I own several turtle species as pets, and while none of them are very big, they are not that small either. This got me wondering, which is the smallest turtle in the world? So I decided to do some research to find out which is the smallest turtle in the world, here is what I found out.
Which is the smallest turtle in the world? The smallest turtle in the world is the Speckled Tortoise. This turtle will only reach sizes between 2 and 3 inches(6 and 8 centimeters), and it usually weighs between 3 and 5 ounces (85 and 140 grams).
During my research, I found out that the Speckled Tortoise is a very interesting animal and that unfortunately it’s also endangered. So let me share with you some of the interesting facts that I learned about the smallest turtle in the world.
Quick Note: As you can see, the title says the smallest turtle in the world, but I am talking about the smallest tortoise in the world, this is by no means a mistake. Both turtles and tortoises are part of the animal order Testudines, which are more commonly referred to as Turtles. This means that Tortoises are turtles. If you want to see a more in-depth explanation you can always check my article: Turtle vs Tortoise – What’s the Difference? (With Pictures).
The Appearance of the Smallest Turtle in the World
Speckled Tortoises have a very unique appearance even amongst other turtles. Their shells have very pronounced scutes that form a very noticeable pattern on their shell, as you can see in the picture below.
The color of a Speckled Tortoise can vary from individual to individual, but in general, most of them range from light olive green to a light grey. And as the name suggests, they have small dark-colored speckles that cover their entire shell. In general, the color of the shell is more vibrant when the turtle is young, but it gets more toned down as the turtle ages.
And like most tortoises, their legs are covered by scales, but unlike most tortoises the scales on their legs have a very spiky appearance, giving the Speckled Tortoise a very prehistoric look. As you can see in this picture.
As I mentioned in the beginning of this article this turtle will only reach sizes between 2 and 3 inches(6 and 8 centimeters), and it usually weighs between 3 and 5 ounces (85 and 140 grams), but those are the males. The female Speckled Tortoises tend to be a little bigger, usually reaching sizes of 4 inches (10 centimeters).
This is not something exclusive to Speckled Tortoises, in the case of most turtle species the females tend to be a little bigger. They usually need the bigger size due to the fact that they have to carry the eggs until they lay them, while the males don’t.
And since we are talking about the eggs, let’s move to the next point on the list and talk about the life cycle of the Speckled Tortoise.
The Life Cycle of the Smallest Turtle in the World
Like all turtles, Speckled Tortoises begin their life as an egg. The eggs usually need between 90 and 120 days to hatch. The eggs are as you might expect very small in size, usually around the size of a penny.
When the baby Speckled Tortoises emerge from the eggs they are extremely small, usually 1.2 (30 millimeters) inches in size and weighing 0.2 ounces (7 grams).
After they emerge from their eggs they start their normal life as a tortoise, they will start looking for food, they will do their best to survive, and when they reach maturity they will mate with other Speckled Tortoises.
Now let’s move to the next part of the article and talk about the diet of the Speckled Tortoises.
The Diet of the Smallest Turtle in the World
Speckled Tortoises are herbivorous, this means that they only eat plants, fruits, and vegetables. So basically every plant that is not poisonous or harmful in any way can be a great meal for them. But Speckled Tortoises need a varied diet, this means that they are not able to survive a long period of time if they only eat one single type of plant.
In their natural habitats, they tend to eat almost every plant that they encounter as well as the occasional fruits and vegetables that might come in their way.
The Habitat and Distribution of the Smallest Turtle in the World
The Speckled Tortoises have a very small distribution range, they can only be found in Africa. To be more precise they can be found in South Africa, Namibia, and in the border between those two countries.
The Conservation Status of the Smallest Turtle in the World
As I mentioned at the beginning of the article the Speckled Tortoise is currently endangered. This is mostly due to human intervention. Over time humans have destroyed their habitats, built roads in the areas where they live and as a result, many were hit by cars, and of course poaching. With the exception of poaching (illegal hunting and capturing), the roads and habitat destruction were probably not intentional, but just an overlooked effect of human expansion. The good part is that at the moment there are several groups and organizations that are doing their best to ensure that this turtle species will once again reach stable numbers.
So at the moment, the only major threat to them is poaching. The reason why this is still a problem is very simple. As the turtles get more and more endangered, they become rarer, so they become even more valuable to poachers. As you can see this is a problem that can make itself very big and dangerous for all animals not just, Speckled Tortoises. While there are measures taken against poachers, this is not a problem that can be taken care of overnight, so for the moment poaching will remain a very major threat to Speckled Tortoises.
But let’s take a break from this sad discussion and move to another subject.
The Smallest Turtle in the World as a Pet
As you can imagine, since they are endangered, it’s illegal in most cases to own Speckled Tortoises. So you won’t be able to own the smallest turtle in the world as a pet unless you get a special permit from your government. And even then it will be quite hard to obtain one since it’s illegal to commercialize them.
While this might seem sad, it’s actually a good thing for the Speckled Tortoises. Before owning one was illegal, most people were unable to take proper care of them. Speckled Tortoises are not very difficult pets, but you have to do a few things that are essential for them. Things like getting the humidity of their environment right, as well as the temperature, and making sure that they have a varied diet. And many people didn’t do those things. They would just put them in a tank, without any substrate, they didn’t care about temperature and humidity, and all they gave them were turtle pellets as food.
Even if you can’t own the smallest turtle in the world as a pet you shouldn’t despair. There are a lot of turtles out there that are almost just as small as the Speckled Tortoises, and a lot of them can be kept as pets, and they can be found at a lot of pet shops. If you want to see which are those turtles you should check out my article: Best Pet Turtles That Stay Small and Don’t Grow (with Pictures).
Related Questions
What is the biggest turtle in the world? The biggest turtle in the world is the leatherback sea turtle. Adult leatherback turtles’ average in total length is 6.0 – 7.5 feet (1.83 – 2.3 meters) and the average weight is between 550 and 1500 lb (250 and 700) kg. If you want to know more facts about the biggest turtle in the world you can check out this article: The Biggest Turtle in the World (Facts, Photos and Videos)
Can turtles recognize their owners? Turtles can recognize you and they will understand that you play an important part in their lives, but they will not feel any familiarity towards you like dogs or cats would. Overall turtles recognize their owners but not in a way you would expect. You can always read more about this in my article: Can Turtles Recognize Their Owners?
How fast are turtles? On average turtles walk at a speed between 3 to 4 miles per hour. The fastest turtles can reach 22 miles per hour ( 35 kilometers per hour ) in water and 15 miles per hour ( 24 kilometers per hour ) on land. The speed a turtle can reach is quite surprising, especially since they are known as very slow creatures. If you want to know what is the fastest turtle in the world, and how turtles compared to other animals when it comes to speed you should check out this article: How Fast or Slow Are Turtles? (with Videos and Statistics)
What are turtle shells made of? Turtle shells are made out of bones, and the exterior is covered with a keratin layer. Keratin is the same thing that our nails are made out of. If you want a more in-depth explication you can always read my article: What Are Turtle Shells Made Of ? (with Pictures and Video)
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