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Two reasons for opening the Mexican Turtle Center in 1994 were, one to promote eco-tourism in this region, as experienced by the prohibition of hunting of sea turtles, and the other to form a protection awareness environment.
What visitors can find in the Mexican Turtle Center ?
Hours:
Wednesday to Saturday 10:00 to 16:30 Sunday 10:00 to 14:30 hrs Entrance: 20 pesos per person |
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The Mexican Turtle Center conducts research to increase knowledge about the biology of turtles. Research highlights include:
On the coast of Oaxaca there are four species of sea turtles.
In the table below you will find their names in English, Spanish and its scientific name.
To learn more about these animals, click at the name in Spanish.
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Freshwater turtles in the Mexican Turtle Center
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Alligator Turtle or ChiquiguaoChelydra Serpentina
The Crocodile Turtle is a species by its characteristic is very important, it has a very flattened carapace with dorsal shields rough and finished in a raised apex. The marginal scutes have a serrated edge. The plastron is small cross-shaped and very narrow bridge. The head is covered by different voluminous warts that appear spines, the first three, that are in the chin are long. The muzzle has a beak or hook. His limbs are very robust semipalmeadas, with strong claws, useful for digging in the mud and protected. The extremely long tail with a series of peaks, with forms of spines or plates as those with crocodiles, hence gets its common name. The coloration is generally uniform dark brown. Sometimes alcazan considerable size and a weight of 15 kg.That turtle is a very abundant species under protection.
La Tortuga crocodile is a freshwater species, which by its ferocity carcteriza posing on earth that can go from defense to attack. Is carnivorous, feeding on fish, frogs, ducklings, small reptiles or mammals. The female digs a nest on the banks of rivers or ponds to lay their eggs. The setting is in the months of April to June, deposited approximately 20-30 eggs so esfé.rica with a diameter of 15-33 mm.The incubation time is 55 to 125 days. Newborns have a size of 24-31 mm long and 24-29 mm wide. These animals are found in the rivers deep in muddy ponds and sometimes found in streams with little current and muddy or thick mud. |
