Turtle Facts
• Among many different turtle facts are that ancient turtles could not retract their heads.
• Turtles can live to be very old---some species up to one hundred years.
• Some turtle facts are documented, such as that one Indian Ocean Giant Tortoise lived 152 years in captivity. The turtle was thought to be fifty years old when caught.
• Turtles live everywhere in the world except on the continent of Antarctica.
• Turtle facts about vocabulary: the top part of the turtle shell which is dome-shaped is called a carapace. The bottom of the turtle shell is called the plastron.
• Turtles are one of the oldest reptiles.
• Some scientists believe turtles have lived on the planet for over 200 million years.
• Turtles are thought to be older than lizards, snakes, crocodiles, mammals or birds.
• One of the turtles who has the longest lifespan is the American Box Turtle.
• North America has several species of turtles.
• The turtle’s protective shell is made up of sixty different bones.
• Chelonians is a division of reptiles consisting of turtles, tortoises and terrapins.
• The word turtle is used to describe turtles, tortoises and terrapins.
• A tortoise is more of a land turtle, who walks across land and carries his own water.
• Turtles live in the water, can swim and they hold their breath underwater.
• All land and water turtles come in all shapes and sizes.
• Turtles have great senses of eyesight and smell.
• There are seven different kinds of sea turtles.
• Kinds of sea turtles in alphabetical order include: Flatback, Green, Hawksbill, Kemp’s Ridley, Leatherback, Loggerhead, Olive Ridley.
• Sea turtles give birth by laying eggs.
• Female tortoises breed by laying their eggs in a hole dug on the beach.
• Turtles like to sun themselves on rocks or logs.
• It takes 2-½ months for turtle eggs to hatch.
• Tortoises are herbivorous, eating plants such as cactus and shrubs.
• Sea Turtles are omnivorous--they eat plants, fish and insects.
• Sea Turtles can lay eggs underwater.
• The majority of turtles have five toes.
• A terrapin is in-between a turtle and a tortoise and lives in wet, swampy areas.
• Sea turtles migrate for great distances.
• The smallest turtle is the Bog Turtle, who is approximately four inches long.
• The Leathery sea turtle is the largest turtle, with some being in the range of 1500 lbs.
• Tortoises have hard, scaly feet for walking on land.
• Tortoises don’t swim but wade into water for baths.
• Some aquatic turtles are able to take in oxygen through their necks and portions of their cloacal areas.
• Many turtles can live in cold climates such as in New England or the Great Lakes.