What is the difference between the yellow-throated turtle and the Chinese pond turtle? A quick guide to telling the two turtles apart

The Chinese pond turtle is an omnivorous animal belonging to the subfamily Emydinae and the genus Mauremys; the yellow-throated turtle belongs to the family Geoemydidae, the subfamily Emydinae, and the genus Mauremys. Because of its gentle temperament and lack of odor, it is the authentic breed used to produce export green-haired turtles, and it is especially suitable for indoor or courtyard breeding by urban and rural residents. So, what is the difference between the yellow-throated turtle and the Chinese pond turtle?

1. What is the difference between the yellow-throated turtle and the Chinese pond turtle?

The Chinese pond turtle is mainly ink-black all over, with three longitudinal ridges on the carapace, all fairly distinct; each scute has large dark brown patches, and the sides of the head and the throat have yellow stripes and yellow spots edged in dark color, extending backward to the neck;

The yellow-throated turtle is mainly yellow all over, and its carapace also has three longitudinal ridges, but only the central ridge is distinct; the middle of the rear edge of each scute has a square brown to dark brown patch, sometimes indistinct, with the overall color being fully yellow, and there is a yellow longitudinal stripe on the side of the head from behind the eye to the tympanum.

2. Living habits of the yellow-throated turtle

It inhabits hilly areas, mountain stream basins in semi-mountainous regions, river waters, rice paddies and lakes, and also often moves about in nearby shrubs and grass. The stone coin turtle is an omnivorous animal with a wide feeding range, fond of eating fish, shrimp, shellfish, snails, aquatic plants and other foods; in artificial breeding, fish, shrimp, meat or poultry offal can generally be fed, and mixed animal and plant feed can also be used, such as complete-formula adult soft-shelled turtle pellet feed. In Guangdong, the breeding period of the stone coin turtle is from the end of April to the end of August, and from December to the beginning of March of the following year is the hibernation period.

3. Living habits of the Chinese pond turtle

The Chinese pond turtle is an aquatic reptile that can also come onto land and crawl. It mainly inhabits rivers, lakes, reservoirs, ponds and other waters. During the day it mostly stays submerged in the water, and when the summer heat is intense, it gathers in groups to seek shady places. It has a gentle temperament. When it encounters enemies or is frightened, it retracts its head, limbs and tail into its shell. It is an omnivorous animal, feeding on animal matter such as small fish, shrimp, snails and mussels. It has a strong tolerance for hunger, and not eating for a month will not starve it to death. It is a poikilothermic animal, and when the water temperature drops below 15°C, it lies still in the mud at the bottom of the water or in soft soil with cover and hibernates. The hibernation period is generally from November to the beginning of April of the following year; when the water temperature rises to 15°C, it comes out of its burrow and becomes active, and at a water temperature of 18°C to 20°C it begins to feed. The turtle grows relatively slowly. Under conventional conditions, the growth rate of female turtles is: first-year turtles mostly weigh around 15 grams, second-year turtles 50 grams, third-year turtles 100 grams, fourth-year turtles 200 grams, fifth-year turtles 250 to 350 grams, and sixth-year turtles around 400 grams. Male turtles grow slowly, and the largest individual at sexual maturity is generally below 250 grams. The diet includes snails, shrimp, small fish and so on; the turtle has a broad diet and will eat corn, small fish, shrimp, snails and so on, among which its favorite foods are small fish and small shrimp.