Turtles: A Comprehensive Guide to These Ancient Reptiles

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Introduction to Turtle

Turtle, the only reptile that has a shell and no teeth. Turtles are found in many parts of the world with temperate or tropical climates. Some kinds live on land, others in fresh water or salt water. Land turtles can swim, and water turtles breathe air and lay their eggs on land.

Turtles are probably the longest-living group of animals, some living 150 years or more. Full-grown turtles vary in size from certain American freshwater turtles 3 1/2 inches (9 cm) long and less than one pound (.45 kg) in weight to sea-living leatherback turtles 8 to 9 feet (2.4 to 2.7 m) long and weighing up to 1,500 pounds (680 kg). Most species of turtles grow throughout life, although slowly after the first 5 to 10 years.

The gopher tortoise digs burrows for hibernation and protection.

In the United States, all shelled reptiles are called turtles. Some land turtles are also called tortoises, and various edible freshwater turtles are known as terrapins. In England, shelled reptiles are called tortoises, except for a few marine species that are known as turtles.

Turtles have been in existence for about 200,000,000 years. They are the oldest reptile group that has living representatives.

Many species of turtles are in danger of extinction due to human activities. Turtles are captured for food and other uses; their habitats and nesting sites are being destroyed by pollution, the drainage of wetlands, and commercial development; and they are accidentally caught in fishing nets. The endangered sea turtles include the hawksbill, Atlantic ridley, and leatherback; certain populations of the green and Pacific ridley sea turtles are also endangered. Endangered land turtles include the Bolson and giant Galápagos tortoises. Endangered freshwater turtles include various softshell, slider, and cooter species.

Where in the World Do Turtles Live?

Since turtles are cold-blooded, they can’t live in places that are cold all year long. But turtles live almost everywhere else. They live in hot, sandy deserts. They live in lush, green forests and grasslands. Some turtles live high in the mountains. Others live in wet, lowland marshes and swamps.

Besides living on land, turtles also live in water. Many kinds of turtles live in fresh water, such as in lakes, ponds, or rivers. Sea turtles live in salty oceans.

Altogether, there are seven species of turtles that live in the sea. Most kinds live in more than one ocean. Green turtles, for example, live in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans. Other kinds of sea turtles, such as Kemp’s ridleys, have a much smaller area they call home. This sea turtle is found only in the Gulf of Mexico and some parts of the Atlantic Ocean.

Uses of Turtles

Humans have eaten turtles and turtle eggs since earliest history. Tortoiseshell, a commercial product made from the shell of certain marine turtles, was used for centuries to make serviceable and decorative objects. Plastic imitations largely replaced it in the 20th century.

Turtles are popular pets, but they are potential carriers of dangerous bacteria called salmonella. In the 1970's the sale of certain kinds of turtles was banned in the United States. Turtles should be purchased only from a reputable pet store, and wild turtles should be avoided.

Can a Box Turtle Found in the Wild Become a Pet?

If you find a box turtle in the wild, do not take it home. A wild box turtle already has a home. Its home is its territory. A turtle knows all the rocks, logs, trees, and ponds in its territory. If you take a turtle from its home, it will suffer from stress and it could die. Additionally, wild turtles can sometimes carry diseases that you can catch.

There are other good reasons to let a wild turtle stay in the wild. Because there is a worrisome decline in wild box turtle populations, many box turtles are protected by law. That means, depending on the area you are in, it could actually be illegal to remove a box turtle from its habitat (the area where an animal lives).

Increasingly, box turtles are being bred in captivity (living under the care of humans) for sale in pet stores. This may help maintain wild populations in the United States and Asia and ensure that turtles in pet stores are healthy and free from bacteria and parasites.

Where Do Some Types of Box Turtles Live in the Wild?

Box turtles live in the wild in North America and Asia. They live in a variety of habitats where water is readily available. Of the many different kinds of box turtles, four kinds found in the wild in North America are common as pets: the eastern, the three-toed, the Gulf Coast, and the ornate box turtle.

The eastern box turtle, Terrapene carolina, lives in the eastern and central United States from Maine south to Georgia and as far west as Illinois, Tennessee, and Alabama. It is also found in Mexico. The three-toed box turtle, Terrapene carolina triunguis, lives in the Mississippi River Valley in several states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kansas, Missouri, and Texas.

The Gulf Coast box turtle, Terrapene carolina major, is found in U.S. states along the Gulf of Mexico. The ornate box turtle, Terrapene ornata, lives in the central and south-central United States. You can find it in Illinois, Indiana, and South Dakota into Louisiana and Texas. It is also found in Mexico.

In China, the turtle symbolizes long life and fertility. It is also a fertility symbol in parts of Africa. It was held sacred by the ancient Greeks and by certain American Indian peoples. In Hindu mythology, the earth rests on the back of a giant turtle.

Why Is There a Turtle Crisis in Asia?

Asia has an astounding variety of pond and marsh turtles. The Chinese box turtle and the Malayan box turtle are two examples of Asian turtles that are kept as pets.

