Turtle Characteristics

Turtles belong to the animal kingdom, sub-kingdom Eunmetazoa, bilateria branch, of the phylum chordata, sub-phylum of vertebrates, superclass Gnathotomata, class of Reptiles, subclass Anapside, belonging to the order or class of Testudines, (also called Chelonia, or Quelonios), which is subdivided into the suborders of the Criptodiras (the land turtles) and the Pleurodiras (the tortoises of water). They are animals that have existed for at least 280 million years since the Triassic period, being contemporaries of dinosaurs who survived with few apparent evolutionary changes from their ancient ancestors Triassic. Like most reptiles, they are ectothermic animals, that is, they obtain their heat from solar radiation, have scales on their skin, and lay eggs.

The different species inhabit territories as distant as Africa, Europe, America, Asia and Australia, adapting to media diametrically opposed environments, such as deserts, jungles, forests, rivers, lakes and oceans, evolving to adapt to the environment environment. Land tortoises have four legs with which they move slowly; their aquatic relatives evolved by adapting to life in the water, transforming their legs into flippers with which they move quickly and efficiently in the water, migrating thousands of kilometers to spawn.

List of the characteristics of the turtle:

Anatomy.- One of the most outstanding characteristics of this animal is its shell; which is fused to your spine, serving as protection analogous to the ribs from other animals, but also protecting it, in areas of the body that are not protected by the ribs. The presence of the shell prevents thoracic respiratory movement, for which its breathing evolved in such a way that the abdominal muscles comply with said movement allowing the respiration, which is pulmonary, highlighting that turtles such as marine turtles can hold their breath for long periods of time, allowing them to submerge underwater and hunt fish and mollusks. When they feel threatened they tend to hide inside the shell. Most species of tortoises, both land, aquatic and semi-aquatic, do not have teeth, but jaws with a cutting edge with edges similar to a saw and sometimes a kind of beak, with which they destroy the food which swallow.

Their skin lacks fur or feathers like birds and mammals, as well as sweat glands; instead it is covered by scales that protect it. Land and semiaquatic turtles have legs with which they move across the ground. Sea turtles evolved by transforming their legs into flippers, with which they can move through the water quickly. The legs of land and semi-aquatic turtles have claws, while the limbs of their marine relatives have lost them. The tails vary in size according to the species, in some being almost invisible thanks to the shell.

Reproduction.- Turtles, like the rest of the reptiles, reproduce by means of eggs, laying in each clutch depending on the species an average of between 20 to 100 eggs, with species that can exceed 150 eggs in a single clutch, which hatch after an incubation period of around 45 days, but this depends on the species and the temperature conditions of the nest. The males compete to mate with the females, getting to fight giving bites and shoves looking for turn the opponent over, so that he is immobilized, (the shell of the turtles prevents them from return).

Size and life span.- At birth they have a tiny size and their size in the adult form varies from species to species, with some that measure being mature less than 25 centimeters, even some that reach two meters long and weigh more than one hundred or two hundred kilos, having periods of relatively long lives compared to most animals, having verified that some have lived more than 150 years. In this regard, we have the hypothesis (based on findings of archaeological remains of turtles prehistoric), which measured more than 4.6 m and possibly have lived for periods longer than two hundred years.

Feeding.- The feeding of the turtles depends on their habitat; tortoises commonly eat a variety of plants found in nature, such as grass, vegetables, greens, and fruits. On the other hand, marine and aquatic turtles have a carnivorous diet, devouring fish and mollusks that they hunt. In captivity they are usually given in addition to food such as fruits, legumes and vegetables (to tortoises), fish and mollusks (to the marine), some special mineralized and vitaminized foods to maintain their good Health.

Habitat.- The different species have adapted to a great diversity of habitats, both terrestrial and aquatic. Several species of tortoises live in tropical jungles, forests and even deserts, evolving and adapting to prevailing conditions such as heat or droughts; An example of this is their ability to hibernate, which they do in times of drought or cold. In the same way, aquatic turtles have adapted to life in rivers, lakes and in the sea; An example of this happens with sea turtles that have adapted to this environment so much that they only live briefly periods on land, at birth and when spawning, inhabiting much of the oceans, especially in areas warm. Another example of their adaptation to this environment is the ability their lungs and systems have acquired to hold their breath for long periods of time. periods under water, while feeding, or the hydrodynamics of their bodies that allow them to travel long distances during their migrations.

Food chain.- They are the food of various predators both in the ground and in the sea; Their eggs and newly hatched young are easy prey for various species of birds, mammals, and other reptiles; in the same way, when they are adults they are usually eaten by wolves, coyotes, wild dogs and cats, as well as reptiles such as crocodiles and alligators, and in the aquatic environment by sharks among other animals, but perhaps the greatest predator that it currently has is the be human, who consumes them not only to feed himself, but for the sake of having various properties (real or imaginary), increasing their consumption.

Applications.- In addition to being daily food for the locals of their habitat, they are hunted to use their shells for the manufacture of various objects. Another very popular use is as a pet, being captured alive or bred in captivity for it.