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.
32 Interesting and Fun Facts about Turtle
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.
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 that 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 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, which 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 the 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.