Rapid economic growth and land development in many parts of Asia have reduced the turtle’s wild habitat. Additionally, many turtles throughout Asia are captured for food, for use in medicines, and for export for the pet trade. The shipment was intercepted by customs agents.

With the loss of habitat and so many turtles being captured, many species of Asian turtles are in peril. An international treaty that was created to regulate trade in threatened plant life and wildlife restricts the export of box turtles. These restrictions apply both to box turtles that are native to Asia and to those native to the United States. Many countries have signed this treaty and are working to protect box turtles.

Description

A turtle's shell structure consists of two separate pieces—an upper shell and a bottom shell—joined at the sides by a bony bridge. The upper shell, called the carapace, may be highly domed, low and rounded, or flattish on top with steep sides. The bottom shell, or plastron, is flat or slightly concave. In most turtles the two shells are each composed of an inner layer of bone fused to the ribs and other bony structures of the animal's body, and an outer layer of horn. Both layers are made up of sections that fit together like pieces of a mosaic. However, the sections of the two layers do not coincide. One species of sea turtle has a leathery covering of skin instead of horn over the bony layer.

How Does That Shell Work?

Most kinds of turtles can pull their head, legs, and tail into their shell, which serves as a suit of armor. Few other animals with a backbone have such natural protection.

The shell covering the back of a box turtle is round. This makes a box turtle look a little like a stocky lizard carrying an upside-down salad bowl on its back. The box turtle’s shell is covered in horny plates that fit together in a geometric pattern something like a quilt.

Box turtles are different from many other turtles because they have a hinge on the bottom of their shell. They can pull their legs, head, and tail into their shell and then use this hinge to close up and “box” themselves inside.

How Do Box Turtles “Box” Themselves In?

Box turtles are small pond and marsh turtles that live in North America. They’re called box turtles with good reason. If an enemy such as a rat comes near one of these turtles, it can “box” itself up inside its shell.

No other turtles have shells quite like these land-dwellers. A box turtle’s plastron is hinged. This lets the turtle bring the plastron right up against the carapace. Once the box turtle tucks itself in, it can close its shell up tight.

A box turtle lives most of its long life in one area of land. That area is called its home range. A box turtle’s home range is usually not much bigger than two American football fields. There, the turtle can find everything it needs, such as water and soft soil for nesting. A home range also has plenty of worms, insects, and berries for the turtle to eat.

Turtles cannot expand and contract their lungs by rib movements, because the ribs are held rigid by fusion with the shell. Muscles in the turtle's limbs contract and enlarge the lung capacity, drawing in air. Abdominal muscles contract and force the lungs to expel air. In some turtles a pumping action of throat muscles aids in breathing. Some aquatic turtles also respire by getting a little oxygen from water through the mucous membranes.

The head, limbs, and tail of the turtle protrude from the shell, but—in most species—can be drawn inside the shell for protection. Some turtles can move hinged parts of the shell to enclose the softer parts of their bodies completely. Most turtles have strong horn-covered jaws and beaks with which to tear their food into bits. Turtle skin is tough and often covered with scales. Freshwater turtles have webbed feet, and marine species have flippers.

The carapace may be rough or smooth, and the plastron is usually smooth. Carapaces vary in color from greenish brown to almost black. Plastrons are paler and often yellow. Turtles' shells may be marked with dark or light circular lines and with bright markings of red, orange, or yellow. The skin may be brightly marked also.

Habits

Turtles lay their eggs on land. In most species, the female excavates a nest with her back feet. The females of most species lay eggs several times a year. The number of eggs deposited at a laying varies from one to more than 200, depending on the species and the individual. Eggs are round or oval and either soft- or hard-shelled. Some females produce fertile eggs for three or four years after a single mating. After laying the eggs, the female covers them with earth and leaves them. They hatch in a few weeks. If laid in the fall in temperate regions, they may not hatch until spring. Young aquatic turtles find their way to the water by themselves.

Turles lay their eggs on land several times each year.Young turtles hatch and find their way to water by themselves.

Some turtles eat only vegetation, others only animal matter. Most turtles, however, are omnivorous, eating plants, animals, and even carrion (decaying flesh). Turtles eat abundantly at each meal, but can fast for several weeks without apparent ill effects.

Are Turtles in Danger?

More than 40 kinds of turtles are in danger, including many types of sea turtles.

Some turtles are close to becoming extinct, or being killed off, because they are hunted for their meat and eggs. Others, like the hawksbill, are hunted for their beautiful shells, which can be made into jewelry or sold as ornaments.Some turtles have lost their habitat, too. Their natural homes have been destroyed to make way for cities and farms. Pollution from cars and factories has poisoned the land and waters where they live as well.

Many people are working hard to protect turtles. Preserves have been set up where the turtles can live safely. Scientists also raise some endangered species on farms to keep the species alive. Further efforts like these are needed to make sure that these ancient reptiles will continue to be here for a long time to come.

