Turtles that jump are surely something we are not going to see every day. This particular behavior is not due to the fact that they have to run for their life. In most cases, they just want to grab things or hunt down the prey. However, turtles’ jumps are not what most of you think they are. To be honest, some people may say that they just hop because it surely looks like hopping. However, this is surely a jump – at least for these turtles that can do that.
However, what are other reasons for turtles to jump? What is the maximum distance these creatures can jump and what are species that do it better than others? Well, there are quite a lot of things to learn before you carry on. So, in this article I will try to share my 7-year old wisdom and knowledge that I gathered as an owner of multiple turtles of different species. Besides the obvious, I will also share my own personal experience regarding turtle jumps.
But first, let’s take a closer look at the anatomy behind jumping
In order to jump, turtles need to bend all their four legs -> check out do turtles have legs?. After they do that, they extend the front legs while bending their back legs. At this position they tilt the position of their entire body. Now, they are ready for the jump. Interestingly, they have to push all their four legs in order to make a jump. Obviously, the force is not large, but it is enough to propel them forward.
The process of making a high jump is very similar to regular jumping. The only difference is that the turtles bend a bit more towards their goal and use their back legs a bit more. Still, most people will say it is not jumping, because distances or heights that turtles make are surely not as large as one may think.
What makes turtles jump?
As I mentioned at the beginning, turtles tend to jump because of their food. Usually, they want to grab a prey or simply catch something that is located a bit above their height. Obviously, it is not the only reason why turtles tend to jump. Quite often some of the species use this “technique” to intimidate other animals. Snapping turtles, for example, jump when they are disturbed.
Furthermore, turtles may also jump in order to get to the water. This can be usually seen if a pond or any other water reservoir is located a bit lower than the current position of a turtle. So, to make sure they do not hurt themselves while descending, they tend to… jump.
What limits turtles’ jumping abilities?
There are several things that make jumping a very difficult and unnatural thing to do. First of all, we have to take a look at their body structure. You see, on their back there is a very heavy shell. As a result, their body is much heavier than it should be. Another reason why they are not as jumpy as other animals is because they have very small legs. And these legs are not particularly muscular. Therefore, jumping itself is very difficult. So, thinking about jumping higher or further is definitely out of a question.
Another reason that heavily restricts jumping possibilities of a turtle is the lack of flexibility. It is impossible for these reptiles to bend the body that some animals (and humans) do to increase their distance. What is more, they are able to jump forward or try to make a high jump. Obviously, we can’t forget about the size of a turtle. The biggest ones will surely not be able to jump.
Now, do you know how far and how high can turtles jump?
The possibility for turtles to jump is surely helpful in some cases. However, in most cases these jumps are incredibly short. It is all due to the limitations that I will present to you later on. Still, it is possible for them to jump between 3 to 4 inches, or 8 to 10 centimeters. However, these are the numbers of turtles that jump the largest distances.
Usually, these are snapping turtles mainly due to their more aggressive behavior. What is more, when this species is agitated or disturbed, they tend to jump since it offers them a small element of surprise and allows them to defend better. And in the case of these turtles, the best defense is offense.
As far as other turtle species are concerned, box turtles are known to jump up to 2 inches. However, they are significantly smaller and, as a result, they are not as strong as snapping turtles or other species.
This is how turtles can jump!
As you can see, turtles that jump are surely something that may happen. Obviously, these jumps are not great and you should not expect your turtle to jump anytime soon. They usually do it in order to grab prey, get into the water, or simply to scare away potential predators. Most of these behaviors will not, or at least should not, occur while keeping your turtle in the tank.
Still, we should remember that in spite of having a very heavy body, a shell that heavily restricts movement, as well as a body that is not flexible, turtles can jump and will do it if they feel like it is the right thing to do. Obviously, such a need to jump is very rare, since most things they need can be found in the water, on the surface, or basically anyway on the land.
Jumping as a turtle is surely not a skill they are proud of. Obviously, they can do it, but it is surely not a good jump. However, they do not have to benefit from it just like many other animals do. For example, jumping for cats, lions, or frogs is of much larger importance due to the fact they use it in situations that are crucial for their survival. Turtles, on the other hand, are good without it.
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