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 The first known
turtles existed 200 million years ago.
There are
approximately 300 species of turtles.
Turtles live on
every continent except Antarctica.
Turtles are
cold-blooded. One way they regulate their temperature is by basking.
Some turtles, such
as the Musk turtle, emit an odor when startled.
Not all turtles and
tortoises hibernate.
The blood of
hibernating turtles acts somewhat like antifreeze, allowing it to tolerate
cold temperatures.
Some female turtles
produce eggs four years after mating.
Many species make
sound, especially while mating.
Incubation
temperature determines the sex of the hatchling.
All turtles lay
their eggs on land.
Hatching turtles
have an egg tooth at the end of their beak to help open
the egg.
Some land turtles
can out run a human.
The smallest turtle,
the Speckled Padloper is 4". The largest
is the Leatherback sea turtle, that can
reach up to 10' in
length.
Turtle shells DO
break.
The color and
patterns of each species allows them to blend into their natural environment.
Turtles can regrow bony and keratin tissue.
Not all turtles have
hard shells. For example, Softshell turtles and
sea turtles have flexible shells.
Box turtles are not
the only turtles with a hinge to allow part of their shell to move.
Turtle shells are
built into their skeleton.
The top shell, the
carapace, is made up of approximately 50 bones.
Counting the growth
rings on the scutes (scales) of the top shell does
not tell the age of the turtle or tortoise.
Some turtles have
hinges on their shells to enable them to close up tightly inside.
Turtles cannot
protrude their tongues from their mouths.
Aquatic turtles have
streamlined shells to help them move through the water. They also have
webbing between their toes.
Aquatic turtles must
be in water to eat.
Tortoises only go to
water to drink. They do not swim.
Some tortoises can
dig burrows 45 feet long.
Many turtles are
expert climbers.
Land turtles ears
are sensitive to ground vibration.
A group of turtles
is classically called a bale.
One of the most
common health problems is MBD, Metabolic Bone Disease, caused by improper
diet and care.
All turtles and
tortoises do not have the same habitat and nutritional requirements.
Therefore, it is very important to
research the kind of animal you have or plan to own.
Turtles have good
eyesight, seeing in full color and a strong sense of smell. They have
excellent hearing and sense of touch. Their shells have feeling due to
nerve endings.
Instead of teeth,
turtles have a sharp beak for eating. Depending on species, the beak
may be scissor-like, hook-like, or serrated. The earliest turtles
did have teeth and could not retract their head.
Some turtles can
live up to a year without food.
Tortoises from dry
environments have thick scales on the skin to prevent fluid
evaporation. Aquatic and semi-aquatic turtles have thinner skin and
lack heavy scales.
Turtles shed their
skin in small flakes rather than pieces like other reptiles.
Sea turtles can swim
up to 35 mile per hour.
Several species,
including the American Box turtle, can live to be over 100 years old.
One documented case
of longevity is of an adult Indian Ocean Giant Tortoise. After being
captured and estimated to be 50 years old, it lived another 152 years in
captivity
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