Freshwater Turtles

By far the most numerous turtles are those that inhabit fresh water. Some prefer running water, other kinds are found in still or brackish water. Some kinds seldom leave the water, others spend a great deal of time sunning themselves or foraging for food on land. There are so many kinds of freshwater turtles that the following includes only families represented in the United States.

Snapping Turtles

Two kinds of snapping turtles inhabit United States waters. Both are noted for their aggressiveness on land, where they will attack large animals, including humans, if molested. In water they are less aggressive; they do not hunt, for example, but lie in wait, for prey. They have rough carapaces and large heads, limbs, and tails.

How Did the Snapping Turtle Get Its Name?

The common snapping turtle has a large head with powerful jaws. It also has a long saw-toothed tail. The snapping turtle is one of the biggest freshwater turtles. The shells of common snappers can be 19 inches (47 centimeters) long. The males grow larger than the females.

These turtles eat snails, mussels, fish, and water plants. After catching their prey, they use their hooked jaws to tear the food into bite-sized chunks.

The Common Snapping Turtle

is found in still water in southern Canada, and in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains south to Mexico. It weighs up to 60 pounds (27 kg) and may reach a length of 18 inches (45 cm). Related species are found in Mexico and Central and South America.

The Alligator Snapping Turtle

is found in the southern and central United States. It is America's largest freshwater turtle, often weighing up to 100 pounds (45 kg) and reaching a length of 2 1/2 feet (75 cm).

How Does an Alligator Snapping Turtle Fish?

The alligator snapping turtle carries its own “fishing bait” inside its mouth. In the middle of its tongue is a long, thin piece of pink flesh. When the turtle holds its mouth open, this flesh looks like a squirming worm! A hungry fish sees it, swims up close to look, and snap! The turtle has a meal.

Alligator snappers are the largest turtles in North America. Some grow more than 2 feet (60 centimeters) long and weigh over 200 pounds (91 kilograms). These turtles have hooked jaws and long, alligatorlike tails. They also have prickly scales on their necks.

Mud Turtles and Musk Turtles

This family of still-water turtles includes some of the smallest turtles in the world. They range in length from 3 1/2 to about 6 inches (9 to 15 cm). They have smooth, highly arched carapaces.

The Mud Turtle

is distributed throughout the United States east of the Rocky Mountains, and is also found in Mexico and Central and South America.

The Musk Turtle

is found in the central and eastern United States. It gets its name from the musky, unpleasant odor it secretes when annoyed.

Which Turtle Is a Stinkpot?

The common musk turtle is one turtle you wouldn’t want to anger. Like a skunk, this turtle releases a foul smell when it’s disturbed. That’s why it’s often called a stinkpot.

This turtle is a member of the mud and musk turtle family. Like many members of this family, the stinkpot spends much of its time in the water. There it feeds on plants, mollusks, small fish, and insects. The stinkpot also eats carrion, which is the remains of dead animals. When looking for food, this musk turtle often walks along the bottoms of streams or ponds instead of swimming.

Stinkpots are small turtles. Few adults grow more than 6 inches (15 centimeters) long. These turtles may be tiny. But they have large heads, strong jaws, and very mean bites.

Pond Turtles

This large family of freshwater turtles is found throughout the United States, and is represented in Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa. Most of these turtles have oval, slightly rounded carapaces. They range in length from 6 to 13 inches (15 to 33 cm). The family includes pond turtles, map turtles, painted turtles, diamondback terrapins, sliders, cooters, and box turtles. The box turtle actually spends more time on land than in water. It gets its name from the fact that it can shut its shell tightly by pulling up parts of the plastron, so that it resembles a box.

What Is a Pond and Marsh Turtle?

Turtles are reptiles, a kind of cold-blooded animal. The body temperature of a cold-blooded animal stays about the same as the surrounding air and water. Reptiles have a backbone, and they breathe by means of lungs. Most reptiles have skin that is covered with horny plates or scales. Turtles, however, are the only reptile with a shell. This shell protects the turtle from predators (animals that hunt and eat other animals) and is actually part of a turtle’s skeleton.

The box turtle forms a genus of turtle called Terrapene, which belongs to the pond and marsh turtle family. There are about 90 kinds of pond and marsh turtles in Asia, Europe, North and South America, and northern Africa. Many pond and marsh turtles live in water. Box turtles, however, live on land near ponds and rivers, such as marshes, wetlands, and bogs.

What Is the Biggest Turtle Family?

Pond and marsh turtles make up the biggest family of turtles. There are just over 90 different species of them. Most live in lakes, ponds, and rivers. A few spend most of their time on land.

When swimming underwater, pond and marsh turtles need to come to the surface to breathe. Like all turtles, these turtles have lungs and need to breathe air. But turtles don’t need to breathe as often as humans do. Some pond and marsh turtles take only one breath an hour.

