The difference between Big Crocodile Turtle and Little Crocodile Turtle

Abstract: crocodile turtles are divided into two categories: alligator and alligator, also known as true crocodile tortoise, from the southeastern United States of North America. Alligator, also known as crocodile tortoise, has four subspecies, namely North America, Florida, South America and Central America. Let's take a look at the differences between big crocodile turtles and baby crocodile turtles.

Crocodile turtles are divided into two types: big crocodile and small crocodile, also known as true crocodile tortoise, from the southeastern United States of North America. Alligator, also known as crocodile tortoise, has four subspecies, namely North America, Florida, South America and Central America. Let's take a look at the differences between big crocodile turtles and baby crocodile turtles.

Head difference

The head of the big crocodile is sharp, and the head of the little crocodile tortoise is round. The big crocodile turtle's upper jaw is like an eagle's mouth, and the hook is large, while the small crocodile turtle's upper jaw is like a hook, but the hook is small. Large crocodile turtles can turn around and suddenly attack other animals, and small crocodile turtles can turn around together with their bodies to find targets, or even chase and bite.

Mouth difference

The big crocodile tortoise has a longer mouth and a red tongue than the baby crocodile tortoise, but the baby crocodile turtle does not have these characteristics.

Difference of toenail

The big crocodile turtle's back nail peak is obvious, while the small crocodile turtle's nail peak is not obvious, almost flat back, the back nail looks more round. The big crocodile turtle has three protruding longitudinal ridges on its back armour, brown, each shield has protuberances, ventral armor brown, with upper edge shield, small crocodile turtle's back armour is brown or dark brown, there are three longitudinal ridges, and the rib shield is slightly raised. With the passage of time, the ridge gradually wore out.

Abdominal difference

The large crocodile tortoise has numerous tentacles on its abdomen, while the young crocodile turtle has only a few tentacles on its abdomen, with gray belly armour and no upper edge shield.

Tail difference

The tail of the big crocodile tortoise is longer, and the tail of the small crocodile tortoise is shorter, and there is a serrated ridge, also known as the tail spine, on the back of the tail.

Growth rate difference

The giant crocodile turtle grows slowly when it grows to 250g. Under the condition of artificial temperature control, it takes only one year to go from 250g to 2500 g, and the largest individual in nature reaches more than 100kg. Baby crocodile turtles grow slowly under 50 grams, and it takes about 80 days to grow from 7 grams to 50 grams. Under temperature control, it takes only one year for 50 grams of alligator turtles to grow to 2500 grams or 7 grams of young turtles to 1500 grams on average. In its natural state, baby crocodile turtles can grow to more than 23 kilograms. The difference in growth rate between big crocodile turtles and small crocodile turtles is mainly caused by different habits. Big crocodile turtles are lazy and are not good at taking the initiative to feed. Small crocodile turtles can take the bait by relying on their "tongues" that resemble earthworms, and small crocodile turtles can take the initiative to eat. They naturally grow faster than big crocodile turtles, so there are more small crocodile turtles than big crocodile turtles in China.