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Table of Contents
The turtle is classified as a shelled reptile creature. All tortoises are turtles, yet not all turtles are tortoises. Turtles are the planet’s oldest reptile group, outliving snakes and crocodiles. The existence of the shelled structure distinguishes the turtle-tortoise pair. The shell comprises cartilage that grows from the ribs and wraps around the body.
See the fact file below for more information on the Turtle, or you can download our 37-page Turtle worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.
Key Facts & Information
ORIGIN AND EVOLUTION
- Turtles first occur in the fossil record 215 million years ago, during the Triassic epoch. This means they have a long fossil history than any other surviving four-legged mammal.
- Turtles already existed when the first dinosaurs arose, sharing the ancient oceans with ichthyosaurs, seeing pterosaurs fly overhead, and witnessing the appearance of the first little, hairy animals.
- Turtles, which saw minimal alteration, watched the emergence of birds from feathered dinosaurs and the evolution of certain early mammals into elephants, whales, bats, and even humans.
- They discovered the first fossil turtles (Proganochelys) in Germany’s late Triassic (Norian) sedimentary strata. These ancient turtles lived on land or in marshes and had a 3 ft (1m) shell length.
- The shell of prehistoric creatures, like those of contemporary turtles, was made up of a rounded top half (or carapace) and a flattened bottom half (plastron).
- The oldest fossil turtles had a carapace with ten vertebrae, their corresponding ribs, and extra bone between them. The skull was securely built, with no temporal holes, and the jaws were toothless and likely beaked, as in contemporary turtles.
- However, there were little teeth in the palate, which are uncommon in living turtles. The endangered Kemp’s Ridley marine turtle has eight cervical vertebrae (Lepidochelys kempii).
- The (neck) vertebrae were primitive in that they had not changed to allow the head to retract into the shell.
- Turtles are enormous animals with a lot of bones. Furthermore, they are frequently found in wet or marshy areas, where their bones are likely to be buried and preserved.
- As a result, their remains are discovered regularly in Jurassic and younger sedimentary layers. Many fossils have been found in North American Cretaceous strata.
TYPES AND CLASSIFICATIONS
- Turtles are classified as reptiles since they are the oldest extant reptile species on the earth, even older than snakes and crocodiles.
- According to evolutionary research, the earliest members of this group date back to the Middle Jurassic.
- Turtles and tortoises are in the same order, Testudines (Chelonia is another name for the Testudines). They are the order of creatures that have a natural shell on their body.
- Although turtles and tortoises are members of the same order, they are of different genera and species. The turtle-tortoise pair is classified as a reptile.
- Turtles are classed as part of the Animalia kingdom, which is further divided into the phylum Chordata, distinguished by the spinal cord’s existence.
- As previously stated, turtles are classified as reptiles. Turtles are classified under reptilia, which is further classified into the clade Perichelydia, consisting of living or extinct organisms (turtle tortoise and another relative organism) dating back to the Middle Jurassic to the Holocene geological period.
- The clade is subdivided into orders. Both the turtle tortoise and the tortoise belong to the order of Testudines. There are several turtle species listed within the order.
- The Indian tent turtle and the Indian black turtle are two examples of turtle tortoise species.
- Turtles are fascinating animals known for their shells and are relatives of tortoises. These reptiles evolved millions of years before humans arrived. Turtles can be found on rocky terrain and in the water.
- There are several types of turtles, some of them includes:
Sea turtles
- There are seven types of sea turtles, commonly known as marine ones. Among them are Leatherback, hawksbill, green, flatback, loggerhead, Kemp’s Ridley, and olive ridley. There are two types of sea turtles classified as hard-shelled (cheloniid) and leathery-shelled (cheloniid) (Dermochelyidae).
- Species: Leatherback sea turtle, Green sea turtle, Hawksbill sea turtle
Snapping turtles
- Snapping turtles are known for their size and aggression. They feature a brown to black outer shell, a tiny cross-shaped lower shell, a long tail, and a massive head with hooked jaws.