Like sea turtles, pond and marsh turtles are good swimmers. But most pond and marsh turtles have webbed feet, while most sea turtles have feet that look like flippers. And most freshwater turtles have large hind legs and smaller front limbs. Pond and marsh turtles are much smaller than sea turtles, too. Most, like the map turtle you see here, are no bigger around than a dinner plate.

What Is a Pond Slider?

There are other types of pond and marsh turtles besides box turtles—one is the pond slider. Pond sliders are “basking turtles” that live near permanent bodies of water, such as ponds and rivers. These turtles are very fond of gathering in groups on logs and rocks and basking—that is, warming themselves—in the sun. Pond sliders are also good swimmers.

Pond sliders are found in the southern and central United States. There is also a Big Bend slider that lives along the upper Rio Grande around the border of the United States and Mexico. Other kinds of sliders can be found in Mexico,

Central America, South America, and on islands in the Caribbean Sea.

One type of pond slider that is fairly easy to recognize is the red-eared slider. These turtles often have bright red streaks behind their eyes. Sadly, at one time people treated red-eared sliders somewhat as “disposable” pets. There is now greater awareness of how to take proper care of these and other kinds of turtles.

What Is a Chicken Turtle?

Another member of the pond and marsh turtle family is the chicken turtle. A chicken turtle is a small, aquatic turtle that feeds on plants, tadpoles, and crayfish. It is found along waterways in the southeastern and central United States.

It is called a chicken turtle because some say its flesh is mild and tasty, like chicken.

A chicken turtle has a very long neck. When this turtle stretches its neck, it looks like a snake slithering out from a shell. A chicken turtle also has “striped pants.” Its legs and rump have yellow stripes on them.

Chicken turtles are rare in some places and so are protected in the wild. You should not, therefore, buy a chicken turtle. In addition, some chicken turtles tend to bite. Others are shy around people, so this species does not make an ideal pet.

What Is a Map Turtle?

A map turtle is also a pond and marsh turtle. This aquatic turtle basks on fallen trees and deadwood in lakes and rivers in the central and southeastern United States and in Quebec in Canada. The map turtle rarely leaves its water home for land. It is also a shy turtle. A basking map turtle will quickly vanish beneath the water’s surface if startled by people.

Map turtles get their name from the intricate line patterns on their shell, which look like markings on a map. Some map turtles also have spinelike projections along the back of their shell. These turtles, called sawbacks, look something like a tiny dinosaur.

Map turtles are more sensitive to water quality than other aquatic turtles.

What Is a Terrapin?

Terrapin (TEHR uh pihn) is the name given to a group of turtles that live in creeks and shallow marshes along the seacoast. Water is not a terrapin’s only home, though. Many terrapins live both on land and in the water. No other turtles live in such a wide variety of habitats.

In the morning, large groups of terrapins often sun themselves on the banks of a pond or a river. They stretch out their legs and heads as far as possible to soak in the sun’s rays. They’re not trying to get a tan, though. They’re just warming themselves up after a cool dip in the water.

Diamondback terrapins live along the eastern and southern coasts of the United States. These small turtles belong to the pond and marsh turtle family. They mostly eat snails, crawfish, and water plants.

Softshell Turtles

have tough, thick skin instead of horn over the bony layer of their shells. They are web-footed and spend almost all their time in water. They have long, fleshy snouts that can be used as breathing tubes when they lie under water. Softshell turtles range in length from 5 to 18 inches (12.5 to 45 cm). They are widely distributed in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains and in eastern Canada. Related species are found in Asia and Africa.

Which Turtles Relax on River Bottoms?

When soft-shelled turtles relax, they usually do it on muddy river bottoms. The mud is a soft place to settle down. It also hides the turtles from predators.

Once a softshell finds a good spot to rest, it can stay underwater for a very long time. Softshells do not have hard, bony shells as most other turtles do. Instead they have a round shell that is covered with thick, leathery skin. This skin lets oxygen enter the turtle’s body from the surrounding water. And that lets a softshell relax a bit longer!

Softshells also have long, tube-shaped noses. They use their noses to turn over stones as they look for food, such as worms and crayfish. Softshells can also use their snouts as snorkels. When they come to the surface to breathe, just the tips of their noses peek above the water.

Sea Turtles

Sea turtles are divided into two families. Members of one have horn shells; members of the other have leathery shells. Sea turtles possess flippers instead of claws and cannot withdraw their heads into their shells. They are found in warm seas worldwide.

The green sea turtle weighs up to 500 pounds with a shell up to 50 inches long.What Is a Sea Turtle’s Shell Like?

Most sea turtles have hard shells that are like suits of armor. A hard shell is made up of several plates. These plates fit together like pieces in a jigsaw puzzle. They make the shell firm and tough. Even a shark’s razor-sharp teeth can’t bite through it.

The curved shell on a sea turtle’s back is called the carapace (KAR uh pays). A sea turtle doesn’t just have a shell on its back, though. It also has a shell called the plastron (PLAS truhn) that covers its belly. On most turtles, hard scales cover the parts of the body that are not protected by the shell.

