Type: Reptile
Diet: Carnivore
Average lifespan in captivity: 20 to 70 years
Size: 26 in (66 cm)
Weight: 220 lbs (100 kg)
Group name: Bale or dole
Turtles came into being about 200 million years ago and have evolved little since then. All turtles lay their eggs on land, even if the water is where they'd rather be.
Turtle video.
Where do turtles live?
In 230 million years, they have evolved to utilize very different habitats. They live everywhere on earth except the Arctic and Antarctic. The following examples will give you an idea of the different habitats:
The Desert Tortoise lives in a hot, arid environment, eats grasses, and has stumpy feet with toes that are not webbed.
The Malayan Box Turtle lives in a hot, humid, aquatic environment, eats everything, (plants, fish, snails, worms, etc.) that it finds in the water, and has webbed feet.
The little Vietnamese Wood Turtle lives in cool, limestone mountains, eats primarily bugs, worms, snails, etc. and has partially webbed toes (although it almost never swims.)
The Diamondback Terrapin live in brackish (slightly salty) lowland coastal waters of the eastern and southern United States, has fully webbed feet and stays in the water most of the time. It eats crayfish, snails, fish, insects and worms.
There are a variety of Sea Turtles that stay in the ocean all the time, coming ashore only to lay eggs. They have flippers. They travel all over the world.
What does a turtle eat?
Famously slow movers, most turtles will wait until their food inadvertently swims or walks within snapping distance. Most are herbivores and graze on grass, plants, bushes and shrubs, although they will also eat small animals or insects that happen to be mixed with their food.
Did you know this about turtles?
Many turtle species can live over 100 years. A giant Galapagos land tortoise named Harriet is around 175 years old, and an Aldabra tortoise is said to have been 250 years old when it died.
The speckled padloper tortoise of South Africa is the world's smallest turtle species. Adults grow no larger 3 inches in length and weigh around 5 ounces.
The endangered leatherback sea turtle is the world's largest turtle species. It can reach over 6-½ feet in length and weigh up to a ton.
Turtles are divided into two groups depending on how they contract their neck. One group (Cryptodira) contracts their neck under their spine; the other (Pleurodira) contracts their neck to the side.
Turtle images
Turtle Wallpapers
Download free Turtle wallpapers, click on the image to open the large version.
Turtle wallpaper 1
Turtle wallpaper 2
Turtle wallpaper 3
Turtle wallpaper 4
Turtle wallpaper 5
Turtle Coloring pages
Print free Turtle coloring pages, click on the image to open the large version.
Turtles came into being about 200 million years ago and have evolved little since then. All turtles lay their eggs on land, even if the water is where they'd rather be. 
