Do Turtles Have Tails? 5 Ways They Use It!
In movies, documentaries, or web images, we often see turtles from the front or the sides. If you have got a chance to see a turtle from the rear, you might have noticed a tail-like organ at the back. What is it, actually?
Do turtles have tails? Yes, turtles have tails. Even though these tails aren’t similar to other animals, they are functional. Turtles use their tails for a variety of purposes, mainly reproduction, protection, and balance.
I will give you a complete overview of turtle tails and talk about their purposes. Read till the end to learn everything you need to know about turtle tails.
Do Turtles Have Tails?
There are about 360 species of turtles. Each of these species has functional tails. The size of the tail may vary depending on the species and the gender of the turtle. Even turtles from the same species can have tails of varying lengths and girths.
Male turtles typically have longer tails. This is because their reproductive organ is located at the base of the tail. As the reproductive organ grows and reaches maturity, the tails need to grow as well.
But female turtles don’t have this need. Instead, they need to cover a vent called a cloaca with their tails. So, female turtles have shorter tails than males. Among all the species, the tails of the alligator snapping turtles are the longest.
You can check out this video about sea turtles to have a better visualization of their tails:
Anatomy of Turtle Tails
Before going into the use cases of turtle tails, let me give you a quick overview of its anatomy.
Turtle tails appear from under the carapace. This is the bony structure over the turtle’s body that covers the back. The plastron covers the belly side of the turtle. These reptiles have large plates called scutes on their shells. These scutes can have various shapes and sizes depending on their location.
The scutes at the back of the body are called anal scutes. You will find the turtle’s tail below the anal scutes. In male turtles, the tails cover the reproductive organ or the penis.
Female turtles have cloaca or vaginal openings instead. Their tails cover the opening unless the females are mating, excreting, or laying eggs. Turtle tails don’t have a bony shell, but it is covered in thick scales.
What Do Turtles Do With Their Tails?
This section is going to be enchanting. Turtles perform a variety of tasks with their tails. Here is a detailed overview of its purpose.
Reproduction
Contrary to typical assumptions, turtle tails are more important for reproduction than movement or swimming. Turtle tails are used in multiple ways for reproduction.
- Tails Help In Penetration: When turtles are about to mate, male turtles use their tails to find the cloacal opening on female turtles. Without the tail, locating the opening is almost impossible for a male turtle. If they can’t locate the opening, they can’t release the sperm correctly.
- Tails Help Maintain Balance While Mating: Besides finding the right spot to penetrate, tails help male turtles maintain their balance. It also covers the spot while mating so that other males around can’t take the chance.
- Female Turtles Mate and Lay Eggs By Moving the Tail: As I have already mentioned, female turtles use the cloacal opening for mating and laying eggs. While mating or laying eggs, they move their tails upward or to the sides. This uncovers the cloaca so that males can penetrate or females can lay eggs.
Protection
Another important function of turtle tails is protection. In male turtles, the tail protects its reproductive organs and the cloaca. Don’t get confused because male turtles have cloaca as well.
Instead of the vaginal opening, they have their penis on the cloaca. The tails cover their penis to protect it from external impacts. Female turtles use their tails to cover and protect their cloaca. It ensures predators can’t hit the cloaca. Turtles don’t have external ears, but they can sense predators through vibration.
Hibernation
Even though it is a less important use case, I thought to mention it here. When turtles are in hibernation, they use the cloacal opening to breathe. During that period, they move their tails slightly to breathe air.
Excretion
Cloaca is an important part of the excretory system in turtles. Both female and male turtles use the cloaca for excretion. This part is usually covered by the tails until the turtles need to excrete.
While expelling waste, turtles move their tail to the sides or upward. It helps them discard the waste from the body in an efficient manner.
Balance
No, I am not talking about balance while swimming. Many reptiles use their tails to propel them forward while moving. They also use the tails as a rudder to steer while swimming. But turtles usually don’t do that.
They use their tails more on land. As they tend to move on slippery surfaces, the tail acts as an additional limb. Turtles use their tails to balance them on the ground so that they don’t fall over. It also helps them while climbing onto their backs.
Can I Lift a Turtle By Its Tail?
Nope! You should never try to lift a turtle of any species by its tail. Let me tell you why. Even though turtle tails look thick, they aren’t actually designed to hold the weight of the whole turtle. Turtles can weigh from 10-12 pounds to over 100 pounds.
When you lift a turtle by the tail, the stress can damage the tail severely. Sometimes, the tail can snap if the turtle is too heavy. It can also affect the vertebrae or the backbone of the turtle. Yes, turtles do have backbones. So, it is a strict no for turtle owners or anyone else to lift a turtle by its tail.
If the turtle is small, you can lift it by holding it below the base. But if the turtle is huge or aggressive, like an alligator snapping turtle, you should lift it by the carapace. Be careful so that the turtle can’t bite you because it can even snap your fingers or arms.
Do Turtle Tails Grow After Being Damaged?
This can be a bit confusing for many of you. Some owners may testify that their turtles have grown tails after being damaged. But other owners might oppose it. So, what happens with damaged turtle tails, actually?
Well, turtle tails don’t grow after being damaged. If the damage is not that severe and only a part of the tail is damaged, the area will heal slowly. Over time, you might see the tail looking normal with just a scar from the damage. But that doesn’t mean a regrowth.
If the turtle’s tail snaps off, it won’t grow again. So, you should be very careful while handling turtles to protect their tails.
FAQs
I answered some commonly asked questions about turtle tails. You can check them below.
Q: Can turtles live without their tails?
Yes. The main purpose of the turtle tails is to aid in reproduction, protection, and excretion. If a turtle loses its tail, its vital organs will be vulnerable. But as long as the turtle doesn’t face any risks, it will live normally without the tail.
But can a turtle live without a shell? No, it can’t. The shell is a vital part of its body and crucial for its survival.
Q: Do turtles use their tails to navigate in water?
No. Unlike other aquatic animals, turtles don’t typically use their tails for navigation. Their tails are actually modified bones, so the tails aren’t suitable for maneuvering underwater.
Q: Do land turtles have tails?
Yes. All species of land and sea turtles have tails. But, the dimension of the tail of land turtles is different from that of sea turtles.
Conclusion
Turtle tails are a bit less visible parts of their body compared to their heads or the shell. So, many people wonder, do turtles have tails? I wanted to confirm this for you that turtles surely have tails. Regardless of the species and gender, all turtles have functional tails that help them in a variety of tasks.
The primary task of the tail is to protect the reproductive organs of male and female turtles. Their tails are also used during mating and excreting. As tails are a sensitive part of their bodies, you should be highly cautious while handling turtles.