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See Also
See Again
© Shutterstock
0 / 32 Fotos
Meet the Testudines
- Turtles belong to a group of reptiles called Testudines, which includes turtles, tortoises, and terrapins.
© Shutterstock
1 / 32 Fotos
As old as the dinosaurs
- Turtles are ancient creatures. They've been on Earth for over 200 million years, longer than snakes, lizards, and crocodiles.
© Getty Images
2 / 32 Fotos
Triassic-era fossils
- In fact, the earliest known turtle fossils date back 220 million years to the Triassic Period. Anatomically, they are nearly identical to modern turtles.
© Shutterstock
3 / 32 Fotos
Abundant species
- There are about 356 species of turtles, including land-dwelling tortoises and freshwater terrapins. They are found all over the world, except Antarctica.
© Shutterstock
4 / 32 Fotos
A world of water
- Turtles spend most of their lives in water. Indeed, they are adapted to aquatic life, having webbed feet or flippers and a streamlined body.
© Shutterstock
5 / 32 Fotos
Sunny side up
- Freshwater turtles are found in ponds and lakes. You often see them on logs or rocks basking in the warm sun.
© Shutterstock
6 / 32 Fotos
Cold-blooded creatures
- As reptiles, turtles are cold-blooded. They have a backbone, breathe air, and lay eggs.
© Shutterstock
7 / 32 Fotos
Housing material
- Turtles and tortoises have a hard outer shell that is made from keratin, the same material that your fingernails are made out of.
© Shutterstock
8 / 32 Fotos
Turtle skeleton
- In fact, a turtle's shell is actually part of its skeleton. It's made up of over 50 bones, which includes its rib cage and spine.
© Shutterstock
9 / 32 Fotos
Taking shelter
- When threatened or danger strikes, a turtle will use their flexible neck to retract their head safely inside their shield-like shell. They can also tuck their feet into their shell.
© Shutterstock
10 / 32 Fotos
Lifelong home
- A turtle cannot come out of its shell; the turtle's shell grows with them. It's impossible for them to grow too big for it.
© Shutterstock
11 / 32 Fotos
Made for the land
- Tortoises are land animals. Instead of webbed feet or flippers, these creatures have round and stumpy feet, adapted for walking on terrain.
© Getty Images
12 / 32 Fotos
Made for water
- On land, most turtles can only walk around 3 mph (4.8 km/h). In water, however, some species reach an impressive 12 mph (19 km/h).
© Shutterstock
13 / 32 Fotos
Solitary creatures
- Turtles are not social creatures. They prefer their own company and rarely interact with other turtles, except to mate.
© Shutterstock
14 / 32 Fotos
Beachgoer
- Likewise, sea turtles rarely leave the ocean, other than to lay eggs in sand on beaches.
© Getty Images
15 / 32 Fotos
Life cycle
- Mating occurs in the spring, summer, and fall. Turtles leave the water to dig a nesting burrow to lay their eggs. For most species, incubation ranges from 45 to 75 days. The sea turtle lays up to 100 eggs.
© Shutterstock
16 / 32 Fotos
A dangerous journey ahead
- According to the World Wildlife Fund, only around one in 1,000 marine turtle hatchlings make it to adulthood.
© Shutterstock
17 / 32 Fotos
What's on the menu?
-
© Getty Images
18 / 32 Fotos
Appetite for anything
- Sea turtles have a voracious appetite, feeding on anything from jellyfish and squid to algae and seagrass, depending on the species.
© Shutterstock
19 / 32 Fotos
All sea turtle species are threatened
-
© Shutterstock
20 / 32 Fotos
Worrying trend
- In this respect, these creatures are trending, but for all the wrong reasons. According to the IUCN, 129 species of turtle and tortoise are either vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered.
© Shutterstock
21 / 32 Fotos
Unknown quantity
- The flatback turtle is classified by the IUCN Red List as data deficient, meaning there is presently insufficient scientific information to determine its conservation status.
© Getty Images
22 / 32 Fotos
Largest sea turtle
-
© Shutterstock
23 / 32 Fotos
Largest tortoise
- The Galapagos tortoise is equally impressive, reaching lengths of up to 6 ft (1.82 m) and tipping the scales at 573 lbs (260 kg).
