Turtle Characteristics

In the following article, we are going to show the main characteristics of turtles. Turtles, also known as chelonians, are distinguished not only from other reptiles but from all animals by the following:

The shell

Turtles, also known as chelonians, are distinguished not only from other reptiles but from all animals by their extremely hard bony shell, inside which most of their species can hide their neck and limbs.
The head and the soft part of these limbs are covered with scales similar to those of snakes. The shell is made up of the carapace and the plastron, the former being more or less concave in shape, with a rounded, oval, or heart-shaped outline, and the plastron or ventral part being convex, oval, and more or less flat. Both are joined by a cartilaginous mass, which in some species always remains soft and in others becomes ossified.
There are two large openings in the shell: one at the front, through which the thoracic limbs and head emerge, and another at the back, where the tail and abdominal limbs exit.

The head

The head, very robust, differs from that of other reptiles by having jaws covered with horny plates that form a true cutting beak, as all species lack teeth.
The eyes are small, round, and with round pupils, resembling those of birds. They have two eyelids; the iris is dark in terrestrial forms and brighter in marsh and aquatic ones. The nostrils are two small holes at the tip of the snout. The ear is sometimes covered by the epidermis. The tongue is wide, globular, soft, warty, and cannot be protruded from the mouth. The neck, well defined, is moved easily. The limbs, with five toes, are adapted for walking or are oar-shaped (paddle-like) for swimming. The tail is short and sometimes ends in a horny tip. Between its base and the plastron is the cloaca, rounded or longitudinal, which contains the single copulatory organ, similar to that of crocodiles.

Coloration

The coloration is rather dark, brownish, although there are species, such as marsh turtles, that have stripes or spots of bright yellow.

The senses

Another characteristic of turtles is that they have a well-developed sense of sight and, apparently, see better at a distance.

They have good hearing, and the tympanic membrane is thinner in aquatic species than in terrestrial ones.

They lack a voice, although during mating season they emit a faint moan.

The sense of smell and taste are equally developed, as is touch, which is more sensitive in the soft parts.

Their intelligence, although limited, is greater than it might seem if only the small size of their brain were considered, as they know very well what can harm them and which foods are best for them, and it is not difficult to train them to come and take food from the hands of their caretaker.

Size

The size differences between the various species are quite considerable. The largest specimens (sometimes up to two meters) are found among marine species.
The great vitality of turtles draws the attention of anyone who has the chance to observe them, as they can withstand severe injuries and prolonged fasting without much difficulty. They tolerate heat and drought well, but have difficulty with cold. They can live a long time without breathing and go for long periods without eating.

Thanks to their robust muscular system, turtles are very strong.

Where do turtles live?

Turtles live in the sea, rivers, swamps, humid forests, and sunny places. Marine species spend their lives in the water, either hunting or floating sleepily, except when nesting season arrives, when they go ashore to lay their eggs. Terrestrial species do not dislike water, in which they gladly immerse themselves from time to time, and freshwater turtles live both in water and on land interchangeably, although they prefer to stay in the water. Another characteristic of turtles is winter lethargy, which depends on where they live. It begins with the arrival of the cold days of autumn and ends with the first signs of spring, when reproduction begins.
When laying eggs, it is again evident that turtles are not as unintelligent as some suppose, as the female digs several holes in the sand or soil, in which she lays the eggs and then covers them with a layer of earth or sand.
Turtles are born well-formed, but with a somewhat soft shell, which does not acquire its typical hardness until several years later. The hatchlings are destroyed in large numbers by birds of prey and large fish, and even when fully grown, they still have many enemies, besides humans.

Feeding

Finally, another characteristic of turtles is their diet. The diet of turtles is plant-based for some species, animal-based for others, and mixed for marine turtles. Generally, terrestrial forms are herbivores; marsh turtles are carnivores, with their main food being mollusks, fish, and worms; and marine turtles, whether they love algae and other plants, also hunt and eat jellyfish, crustaceans, fish, and other living creatures, which they enjoy eating.

In other posts, we will show some specific types of turtles or information about our pets, the aquatic turtles.