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Overview of Turtles and Their Biology

Turtles are a reptile order characterized by a bony or cartilaginous shell developed from their ribs that acts as a shield. The earliest turtles date back 220 million years, making them one of the oldest reptile groups. Of the 356 known living turtle species, some are highly endangered. While turtles are ectothermic and their body temperature varies with their environment, leatherback sea turtles have a noticeably higher internal temperature than the surrounding water due to their high metabolism.

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4 views1 page

Overview of Turtles and Their Biology

Turtles are a reptile order characterized by a bony or cartilaginous shell developed from their ribs that acts as a shield. The earliest turtles date back 220 million years, making them one of the oldest reptile groups. Of the 356 known living turtle species, some are highly endangered. While turtles are ectothermic and their body temperature varies with their environment, leatherback sea turtles have a noticeably higher internal temperature than the surrounding water due to their high metabolism.

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udines (or Chelonii[3]) characterized by a special bony or cartilaginous shell developed from

their ribs and acting as a shield.[4]"Turtle" may refer to the order as a whole (American English) or
to fresh-water and sea-dwelling testudines (British English).[5] The order Testudines includes both
extant (living) and extinct species. The earliest known members of this group date
from 220 million years ago,[1][6] making turtles one of the oldest reptile groups and a more ancient
group than snakes or crocodilians. Of the 356 known species[2] alive today, some are
highly endangered.[2]
Turtles are ectotherms—animals commonly called cold-blooded—meaning that their internal
temperature varies according to the ambient environment. However, because of their high
metabolic rate, leatherback sea turtles have a body temperature that is noticeably higher than
that of the surrounding water. Turtles are classified as amniotes, along with other reptiles, birds,
and mammals. Like other amniotes, turtles breathe air and do not lay eggs underwater, although
many species live in or around water. The study of turtles is called cheloniology, after the Greek
word f

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