The shell has openings for the turtle’s head, tail, and legs. Sea turtles have legs shaped like long paddles, with flippers instead of feet.

Do Sea Turtles Have Teeth?

Sea turtles, like all turtles, are toothless. But they do have ridges, or bumps, along both their upper and lower jaws. These ridges are pointy and sharp. They help a turtle cut its food into small pieces before swallowing.

Most sea turtles feed on small sea animals, such as sponges. They also feed on sea plants and grasses. But some sea turtles eat mostly plants, and some eat mostly meat.

A sea turtle that feeds mostly on plants has jaws that look like the edge of a saw. This helps the turtle tear off pieces of tough plants. Meat-eating sea turtles have ridges that are as sharp as knives. With their jaws, they can slice into their prey.

Besides being sharp, the jaws of turtles are strong. Meat-eating sea turtles often use their jaws to grab passing fish. Once these turtles clamp down tightly, their prey can’t slip away.

How Sharp Are a Sea Turtle’s Senses?

A sea turtle’s senses are very sharp. This reptile’s sense of smell is its strongest sense. Some scientists believe that a sea turtle has a stronger sense of smell than a dog has. A sea turtle uses its keen nose to find prey and to smell a nearby enemy.

A sea turtle can hear well, too. But where are the ears of this green turtle? Sea turtles have eardrums that are covered by skin. With these eardrums, sea turtles can hear low-pitched sounds about as well as a person can hear them. The eardrums also help sea turtles detect vibrations along the ground or in the water.

Sea turtles also have good eyesight. They can see clearly when they are swimming through the water. Their eyes help them spot small prey in the open seas.

Are Sea Turtles Slow?

On land, sea turtles are very slow. But, in the water, they’re fast. Green turtles, like the one you see here, can zip through the water at nearly 20 miles (32 kilometers) per hour.

Sea turtles have powerful front legs. These legs are long. They are also wide and flat at the end—just like paddles. Sea turtles use their strong front legs as paddles to glide swiftly through the water.

The sea turtle’s shell helps it swim fast, too. Its shell is flatter and smaller than most other turtle shells. It’s the perfect shape to cut through the water with the least amount of effort.

A sea turtle’s small shell does have a drawback, though. Unlike many other turtles, a sea turtle can’t pull its head and legs inside its shell to hide from its enemies. Instead, a sea turtle must depend on speedy swimming to get away.

Why Do Sea Turtles Migrate?

Since sea turtles are cold-blooded, they need to stay in warm waters all year long. So when the temperature starts to drop, they migrate, or travel long distances, to warmer waters. Some sea turtles have to travel hundreds, or even thousands, of miles just to keep warm.

Sea turtles, including loggerheads, migrate for another reason, too. Female sea turtles leave the waters where they feed to travel to a nesting ground. This is where they will eventually lay their eggs. Once the females lay their eggs, they journey back to their feeding grounds.

The open sea doesn’t have any landmarks. So how do migrating sea turtles know where to go? Some scientists think that sea turtles may use the sun, the moon, and the stars to guide them.

Where Do Sea Turtles Lay Their Eggs?

All turtles—whether they live on land, in fresh water, or in the sea—lay their eggs on land. Sea turtles lay their eggs on sandy beaches.

Many female sea turtles have what is called a homing instinct. This means that they return to the beach where they were born to lay their eggs. Laying eggs on land is hard work for a female sea turtle. When swimming, a female can glide through the water with ease. But on a beach, she must slowly drag herself across the sand.

A female sea turtle looks for a spot that will be safe at high tide. Once she finds a safe spot, she digs a hole in the sand with her back feet. The female then lays her eggs inside the hole and covers them with sand. When she is finished, she heads toward the water and back out to sea.

What Is a Sea Turtle Clutch?

A nest of turtle eggs is called a clutch. A female sea turtle may lay over 100 eggs in just one clutch! And she may lay six or more clutches in a season. Altogether, this may add up to 1,000 eggs. But most sea turtles lay far fewer eggs than that. The average is about 400 eggs in a season.

A sea turtle’s egg is usually about the size and shape of a Ping-Pong ball. Its shell is not brittle like a bird’s egg. Instead, it’s tough and springy. It needs to be, especially if it’s at the bottom of a 100-egg pile.

Over time, the sand incubates (IHN kyuh bayts), or warms, the eggs. This helps the baby turtles grow inside the safety of their shells until they are ready to hatch. Most sea turtles hatch after about two months of incubation.

What Is Life Like for a Hatchling?

A clutch of hatchlings, or baby sea turtles, all dig their way out of their nest at the same time. Each tiny hatchling weighs about as much as a pencil and can fit in the palm of your hand.

The newborn turtles leave their nest at night. Without parents to protect them, the hatchlings must fend for themselves. Even in the darkness, many animals, such as sea gulls and crabs, prey on hatchlings. So the baby turtles must scurry across the open beach and into the water—fast.

