| Information on Turtles are crucial in understanding | | | | ponds and oceans and to enable them to swim |
| them as pets. Turtles are reptiles, and more | | | | faster and with more agility. |
| specifically, they belong to the order called | | | | Turtles are able to withdraw their legs, tail and head |
| Testudines as well as to the super-order Chelonia. | | | | safely inside their shells when they are in danger. |
| This is why turtle enthusiasts often affectionately | | | | Turtles have two ways of drawing their necks inside |
| refer to their pets as Chelonians. Turtles are also | | | | their shells: some contract their neck under their spine |
| commonly called terrapins in Great Britain, although | | | | while others contract their neck to the side. However |
| this does not indicate any technical difference from | | | | they do it, it's quite amazing to watch. |
| turtles. | | | | Turtles' noses are located high on their head so that |
| There are some 300 separate species of turtles in | | | | they can breathe while mostly submerged in the |
| the world today, although the number may shrink as | | | | water-just their nose above the surface. Never place |
| more of them-Sea Turtles in particular-enter the | | | | a tortoise in the water, however. It is an entirely |
| endangered species list. Turtles such as the | | | | land-based anaimal and will drown in deep water. |
| Red-eared Slider and other breeds commonly kept as | | | | Land turtles have flat feet with clawed toes, while |
| pets, however, are very numerous and in no danger | | | | aquatic and semi-aquatic turtles have webbed feet. |
| of becoming extinct. | | | | Sea turtles are so thoroughly designed for life in the |
| Like other reptiles, turtles are cold-blooded, meaning | | | | open ocean that they have flippers for limbs. |
| that their body temperature adjusts to match the | | | | Turtles have no teeth, but have sharp beaks which |
| temperature of their surrounding environment. This is | | | | they use to catch prey. Carnivorous species normally |
| why they need to bask in the sun to heat up their | | | | have knife-sharp ridges for slicing their prey. |
| bodies and also why those that live in northern | | | | Plant-eating turtles have serrated-edged ridges to cut |
| climates dig down into the mud and hibernate when | | | | through rough plants. |
| winter comes. | | | | Turtles' shells are normally colored black, brown, or |
| The chief characteristic of turtles is their carapace | | | | olive green. Certain kinds of turtles' shells have |
| (bony shell) which is an outgrowth of their ribs, fused | | | | yellow, orange, red, or grey markings such as |
| together, that protects them from predators. The | | | | streaks, spots, or blotches. The eastern Painted |
| lower shell that covers the underside (belly) is called | | | | Turtle is one of the more beautifully-colored species: |
| the plastron. In the majority of turtle species, the | | | | it has an olive-green or black shell with red markings |
| outer part of the shell is covered by scales (scutes) | | | | around the edge and a yellow plastron. |
| that are part of their outer skin. Certain turtles don't | | | | The largest living turtle is the Leatherback Sea Turtle |
| have hard scutes: soft-shelled turtles and leatherback | | | | which can reach lengths of 6 feet 6 inches and weigh |
| sea turtles have leathery skin over their shells instead. | | | | up to 2,000 pounds. The biggest chelonian ever to |
| Land-dwelling tortoises have somewhat heavy, large, | | | | exist was Archelon Ischyros, and it stretched 15 feet |
| domed carapaces. However, soft-shelled and aquatic | | | | from nose to tail. |
| turtles have lighter shells to keep from sinking in | | | | |