- Species: Alligator Snapping Turtle
Softshell turtles
- Some of the enormous freshwater turtles are found in the softshell turtle category. Because of the softness of their carapaces, they are known as softshells.
- Species: Spiny softshell turtle, Smooth softshell turtle
Box turtles
- When it comes to physical appearance and land behaviors, box turtles are identical to gigantic tortoises. They are a form of semi-aquatic turtle.
- Species: Three-toed box turtle, Eastern box turtle
Asian box turtle
- There are 12 more Asian box turtle species that are terrestrial, semi-aquatic, or aquatic. The Asian box turtle comes in various hues, including red, brown, grey, and black. Some may also have white, yellow, orange, or white stripes on their carapace keels.
- Species: Golden coin turtle, Chinese box turtle
Painted turtles
- The most common native turtle in North America is the painted turtle. The turtle’s skin is often olive or black, with red, orange, and yellow lines. Its carapace is also ridgeless and black.
- Species: Western Painted turtles, Southern-painted turtle
Musk turtles
- A musk turtle, sometimes known as a common musk turtle or an eastern musk turtle, is a kind of mud turtle. It’s also known as a stinkpot because of the unpleasant odor it emits from the edge of its shell to ward off predators.
Mud turtles
- Mud turtles are less than musk turtles in size. They love to reside in densely forested lakes, rivers, and marshes. They also do better in clean, oxygenated water. They can, however, endure brackish water. They do not bask like other turtles.
- Species: Eastern mud turtle
Map turtles
- The map turtle is a freshwater turtle that comes in 14 different kinds. Half of the species were classified as threatened, vulnerable, or endangered by the IUCN, including the yellow-blotched and ringed map turtle.
- It is due to their preference for living in flowing water sources such as rivers, creeks, and streams, where human encroachment threatens their reproduction.
- Species: Northern Map Turtles, Ouachita Map Turtle, False map turtle
Wood turtle
- Wood turtles measure 8 inches in length. Their shells are one-of-a-kind. Each of its scutes resembles a pyramid. Their shells are brown, while their necks and legs are crimson. They prefer to spend their time near the water, in the shallows. They may, however, be found in woods and grasslands.
Chicken turtles
- The chicken turtle favors slow-moving, shallow, or stagnant bodies of water. Since they are carnivorous, they devour crayfish, dragonflies, tadpoles, spiders, and carrion. They are also semi-aquatic, spending more than half of their time on land. They love sunbathing because it assists them in regulating their body temperature.
Other types of turtles
- African side-neck, river, and pond turtles are other varieties of turtles.
- Sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar, Sao Tome, and Seychelles are home to African side-neck turtles.
- The African side-necked turtle lives a long time. They can live for 50 years or longer.
- The river turtle is a member of the Emydidae, Dermatemydidae, Geoemydidae, and Podocnemididae families. It prefers to live in freshwater environments.
HABITAT AND DISTRIBUTION
- The turtles are extensively scattered throughout the planet; the only area where you can find neither the turtle nor the tortoise is in the polar regions.
- The turtle may exist in aquatic-terrestrial and oceanic settings, indicating that they can live in various conditions.
- Some turtle species are found on land and water, meaning they live on land for a portion of their lives before moving to the ocean or sea.
- It is vital to understand that turtles’ habitats are often watery. The turtle is usually found in the ocean or aquatic ecology, whereas tortoises are considered terrestrial creatures.
- The acceptable environmental component for the habitat might vary depending on the species. For example, turtles usually are not found in deep altitudes, but certain species of turtle, such as the leatherback sea turtle, can dive to a depth of 4,100 feet in the sea.
- In contrast, some species dwell at great altitudes. One such species is Terrapene ornata, located in Mexico and lives at 6,600 feet.
- The Amazon basin, the Southeastern United States, tropical West African coastal countries, Southeast Asia, Himalayan mountain ranges, and mountain ranges stretching to Bengal are among the primary places with a large population of turtles and tortoises.
- Other areas with turtle and tortoise species variety include Myanmar, Thailand’s Malay peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo’s island, Cambodia, Vietnam, and China’s southern coast.
