Facts About Turtles

Facts About Turtles

 

   

 

Turtles are fascinating creatures of the sea that resemble tortoises and are excellent swimmers. Their soft bodies are protected with a heard shell and they have highly developed flippers that help them swim in strong ocean currents. Turtles are known to be one of the oldest reptile groups inhabiting the earth, with the earliest turtles dating back almost 215 million years. There are around 300 species alive in the present day world and many of them are included in the endangered species list. Today, many people prefer to keep turtles as exotic pets and rigorous conservation programs are going on around the world to protect this fascinating creature. Check out some really interesting facts on turtles given below.

 

Interesting and Amazing Information on Turtles 

 

• It has been more than 200 million years since turtles have inhabited this earth. They were the first ones to have evolved much before different species of crocodiles, mammals, birds, snakes and even lizards!
• The very first turtles had teeth and unlike the turtles of today, could not pull in their heads. Apart from this, the turtles we see today are very much the same as the earliest ones.
• Many species of turtles can live upto a 100 years, including the American Box Turtle. In an amazing documentation of an adult Indian Ocean Giant Tortoise, it was captured when it was around 50 years old and survived a staggering 152 more years in captivity!
• You can find turtles on almost all continents except Antarctica. Most turtles don't adapt too well in cold regions but one specie known as Blanding's turtle has been seen swimming under ice in Great Lakes region.
• Turtles come in a huge variety of sizes. The smallest one is the 4 inch Bog turtle and the largest one is the 1500 pound Leatherback turtle.
• The domed top part of the shell of a turtle is known as carapace and the underlying soft part is called plastron.
• The shell of a turtle itself is made up of almost 60 different bones, which are connected all together, making it hard and strong. The bony area of the shell is covered with plates known as scutes that are derived from the skin and offer strength and protection.
• Turtles are known to possess excellent eyesight and a keen sense of smell. Hearing and sense of touch are both good and in fact, the shell also contains nerve endings!
• Certain species of aquatic turtles can absorb oxygen through skin pores on the neck, which allows them to remain underwater for long durations. They also tend to hibernate under water due to this feature.