When baby turtles reach the water, they have a long trip ahead. They must swim far out to the safer waters of the open sea. There they remain until they are young adults. Then most sea turtles return to shallow waters along the coast, where they live for most of their lives.

Young turtles find their way to the water by themselves.How Long Do Sea Turtles Live?

The most dangerous part of a sea turtle’s life is its first 10 years. During those years, the turtle is small and not very fast. If it survives this period, it can live a long life. Some kinds of sea turtles can live to be 80 years old. Other turtles can live even longer than that. In fact, some turtles live longer than many other creatures with backbones—including humans.

Sea Turtles With Horn Shells

There are six species.

The Green Turtle

weighs up to 500 pounds (225 kg) with a shell up to 50 inches (127 cm) long. It feeds mainly on plants. Green turtles are found in warm seas worldwide. They can migrate more than 1,000 miles (1,600 km) from where they were hatched, returning six to eight years later to lay their eggs. They are hunted for their meat.

The Flatback,

native to Australia, is the only species of sea turtle not in danger of extinction. It is similar in appearance and size to the green turtle.

The Hawksbill

weighs up to 175 pounds (80 kg) with a shell about 35 inches (89 cm) long. It is found primarily in warm waters of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. The hawksbill is hunted for its patterned shell, which is made into decorative items.

How Did the Hawksbill Get Its Name?

The hawksbill is a colorful sea turtle that lives in warm tropical waters. This turtle has a pointed beak that looks like a hawk’s bill. That’s how this reptile got its name.

Unlike other sea turtles, the hawksbill has two claws on each flipper. It often uses its claws to stir up sponges that live along the ocean floor or in coral reefs. Hawksbills feed on sponges whenever they get a chance. In fact, hawksbills like sponges so much that they rarely eat anything else.

The Loggerhead

weighs up to 450 pounds (204 kg) and has a shell about 45 inches (114 cm) long. It has powerful jaws, which it uses to crack open mollusks. Loggerheads are found in warm and temperate seas worldwide.

The Ridley

There are also two species of ridleys, the Altantic ridley (also called Kemp's ridley) and the Pacific (or olive) ridley. The ridleys are the smallest of the sea turtles. They weigh up to 100 pounds (45 kg) with a shell up to 28 inches (71 cm) long. The Atlantic ridley has only one major nesting area, a small stretch of beach in Mexico.

The Leatherback Sea Turtle

This turtle has leathery skin instead of a horn layer of shell. Its shell has no true bony layer, but irregular pieces of bone are embedded in the skin layer. Leatherbacks are the largest of all turtles, averaging 7 feet (210 cm) in length and 1,000 pounds (450 kg) in weight. In the summer, they are found as far north as British Columbia and Nova Scotia, and in the winter, as far south as southern Argentina and South Australia. They can dive to more than 3,000 feet (900 m). There is only one living species of leatherback.

Which Sea Turtle Has a Soft Side?

The leatherback is the only species of turtle that lives in the sea and does not have a hard, bony shell. Its shell is covered instead with a soft, leathery skin.

The leatherback is also the largest of all turtles. This sea giant can be 8 feet (2.4 meters) long. The span of its front flippers is even longer than that. And it can weigh more than 1,500 pounds (680 kilograms).

Most sea turtles stay in warm coastal waters. Leatherbacks, however, often go into deep northern waters off Canada and Europe and into the cool southern waters off Argentina. That’s where they can find plenty of their favorite food—jellyfish.

Land Turtles, or Tortoises

There is only one family of land turtles. This family includes the most widely distributed of nonmarine turtles and perhaps the longest-living of all turtles. Tortoises have steep-sided carapaces, and thick scales on their heads and forelegs. These land turtles are found on all continents and a few islands. Africa has a greater number, and more species, of tortoises than any other continent.

The giant tortoise grows up to four feet long and weighs 400 pounds.Are Tortoises Turtles, Too?

Turtles are an order, or large group, of reptiles. This order is divided into smaller groups called families. One of these families of turtles is the tortoise family. So, yes, tortoises are turtles, too.

Unlike sea turtles, tortoises live only on land. Like the leopard tortoise, tortoises have big, heavy shells that are shaped like domes. And unlike sea turtles, they can hide inside their shells for protection. When they’re frightened, tortoises just tuck their heads and tails inside their shells. Some tortoises also tuck their feet in. Other tortoises pull their front feet over their heads.

Tortoises move very slowly on land. They are the slowest of all turtles. In fact, they are the slowest of all reptiles. But in spite of being slow, the stout, short legs and feet of the tortoise are just right for walking on dry grass and rough ground.

What Is the Difference Between Turtles and Tortoises?

Tortoises are turtles that are strictly land animals. They take drinks and short baths at watering holes, but their behavior shows a strong preference for walking about on land. They never dip their head underwater or bathe for long periods.

Tortoises also tend to be bigger than turtles and live longer. Their shells are more domed than turtles and their hind legs are shaped like those of an elephant. Many tortoises also have horny scales on their front legs.

