Facts, Information, Scientific Name of Turtles
There are 300 species of Turtles, differing in behaviour, Habitat and appearance.
Scientific name – Testidunes. (testa-shell)
Size– upto 6 feet
Distribution of Turtles– Africa, Asia, America, Europe.
Habit and Categories of Turtles
There are two types of Turtles.
Hardshell Turtles–
These are the Turtles which have shells covered with ‘Scute’. Scutes are scales with ‘Horn-like’ projections. These ‘Shells’ or also known as ‘Carapace’ witha wooden texture. Hardshell turtles have legs as well as limbs covered with scutes. Unlike, tortoises, they don’t have elephant-like hind (back) legs.
Hardshell Turtles are either aquatic, partly terrestrial or some live on land.
Sea turtles as well as river turtles both can have hard shells, according to the environment they live in.
Softshell Turtles
Unlike Hard shell turtles, they don’t have scales on their hands and heads. The carapace of the Softshell Turtle is covered with skin without any ‘Scutes’. Legs are webbed to survive in water.
Softshell Turtles mostly prefer to stay in the water.
Sea turtles as well as river turtles consist ofsoftshells.
Turtles exist around 110 million years ago.
Diet-
Land turtles will eat all the leaves near them. They might eat some invertebrates like caterpillars to consume protein.
Sea Turtles majorly consume jellyfish.
Turtle bodyparts and their function-
Scutes or Scales
Scutes comprise Keratin Protein. This type of protein help from the friction attacks, when a turtle clashes against a hard surface. Scutes also prevent bacterial infections, keep the body hydrated and are very strong against any kind of attack.
Flippers– They help to catch prey. Movements on the beach, sustain a grip on the Seafloor and crawl underwater.
Carapace– The carapace is the outer, dorsal shell which is always in concave shaps.
Plastron – Plastron is the ventral shell. It is concave, convex or flat in shape. Plastron shade is lighter in females than males, it is a factor of sex identification among turtles.
Sea Turtles dive deep into the sea, ‘Papillae’ is the organ present in the throat that help them to absorb oxygen into the sea. Sea turtles can come upto the surface at regular intervals and breathe all the oxygen they need for the time being.
Reproduction –
Sea turtles mate in the sea. Females arrive at the beach and lay eggs by digging in the sand and forming a vase-shaped hole. The hole is nearly 2-3 feet tall. She lay eggs and covers the eggs with sand.
In about 2 months, hatchlings break the shell and crawl up the sand and begin their journey towards the sea.
The life span of Sea turtles is 50 years or more. Freshwater turtles nest in the moist sand, with loosened gravel or fine sand. Females incubate the eggs for 50-90 days, sometimes more than 130 days.
Threats and saving the Turtles.
Oil spills affect the surface breathing of Sea turtles, Fishing nets entangled the sea turtles accidentally, and Boat propellers might injure the carapace of sea turtles which defects their floating ability. There are seven species of Sea turtles comprising the world. But six of them are Endangered due to these effects.
Freshwater turtles are under threat because of Pet Trade, Habitat loss. Some of them are poached and trafficked to use as Medicine. Around 17 to 29 species are under threat
There are conservation practices undertaken to protect turtles from the hatchling stage. Olive Ridley Turtles, Leatherback turtles are protected and tracked with the help of satellites, by researchers.
- Also See – Russell’s viper