What do Turtles Eat
Turtles come in over 300 species around the world, and as a result, their eating habits vary from sub-species to sub-species.
Typically, the eating habits of turtles tends to be of the omnivorous nature, which means they eat meat and plants, just like humans.
While many will ask what do turtles eat, many will be surprised at the answer.
Plants
Turtles enjoy eating plants and they are plentiful enough, especially for land and freshwater turtles, to have a constant diet of the food. Many turtles will make their diet almost exclusively plants, including painted turtles, who also eat meat on occasion.
Insects
Since many turtles are freshwater turtles, they will eat the insects who either fall in the water, or come to close to the water and end up becoming turtle food. For that sorry insect, there is little question about what do turtles eat.
Fish
Many turtles, including land ones, will eat fish when they can get them. The smaller ones will eat minnows, while larger turtles will eat larger fish. Typically, they will not eat anything too big and most fishes they eat would be the type of fishes that humans throw back into the water.
Birds
Yes, birds. Turtles who live on land or fresh water, and are large enough, will eat birds that are small enough and venture to close. The snapping turtle is an example of this, and its amazing jaw strength is capable of killing a bird immediately upon catching it.
Other Turtles
Some larger turtle species, include leatherback turtles, will eat small turtles as a way of finding easy food. This is not common, but it does happen. The snapping turtle also eats other turtles that are smaller than itself.
Conclusion
Turtles are an amazing species. They are able to hold their breath longer than most vertebrates, as well as dive deeper than any other type, as a result, they are considered on of the most versatile types of reptiles, or animals, on the planet. They have lived for 200 million years, outlasting even the dinosaurs, and are one of the most successful animal species in the history of the Earth.
They are able to survive based on their wide variety of eating habits because they do not limit themselves to one type of food. If fish are not available, they eat plants, if plants are not available, they eat insects, if that isnt available, then they eat turtles.
When you are asked, what do turtles eat? You can say, everything.