DIET
- The majority of turtle and tortoise species are omnivorous. An omnivore is a creature that consumes both plants and animals.
- It is well observed that terrestrial or land-dwelling turtles are herbivores that feed on plant leaves and fruits.
- The coastal or oceanic species of turtle are carnivores, feeding on creatures like mollusks, worms, and bug larvae. These are often discovered in the sedimentary layer.
- Because the turtle or tortoise lacks the agility and speed necessary to hunt other animals, these creatures are selected.
- Some species that feed on other creatures, such as tiny turtles and tortoises, are outliers to this norm.
- African helmeted turtles and snapping turtles are two examples of such species; both are land-dwelling species that hunt on creatures such as frogs, reptiles (including other turtles), birds, and mammals; they may ambush them but also scavenge.
- The turtle in the aquatic ecosystem typically consumes marine grasses, but when these are unavailable, the organism’s diet shifts from grass to algae bloom in the water.
- These creatures will occasionally consume bone fragments and hair from other organisms to augment their diet.
REPRODUCTION
- Because the turtle is one of the evolved animals that practice sexual reproduction, its mating behavior varies from species to species.
- Still, one consistent feature across all species is the lack of formation of mating pairs. As previously said, males and females of the species differ in size, with males typically bigger than females, resulting in the rise of sexual dimorphism.
- The size difference between the male and female counterparts of the same species is known as sexual dimorphism.
- It is often observed that a large-bodied male is favored for mating. As a result, the biggest turtle mates with numerous females.
- The fertilization process is internal, and the female of the species subsequently lays eggs.
- Turtles have an extremely long life span; it has been noted that certain tortoises may live for up to 176 years.
- It has also been shown that the mature male of the species has a 95% survival rate.
TURTLE MORPHOLOGY
Turtle Worksheets
This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about the Turtle across 37 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about the Turtle, a reptile that is characterized by a hard shell on its back, which acts as a protective covering, they have a distinctive, slow-moving gait and are found in a variety of environments, both on land and in water.
Complete List of Included Worksheets
Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.
- Turtle Facts
- Prey or Predator?
- Real Findings
- Morphology
- Turtle Exhibit
- Piece Me Together
- Diet Plan
- Enlightenment
- A Turtle’s Life
- Wild Profile
- Testu-Diversity
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the different types of turtles?
There are several types of turtles, including freshwater, terrestrial, and marine turtles. Freshwater turtles are found in rivers, lakes, and swamps, while terrestrial turtles live on land. Marine turtles are found in oceans and seas and are well-adapted to life in saltwater environments. Some of the most common species of turtles include the box turtle, the red-eared slider, the painted turtle, the green sea turtle, and the loggerhead sea turtle.
What do turtles eat?
A turtle’s diet varies depending on the species and the environment in which it lives. Some turtles are omnivorous, eating plants and animals, while others are strictly herbivorous or carnivorous. Freshwater turtles may feed on insects, snails, worms, and other aquatic animals, while marine turtles may eat jellyfish, sea grasses, and small fish. Terrestrial turtles may feed on leaves, fruits, and other vegetation.
How long do turtles live?
The lifespan of a turtle depends on several factors, including the species, the environment, and the quality of care it receives. Some turtles have been known to live for over 100 years in captivity, while others have a lifespan of only a few decades. In the wild, turtles may live for anywhere from 30 to 80 years or more.
What is the biggest turtle in the world?
The largest turtle in the world is the leatherback sea turtle. Leatherbacks can grow up to 7 feet in length and weigh up to 2,000 pounds. They are well-adapted to life in the ocean and can dive to great depths in search of food.
Why are turtles important?
Turtles play an essential role in the ecosystem by serving as predators and prey. They help to control the populations of other animals, such as insects and smaller reptiles, and they provide food for larger predators, such as birds of prey and mammals. Turtles also play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems by distributing nutrients and helping to control the growth of certain plant species. Additionally, many species of turtles are considered to be indicators of the health of their habitats and are used to monitor the impacts of human activities on the environment.
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Link will appear as Turtle Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, February 8, 2023
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