| Turtle mating-have you ever wondered how these | | | | among the other male turtles, it will then scuttle over |
| slow-moving and serene animals procreate? | | | | or swim towards the female to mount her and begin |
| Thanks to the substantial information that is now | | | | mating--that is, if the female is receptive to him! If |
| available regarding turtles and their anatomy, | | | | not, she may become aggressive towards him. Turtle |
| physiology, quirks and oddities, we now know quite a | | | | mating ranges from ten minutes to several hours. |
| lot about how they mate. | | | | If the female accepts the advance of the dominant |
| The languid turtles have limbs that are comparable to | | | | male, the male will use his long claws in a seemingly |
| those of tortoises, but the turtles' feet have | | | | odd manner. Just prior to mounting the female, the |
| elongated claws. Their long claws serve them in | | | | male turtle will begin to flutter his claws in a vibrating |
| mounting logs in order to bask in the sun, an activity | | | | motion on the female's face. Sometimes the turtle will |
| that they seem to enjoy, and which is essential to | | | | also do the same waving gesture on the female's |
| their thermoregulation. Their long claws also come in | | | | head. Generally, it is the back side of its claws that |
| handy when they move or clamber from one place | | | | the male turtle uses during this behavior. A turtle |
| to another on land. Did you know, however, that | | | | owner, who had personally witnessed this behavior, |
| these long claws also serve a purpose in mating? | | | | added that after the male had asserted his |
| Before the actual mating happens, male turtles will | | | | dominance over the other males, his biggest male |
| usually fight over a female. This "courtship stage" | | | | turtle began stroking the female's nose using its |
| among the competing males can last up to forty-five | | | | claws. Within minutes, the female turtle had allowed |
| minutes. The bigger male would normally be | | | | the male turtle to mount her for mating. |
| aggressive, and display its dominance towards the | | | | Some experts claim that male turtles do this in order |
| other turtles by fighting and clawing at their faces. | | | | to stimulate the female for mating, while others state |
| There are also some classes of turtles, such as the | | | | that this behavior is the male's natural manifestation |
| Red-Eared Slider, which mate underwater. When the | | | | of excitement. |
| dominant turtle finally establishes its superiority | | | | |