The Galapagos tortoise that lives on islands off Ecuador in South America is perhaps the most famous tortoise. It can weigh more than 500 pounds (227 kilograms) and live to be 150 years old. “Galapagos” means tortoise in Spanish.

Do Tortoises Migrate?

Tortoises are so slow that they can’t migrate to warmer habitats, as sea turtles can. But some tortoises live in places where winters can get very cold. So what do the tortoises in these places do when it gets cold? They dig burrows, which are underground shelters.

Inside their safe burrows, the tortoises hibernate, or sleep through the cold months. During this time, a tortoise’s heartbeat slows. The tortoise hardly breathes at all.

When a tortoise digs a burrow for winter, it needs to dig down deep to escape the cold. Some tortoises may dig winter burrows that are up to 10 to 30 feet (3 to 9.1 meters) long! Tortoises dig with their front legs. Their broad nails and strong front limbs make the digging go quickly.

Gopher Turtles

This group of land turtles is the only one found in the United States. There are four species: the Texas, or Berlandier, tortoise, the desert tortoise, the gopher tortoise, and the Bolson tortoise. These species are similar, and range in size from 4 to 15 inches (10 to 38 cm). They have brownish-tan carapaces and yellow plastrons. They get their generic name from the habit three species have of making burrows in which to hibernate and to hide from enemies. The Texas tortoise inhabits southern Texas and northeastern Mexico. The desert tortoise ranges from Nevada to Mexico. The gopher tortoise is found in the southeastern United States. The Bolson tortoise inhabits a small area in northeastern Mexico.

Other Land Turtles

Giant tortoises were once abundant on many islands of the Pacific and Indian oceans. They were almost exterminated in the 19th century because their flesh was used as food for ships' crews and island colonists. Cats and dogs brought in by colonists ate large quantities of the turtles' eggs. The giant tortoises that still survive on the Galápagos Islands grow to a length of 4 feet (120 cm) and a weight of 400 pounds (180 kg). A few have been known to live more than 150 years.

Two interesting land turtles of Africa are the hinged-back tortoise and the pancake tortoise (or Tornier's tortoise ). The hinged-back tortoise, like the American box turtle, can close its shell tightly, but does this by moving its hinged carapace. The pancake tortoise has such a thin, soft bony layer of shell that it can squeeze itself into narrow crevices.

How Big Do Tortoises Get?

Tortoises can get very big—especially giant tortoises like the Galapagos (guh lah puh gohs) tortoise. The Galapagos is one of the largest members of the tortoise family. Some adults weigh more than 600 pounds (270 kilograms). That’s as much as three or four grown men.

The Galapagos has a high, domed shell. It also has four stumpy legs that look a bit like an elephant’s legs. When this tortoise walks, its enormous body rocks from side to side.

Galapagos tortoises and other giant tortoises live longer than any other land animal. It is not unusual for them to live for over one hundred years. In fact, an Aldabra tortoise from the African island nation of Seychelles (say shehl) lived 152 years.

Galapagos tortoises can be found in only one spot in the world—on the Galapagos Islands. The nearest continent, South America, is more than 600 miles (965 kilometers) away to the east.

How Do Galapagos Tortoises Win Over Mates?

Sometimes Galapagos males compete for the same female. One way males do this is by threatening each other with loud grunts and open jaws. This can often be enough to scare off a rival. But sometimes the only way to win over a mate is to fight.

When two males are ready to fight, they pull their heads and long necks into their shells. Then they ram into each other as hard as they can. Bang! Again and again, they slam into each other with great force.

Mating season for the Galapagos tortoises can be a noisy time. Males grunt loudly when they try to attract females. Some grunts are so loud that they can be heard almost a mile away.

Which Tortoise Is Not Afraid of the Heat?

Desert tortoises live where it’s hot and dry. Some live in deserts where the temperatures can often climb above 100° Fahrenheit (38° Celsius). But the desert tortoise knows just what to do when the temperature really rises. It burrows underground to escape the hot sun. On very hot days, this tortoise comes out only once in the early morning and once again in the late afternoon.

Since it doesn’t rain often in the desert, this turtle has to make the most of it when it does rain. To “catch” the rain, the desert tortoise digs basins, or bowl-shaped holes, in the ground. At the first sign of rain, the tortoise checks back on each basin. If all goes well, the turtle gets a much-needed drink.

When the desert tortoise does find water, it drinks quite a bit. It is thirsty, but it is also storing water in its bladder. During the desert’s long dry spells, the turtle’s body can use this supply until it rains again.

Which Tortoise Can Flatten Itself Like a Pancake?

The pancake tortoise lives on the rocky mountains of eastern Africa. When alarmed, it scurries to a narrow crack in the cliffs. Then it squeezes snugly into the small opening.

