How does the Wood Turtle's diet shift regarding animal protein as it matures?
Answer
Reliance lessens, tipping toward predominantly vegetation-based.
The dietary composition of the Wood Turtle changes significantly throughout its lifespan, reflecting its life stage. Juveniles, needing resources for rapid development, require a diet relatively rich in protein, meaning they incorporate higher proportions of animal matter such as insects, invertebrates, and carrion. As the turtle advances into adulthood, this requirement decreases, and the diet naturally transitions to become predominantly vegetation-based. However, even in adulthood, crucial protein sources like slugs and snails maintain their importance as staples throughout their entire lives.
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