© Shutterstock
24 / 32 Fotos
Temper, temper
- Turtles are not aggressive, but can hiss their displeasure if disturbed. Some species, specifically the snapping turtle, can deliver a nasty bite if they feel threatened.
© Shutterstock
25 / 32 Fotos
World's oldest living land animal
- A turtle's lifespan depends on the species. Most aquatic species live into their forties. Some tortoises can live 100 years or more. The world's oldest living land animal is Jonathan, a Seychelles giant tortoise (pictured). In December 2023 Jonathan celebrated his 191st birthday, according to Guinness World Records.
© Getty Images
26 / 32 Fotos
World's smallest tortoise
- The world's smallest species of tortoise is the speckled Cape tortoise. It's restricted to an arid region in the west of South Africa.
© Shutterstock
27 / 32 Fotos
African predator
- The African helmeted turtle, also known as the marsh terrapin, is the most common turtle in Africa. This species is a hunter-scavenger with a taste for young birds and small mammals. It's known for releasing an offensive musky odor when threatened.
© Getty Images
28 / 32 Fotos
Island dweller
- Another rarity is the odd-looking Roti Island snake-necked turtle. So named for its elongated neck, this species is only found on Rote Island in Indonesia. The IUCN lists it as Critically Endangered.
© Getty Images
29 / 32 Fotos
Weird and wonderful
- Arguably the most bizarre-looking turtle species is the Asian giant softshell turtle. Another critically endangered reptile, this creature has a broad head and small eyes close to the tip of its snout. Their shell is soft, flat, and rubbery, which makes this turtle very fast in water.
© Shutterstock
30 / 32 Fotos
Heading for extinction?
-
© Shutterstock
31 / 32 Fotos
© Shutterstock
0 / 32 Fotos
Meet the Testudines
- Turtles belong to a group of reptiles called Testudines, which includes turtles, tortoises, and terrapins.
© Shutterstock
1 / 32 Fotos
As old as the dinosaurs
- Turtles are ancient creatures. They've been on Earth for over 200 million years, longer than snakes, lizards, and crocodiles.
© Getty Images
2 / 32 Fotos
Triassic-era fossils
- In fact, the earliest known turtle fossils date back 220 million years to the Triassic Period. Anatomically, they are nearly identical to modern turtles.
© Shutterstock
3 / 32 Fotos
Abundant species
- There are about 356 species of turtles, including land-dwelling tortoises and freshwater terrapins. They are found all over the world, except Antarctica.
© Shutterstock
4 / 32 Fotos
A world of water
- Turtles spend most of their lives in water. Indeed, they are adapted to aquatic life, having webbed feet or flippers and a streamlined body.
© Shutterstock
5 / 32 Fotos
Sunny side up
- Freshwater turtles are found in ponds and lakes. You often see them on logs or rocks basking in the warm sun.
© Shutterstock
6 / 32 Fotos
Cold-blooded creatures
- As reptiles, turtles are cold-blooded. They have a backbone, breathe air, and lay eggs.
© Shutterstock
7 / 32 Fotos
Housing material
- Turtles and tortoises have a hard outer shell that is made from keratin, the same material that your fingernails are made out of.
© Shutterstock
8 / 32 Fotos
Turtle skeleton
- In fact, a turtle's shell is actually part of its skeleton. It's made up of over 50 bones, which includes its rib cage and spine.
© Shutterstock
9 / 32 Fotos
Taking shelter
- When threatened or danger strikes, a turtle will use their flexible neck to retract their head safely inside their shield-like shell. They can also tuck their feet into their shell.
© Shutterstock
10 / 32 Fotos
Lifelong home
- A turtle cannot come out of its shell; the turtle's shell grows with them. It's impossible for them to grow too big for it.
© Shutterstock
11 / 32 Fotos
Made for the land
- Tortoises are land animals. Instead of webbed feet or flippers, these creatures have round and stumpy feet, adapted for walking on terrain.
© Getty Images
12 / 32 Fotos
Made for water
- On land, most turtles can only walk around 3 mph (4.8 km/h). In water, however, some species reach an impressive 12 mph (19 km/h).
