Animal of the Week

Turtles

* The first known turtles existed 200 million years ago.
* There are approximately 300 species of turtles.
* Turtles live on every continent except Antarctica.
* Turtles are cold-blooded. One way they regulate their temperature is by basking.
* Some turtles, such as the Musk turtle, emit an odor when startled.
* Not all turtles and tortoises hibernate.
* The blood of hibernating turtles acts somewhat like antifreeze, allowing it to tolerate cold temperatures.
* Some female turtles produce eggs four years after mating.
* Many species make sound, especially while mating.
* Incubation temperature determines the sex of the hatchling.
* All turtles lay their eggs on land.
* Hatching turtles have an egg tooth at the end of their beak to help open the egg.
* Some land turtles can out run a human.
* The smallest turtle, the Speckled Padloper is 4". The largest is the Leatherback sea turtle, that can
reach up to 10' in length.
* Turtle shells DO break.
* The color and patterns of each species allows them to blend into their natural environment.
* Turtles can regrow bony and keratin tissue.
* Not all turtles have hard shells. For example, Softshell turtles and sea turtles have flexible shells.
* Box turtles are not the only turtles with a hinge to allow part of their shell to move.
* Turtle shells are built into their skeleton.
* The top shell, the carapace, is made up of approximately 50 bones.
* Counting the growth rings on the scutes (scales) of the top shell does not tell the age of the turtle or tortoise.
* Some turtles have hinges on their shells to enable them to close up tightly inside.
* Turtles cannot protrude their tongues from their mouths.
* Aquatic turtles have streamlined shells to help them move through the water. They also have webbing between their toes.
* Aquatic turtles must be in water to eat.
* Tortoises only go to water to drink. They do not swim.
* Some tortoises can dig burrows 45 feet long.
* Many turtles are expert climbers.
* Land turtles ears are sensitive to ground vibration.
* A group of turtles is classically called a bale.
* One of the most common health problems is MBD, Metabolic Bone Disease, caused by improper diet and care.
* All turtles and tortoises do not have the same habitat and nutritional requirements. Therefore, it is very important to research the kind of animal you have or plan to own.
* Turtles have good eyesight, seeing in full color and a strong sense of smell. They have excellent hearing and sense of touch. Their shells have feeling due to nerve endings.
* Instead of teeth, turtles have a sharp beak for eating. Depending on species, the beak may be scissor-like, hook-like, or serrated. The earliest turtles did have teeth and could not retract their head.
* Some turtles can live up to a year without food.
* Tortoises from dry environments have thick scales on the skin to prevent fluid evaporation. Aquatic and semi-aquatic turtles have thinner skin and lack heavy scales.
* Turtles shed their skin in small flakes rather than pieces like other reptiles.
* Sea turtles can swim up to 35 mile per hour.
* Several species, including the American Box turtle, can live to be over 100 years old.
* One documented case of longevity is of an adult Indian Ocean Giant Tortoise. After being captured and estimated to be 50 years old, it lived another 152 years in captivity.