| Turtles are a species of reptiles commonly kept as | | | | because they are often as sharp as knives. |
| pets. Among the most popular types of pet turtles | | | | If you think turtles and tortoises have no skin on top |
| are Russian Tortoises, Spur Thighed Tortoises, and | | | | of their structures you are wrong. The external |
| Red Eared Sliders. They can be fascinating to watch, | | | | coating of the shell is actually a skin. They may be |
| and may even seem harmless. However, turtles can | | | | reptiles, but turtles, as well as tortoises and terrapins, |
| and do bite, and they can carry salmonella; thus, they | | | | do not molt their skins in one large piece. They molt |
| may not be safe to keep as house pets, particularly | | | | piece by piece. All turtles have limbs, but they differ |
| for those families with young children. However, with | | | | in one thing: Amphibious turtles have webbed feet, |
| proper care and knowledge, you should be able to | | | | while sea turtles have flippers. Turtles are likely to |
| become a turtle owner and safely enjoy your pet. So | | | | take many years before they reach their breeding |
| before you decide to purchase a pet turtle, you | | | | age. Female turtles produce soft-shelled and flexible |
| should first educate yourself about its habitat and | | | | eggs. Their albumen is white and has a different |
| care. | | | | protein than bird eggs. For some turtle species, |
| Turtles and tortoises can be found anywhere | | | | temperature dictates whether the egg will develop |
| (except in Antarctica)-in rivers, forests, lakes, oceans, | | | | into a male or a female. Higher temperatures result in |
| grasslands, and deserts. They belong to the | | | | decreased incubation time and more female |
| taxonomical order Testudines, in the sub-group | | | | hatchlings. Large numbers of eggs are placed in holes |
| Chelonia, and are referred to as chelonians. Chelonians | | | | dug into the mud or sand, then left covered and |
| are distinctive due to their round, hard shells, four | | | | untended to incubate. When the newborns hatch, |
| legs, and tails. Moreover, they have scales, they lay | | | | they must struggle on their own to get back into the |
| eggs, and they are ectothermic, which means that | | | | water in order to survive. |
| their body temperature is dependent upon their | | | | Ownership of turtles requires commitment. It is a |
| external environment. | | | | responsibility that must be taken seriously or it will |
| The largest chelonian today is the Great Leatherback | | | | cause the death of an unfortunate turtle. Turtles |
| Sea Turtle, and the smallest is the Speckled Padloper | | | | require proper housing, temperature, nutrition, and |
| Tortoise of South Africa. The largest turtle ever was | | | | environment, among other things. Pet owners must, |
| the Archelon Ischyros, which measured more than | | | | for their own safety, be knowledgeable on how to |
| 13.5 feet long and 16 feet wide from flipper to flipper. | | | | properly care for and handle turtles and tortoises in |
| Turtles are known for drawing their necks in | | | | order to prevent themselves from catching diseases |
| whenever they sense danger. Their colors vary from | | | | that might make them very sick or even cause |
| species to species. What is common, though, is the | | | | death. As mentioned earlier, turtles can carry |
| presence of a streamlined shell to enable them to | | | | salmonella, bacteria that can be transmitted through |
| swim with ease. They have no teeth. Instead, they | | | | casual contact. This can cause the human disease |
| use their beaks to break up food. People handling pet | | | | salmonellosis, a serious infection of the gastrointestinal |
| turtles should not get too close to their beaks | | | | tract. |