Turtles
Turtles are reptiles of the order Chelonii or Testudines and are characterised by a special bony shell which is developed from their ribs and acts as a shield against predators.
There are 327 known species of turtle alive today and many of them are an endangered species.
Turtles can range in size from the 0,1 meter Bog turtle to the 680 kilogram Leathery Turtles. Kemp’s Ridley is the smallest and rarest of all sea turtles and is an endangered species as is the leatherback turtle.
The shell of the turtle is what makes it unique. The top domed part of a turtle’s shell is called the carapase and the bottom underlying part is called the plastron. The turtle’s shell also has nerve endings in it. If you touch the shell, a turtle can feel it. Turtles pull their heads and feet into their shells to protect themselves. Some Box turtles can eat so much that they no longer will fit into their shell.
All turtles lay their eggs on land. When in the eggs, turtles take about 2 months to incubate and their sex is determined by the temperature. Under 29 degrees they become male, over 29 degrees they become female.
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