Turtles

By Connor

Turtles

• Turtles are reptiles

• They have a strong shell

• Turtles are cold blooded (ectothermal)

• Many turtle species are endangered

• Turtles have good night vision

Turtles

• Turtles breathe air and don’t lay eggs underwater but live in or near water. Turtles have their eyes close to the top of their head because they look down at stuff in front of them. Turtles use their jaws to cut and chew food. Carnivorous turtles have really sharp ridged teeth for slicing prey while herbivorous turtles have sharp serrated teeth for cutting through tough plants.

The Shell of a Turtle

• The shell of a turtle acts a a shield for them. The inner layer of the shell is made up of about 60 bones that include the backbone and the ribs that make the turtle stuck inside of its shell. In most turtles, horny scales called scutes that are part of its outer skin or epidermis that cover the outer layer of the shell.

Shell continued and breathing

• Scutes overlap the seams between the shell bones of a turtle and add strength to the shell. The shell makes the turtles breathe differently from other reptiles Instead, they pull air into their mouth then push it into their lungs and then into the oscillations of the floor of their throat.

Shell Continued and breathing

• Then, by contraction the abdominal muscles, that cover the posterior opening of the shell, the internal size of the shell increases, drawing air onto the lungs, allowing the muscles to function. Some turtles don’t have scutes but have leathery skin overlapping their shell bone instead. This is called buccal pumping.

Shell continued…• The turtle’s shell makes it difficult for

predators to crush the shell between their jaws. One exception is the African pancake turtle, which has a flat, flexible shell that allows it to hide in rock crevices. Most aquatic turtles have flat streamlined shells, which aid them in swimming and diving. The most common colours of a turtles shell are brown, black, and olive green.

Picture of an African Pancake Turtle

Tortoises and turtles

• The difference between a turtle and a tortoise is that a turtle is either aquatic or spends most of its time in water while tortoises live mostly on land. Tortoises have short sturdy feet. Tortoises move very slowly because of their extremely heavy shell. Aquatic turtles have webbed feet with long claws. These aquatic turtles swim in a motion

similar to the doggy paddle. Picture of a Galapagos Tortoise, the largest tortoise in the world

Turtles• Larger turtles tend to swim less then smaller

ones, and the very big species, such as the Alligator Snapping turtle, hardly swim at all. Although many turtles spend large amounts of time underwater, they breathe air, meaning that they have to come up for air regularly.

Picture of a turtle swimming

Turtles• Turtles lay eggs that are slightly soft and leathery. In some

species of turtles, the temperature decides the chances that it will be a male of female. The warmer it is, the more likely it will be a female, while the cooler it is the more likely it will be a male. The eggs are laid in large numbers in holes made by the mother ins sand, dirt, or mud then left to fend for themselves when they are born. When they are born, they race to the water for safety from predators like birds. No known species of turtles takes care of their young.

Picture of turtle eggs

The Alligator Snapping Turtle• The alligator snapping turtle is one of the largest turtle

species in the world. It has a large heavy head, and a long, thick shell with 3 dorsal ridges of large scales. They can be distinguished from the Common Snapping Turtle by 3 distinct rows of spikes whereas the Common Snapping Turtle has a smooth carapace. The Alligator Snapping turtle is a solid gray or black colour, often covered with algae.

Picture of the Alligator Snapping Turtle

Alligator Snapping Turtle vs. the Common Snapping Turtle

• They can be distinguished from the Common Snapping Turtle by 3 distinct rows of spikes whereas the Common Snapping Turtle has a smooth carapace. The Alligator Snapping turtle is a solid gray or black colour, often covered with algae.

Alligator Snapping Turtle Common Snapping Turtle

Alligator Snapping Turtle

These turtles are carnivorous, but are also scavengers. They usually eat fish and dead fish carcasses, but are also known to eat snakes and other smaller turtles. Even though they are called the alligator Snapping Turtle, they do not actually eat alligators. They were given that name because of their immense size and 3 spikes on their shells.

The End