibiotics include enrofloxacin (Baytril), ciprofloxacin,

oxytetracycline, or ampicillin (may cause swelling at the injection site)

Ear AbscessesThe common symptoms are swelling of the tympanic membrane and the

resulting discharge of pus into the back of the throat via the eustachian tube.In the early stages of the infection oral or injectable antibiotics can be used

Ulcerative Shell Disease Dry form: The dry form is often associated with a fungal infection and needs to be treated with antifungal

medications The wet form is associated with gram negative bacteria and often develops after an injury to the shell Treatment consists of removing the infected scute and irrigating the area with a diluted Betadine solution. A

topical antibiotic is then often applied.

Septic Arthritis and Articular GoutThe symptoms include swelling of the limb joints, stiffness, and pain when the joint is

manipulatedTreatment in mild cases usually consists of injectable antibiotics, with oxytetracycline or

gentamycin commonly used. In more severe cases, the limb may need to be amputatedAntibiotics are not usually very effective in controlling these abscesses, so surgical

removal is the preferred method of treatment.

AbscessesAbscesses often present as hard lumps or swellings under the skin most common locations are the ears, legs, nasal passageways, jaw, and liver.Antibiotics are not usually very effective in controlling these abscesses, so surgical removal is

the preferred method of treatment.