- Turtles are reptiles with hard shells that protect them from predators. The upper part of the shell is called the carapace and the lower portion called the plastron
- Turtles are among the oldest and most primitive groups of reptiles
- There are hundreds of species of turtles, each has special adaptive characteristics for each habitat that they live in
- Turtles spend most of their lives in water. They are adapted for aquatic life, with webbed feet or flippers and a streamlined body
- Many turtles are able to retract their heads and feet into their shells
- Turtles are not social creatures, but they don’t mind if there are other turtles around them
- Some species sound like electric motors, others sound like belching humans and some bark like dogs
- Most turtles are omnivores
- All turtles lay eggs. No species of turtle nurture their young. After digging a hole in the sand or dirt and depositing the eggs, the female leaves the covered nest. The temperature of the sand affects the sex of the turtle.
- Every turtle has to breathe air, although some can hold their breath for an extended time
- The earliest known turtle fossils are from the Triassic Period, about 220 million
References; Nationalgeographic.com, Wikipedia, Britannica.com, BBC.com, Australiangeographic.com, Birdlife.org.au,worldwildlife.com
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