Terrific Turtles

Written by: Natalie Yao

Turtles are reptiles that have lived on Earth for more than 200 million years, making them one of the oldest reptile groups in the world. This means turtles existed even before many dinosaurs appeared! Today, turtles can be found on almost every continent, where the can be found in oceans, rivers, lakes, forests, grasslands, and deserts.

Every turtle has a shell that protects its body. The upper part of the shell is called the carapace, while the lower part is called the plastron. A turtle’s shell is not something it can leave behind. It is connected to the turtle’s spine and ribs and grows along with the animal. The shell is covered with hard plates called scutes. Some turtles can pull their heads, legs, and tails inside their shells when they sense danger. Turtles are generally slow-moving animals, but they are not all slow swimmers. Sea turtles can move quickly through the water using their large flippers. Some turtles also travel enormous distances. Leatherback sea turtles may cross entire oceans while searching for food.

There are more than 350 species of turtles in the world. Turtles that spend most of their lives on land are often called tortoises. Tortoises usually have thick, strong legs and rounded shells. Water turtles tend to have flatter shells and webbed feet that help them swim. Sea turtles have powerful flippers and spend almost their entire lives in the ocean.

Turtles eat many different kinds of food. Some are herbivores that eat grasses, leaves, fruits, and water plants. Others eat insects, worms, fish, jellyfish, or small animals. Many turtles are omnivores, which means they eat both plants and animals. Since turtles do not have teeth, they use their strong, sharp-edged beaks to bite and tear food.

All turtles lay eggs. A female turtle usually digs a hole in sand or soil and places her eggs inside. She then covers the nest and leaves. When the babies hatch, they must survive on their own. Young sea turtles crawl toward the ocean, often guided by the light reflected from the horizon. This journey can be dangerous because birds, crabs, and other predators may try to catch them.

Turtles may move slowly, but they are remarkable survivors. With their protective shells, varied diets, and ability to live in many environments, turtles remain some of the most unusual and beautiful animals on Earth.