© Shutterstock
13 / 32 Fotos
Solitary creatures
- Turtles are not social creatures. They prefer their own company and rarely interact with other turtles, except to mate.
© Shutterstock
14 / 32 Fotos
Beachgoer
- Likewise, sea turtles rarely leave the ocean, other than to lay eggs in sand on beaches.
© Getty Images
15 / 32 Fotos
Life cycle
- Mating occurs in the spring, summer, and fall. Turtles leave the water to dig a nesting burrow to lay their eggs. For most species, incubation ranges from 45 to 75 days. The sea turtle lays up to 100 eggs.
© Shutterstock
16 / 32 Fotos
A dangerous journey ahead
- According to the World Wildlife Fund, only around one in 1,000 marine turtle hatchlings make it to adulthood.
© Shutterstock
17 / 32 Fotos
What's on the menu?
-
© Getty Images
18 / 32 Fotos
Appetite for anything
- Sea turtles have a voracious appetite, feeding on anything from jellyfish and squid to algae and seagrass, depending on the species.
© Shutterstock
19 / 32 Fotos
All sea turtle species are threatened
-
© Shutterstock
20 / 32 Fotos
Worrying trend
- In this respect, these creatures are trending, but for all the wrong reasons. According to the IUCN, 129 species of turtle and tortoise are either vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered.
© Shutterstock
21 / 32 Fotos
Unknown quantity
- The flatback turtle is classified by the IUCN Red List as data deficient, meaning there is presently insufficient scientific information to determine its conservation status.
© Getty Images
22 / 32 Fotos
Largest sea turtle
-
© Shutterstock
23 / 32 Fotos
Largest tortoise
- The Galapagos tortoise is equally impressive, reaching lengths of up to 6 ft (1.82 m) and tipping the scales at 573 lbs (260 kg).
© Shutterstock
24 / 32 Fotos
Temper, temper
- Turtles are not aggressive, but can hiss their displeasure if disturbed. Some species, specifically the snapping turtle, can deliver a nasty bite if they feel threatened.
© Shutterstock
25 / 32 Fotos
World's oldest living land animal
- A turtle's lifespan depends on the species. Most aquatic species live into their forties. Some tortoises can live 100 years or more. The world's oldest living land animal is Jonathan, a Seychelles giant tortoise (pictured). In December 2023 Jonathan celebrated his 191st birthday, according to Guinness World Records.
© Getty Images
26 / 32 Fotos
World's smallest tortoise
- The world's smallest species of tortoise is the speckled Cape tortoise. It's restricted to an arid region in the west of South Africa.
© Shutterstock
27 / 32 Fotos
African predator
- The African helmeted turtle, also known as the marsh terrapin, is the most common turtle in Africa. This species is a hunter-scavenger with a taste for young birds and small mammals. It's known for releasing an offensive musky odor when threatened.
© Getty Images
28 / 32 Fotos
Island dweller
- Another rarity is the odd-looking Roti Island snake-necked turtle. So named for its elongated neck, this species is only found on Rote Island in Indonesia. The IUCN lists it as Critically Endangered.
© Getty Images
29 / 32 Fotos
Weird and wonderful
- Arguably the most bizarre-looking turtle species is the Asian giant softshell turtle. Another critically endangered reptile, this creature has a broad head and small eyes close to the tip of its snout. Their shell is soft, flat, and rubbery, which makes this turtle very fast in water.
© Shutterstock
30 / 32 Fotos
Heading for extinction?
-
© Shutterstock
31 / 32 Fotos
Terrific tidbits about turtles and tortoises
All you need to know about these ancient mariners
© Shutterstock
Turtles and tortoises are among the oldest animal species on Earth. Evidence of their existence dates back to the time of the dinosaurs. Today, however, 129 of the 356 known examples of this gentle and harmless reptile are either vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). And we are to blame! Human activities have tipped the scales against the survival of these ancient mariners, with many particularly vulnerable to the harmful effects of plastic pollution. Understanding more about these fascinating creatures can help us appreciate their unique place in world, and their ever-increasing vulnerability.
Ready? Click through this gallery and find out more about turtles and tortoises.
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