How can the pancake tortoise do this? Unlike other tortoises, it has a very flat and soft shell. Some scientists believe that this turtle can let air out of its lungs and become even flatter. Once inside a narrow crack, the pancake tortoise fills its lungs with air and expands its shell to stay put. This turtle can fit so tightly inside the smallest of openings that most predators can’t pull it out.

The pancake tortoise is an excellent climber. It can sometimes be found as high as 6,000 feet (1,829 meters) aboveground. Up there, it feeds on fresh and dried mountain grasses, as well as on wildflowers.

What Is Odd About Side-Necked Turtles?

Most turtles are able to pull their heads directly into their shells. Side-necked turtles can’t do this. Instead, they fold their heads to the side and tuck them under their shells.

There are two families of side-necked turtles. These families are snake-necked turtles and side-necked turtles. All members of these two families live in Africa, Australia, and South America.

The Australian snake-necked turtle lives in northern Australia and a few nearby islands. It grows to about 1 foot (30 centimeters) long. When frightened, this turtle releases a smelly, reddish-orange liquid from under its front legs. That’s enough to discourage most predators.

What Are Some Common Signs of Illness in Turtles?

Any change in your turtle’s behavior or appetite should cause you to watch it closely. It may be a sign of illness. Here are some things to examine:

Listen to your turtle breathe. If a turtle is wheezing, rasping, breathing with its mouth open, or if there is liquid around its nostrils, the turtle may have a respiratory infection.

Look at your turtle’s shell and skin. Any shell deformities, softening of the shell, or peeling of the skin could indicate a nutritional problem.

Also look in your turtle’s eyes. Swollen or cloudy eyes may indicate an infection or a deficiency of vitamin A.Check your turtle’s solid waste. It should be solid and well formed. If not, take samples to your vet for tests. Parasites can cause diarrhea.

When in doubt, take your turtle to a vet. Often, sick turtles do not show symptoms until they are seriously ill.

What Routine Veterinary Care Is Needed?

Even if they don’t show it, many turtles sold as pets are sick, underweight, and undernourished. You should take your turtle to a veterinarian who is knowledgeable about turtles soon after you buy it.

Turtles can carry worms and other parasites. You should take a fecal sample (a sample of solid waste) to the vet, who will test the sample for these problems. The vet can give your turtle medicine that will rid it of most kinds of parasites.

While you are there, your vet will also examine your turtle’s shell and skin for evidence of nutritional deficiencies, injury, or infection. Your turtle’s mouth may also be opened for signs of mouth rot—a swelling and redness of the mouth that happens in reptiles. If your turtle is dehydrated or underweight, your vet will let you know.

Ask your veterinarian how often you should bring your turtle in for checkups. Also, ask your vet what measures to take to keep your specific type of turtle healthy and happy.

What Are Your Responsibilities as an Owner?

Your turtle is not a toy. It is a living creature that knows when it is thirsty, hungry, and sleepy. It feels pain and will try to protect itself from danger. If you ignore your turtle, its life will be short, and it will suffer.

As an owner, it is your responsibility to give your turtle the best home and life you can. You must feed it nutritious foods, keep its living quarters clean, and provide it with enough space. You must take it to the veterinarian regularly and protect it from animals that might hurt it. If you go on vacation, you must make appropriate arrangements.

Your turtle will fare better if you educate yourself about its natural history, biology, and captive care. Also, ask yourself, “What can I do to make my turtle a little happier?” Maybe get it a few raspberries? Show it you care by keeping its home tidy? If you do such things as these, it is likely that you and your box turtle will have a very long friendship.

Classification

Turtles make up the order Chelonia.

Snapping Turtles

make up the family Chelydridae. The common snapping turtle is Chelydra serpentina ; the alligator snapping turtle, Macroclemys temmincki.

Mud and Musk Turtles

make up the family Kinosternidae. Mud turtles are of the genus Kinosternon; musk turtles, Sternotherus.

Pond Turtles and Their Relatives

make up the family Emydidae. Pond turtles are of the genus Clemmys; map turtles, Graptemys; painted turtles, Chrysemys; sliders and cooters, Pseudemys; box turtles, Terrapene. The diamondback terrapin is Malaclemys terrapin.

Softshell Turtles

make up the family Trionychidae.

Sea Turtles With Horn Shells

make up the family Chelonidae. The green turtle is Chelonia mydas; the flatback, C. depressa; the hawksbill, Eretmochelys imbricata; the loggerhead, Caretta caretta; the Atlantic ridley, Lepidochelys kempi; the Pacific ridley, L. olivacea.

The Leatherback Sea Turtle

is Dermochelys coriacea of the family Dermochelidae.

Land Turtles

Land turtles make up the family Testudinidae. The Texas tortoise is Gopherus berlandieri; the desert tortoise, G. agassizi; the gopher tortoise, G. polyphemus; the Bolson tortoise, G. flavimarginatus. The giant tortoise of the Galápagos Islands is Geochelone elephantopus. Hinged-back tortoises are of the genus Kinixys. The pancake tortoise is Malacochcrsus tornieri.