Animals & Science

Though many people think of turtles as being monochromatic, many species have sections of bright colors on their carapaces (shells), plastrons (the underside of the turtle) and scales. Some of the...

Water turtles can be found all over the world--excluding Antarctica and the Arctic--and make up a diverse group of reptiles. Water turtles live in a variety of habitats, ranging from oceans to...

Endangered sea turtles, just like all endangered animals, need our help to ensure their survival. See the steps below for many ideas for how you can help endangered sea turtles.

Alligator snapping turtles, or snappers, weigh between 155 and 175 lbs, making them the largest freshwater turtles. They can live for up to 45 years in the wild and 70 years in captivity.

Western pond turtles (also referred to as Pacific pond turtles) are found on the West Coast of North America, from Washington state in the United States to Northern Mexico. Locally these turtles...

Painted turtles are popular pets due to their wide availability, docile demeanor and colorful markings. Painted turtles thrive in captivity as long as they have adequate housing and a balanced...

The common snapping turtle is a large, semi-aquatic reptile often purchased as a pet for home aquariums. Before acquiring one for your aquarium, you should learn some important aspects of owning...

Turtles are not particularly dangerous animals. But if you near live a river or lake, or have a homemade pond in your backyard, they can overrun your pond. At that point you may want to find a...

A common snapping turtle, or Chelydra serpentina, resides in freshwater habitats. Snapping turtles reside in ponds, marshes, swamps, river, creeks, streams and sometimes in puddles where they feed...

Turtles are very interesting creatures to study and observe. While potentially a good pet, there are a number of factors you should consider before choosing to care for a turtle.

The term snapping turtle refers to two species of freshwater turtles native to the rivers, lakes and streams of North America. These turtles are known for their powerful snapping jaws and their...

If you have a pond near your home chances are turtles are one of its main residents. For the most part, turtles are harmless and will do a lot of good for your body of water, feeding on dead fish,...

Turtles are very versatile reptiles, living on both land and in water and in various environments. There are turtles that live in deserts, and there are even turtles that live in cold-weather...

The leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) is the largest turtle in the world, the largest of which was discovered stranded on a Welsh beach in 1988 weighing in at 2,019.4 pounds (916...

A turtle is a shelled reptile that lacks teeth. Turtles can be divided into three large categories: tortoises (land turtles), sea turtles and freshwater turtles. The latter group makes up the...

Turtles are among natures most curious creatures. They come in all shapes, sizes, and can live in just about any habitat. While it is very common for some turtles to grow very large, some turtles...

The leatherback turtle is the largest living turtle. Leatherbacks can grow up to 6 to 7 feet in length and weigh an average of 1,300 to 2,000 pounds. Leatherbacks are named for their leathery skin.

"Desert turtle" may refer to one of two species of the family Testudinidae--the Desert Box Turtle and the Desert Tortoise. Both are native to the southwestern United States and Mexico.

Mississippi's Nongame and Endangered Species Conservation Act, passed in 1974, defines as endangered any of the state's indigenous animals whose survival is either threatened or about to become...

You can find turtles almost everywhere on earth; the only place they don't live is the Arctic and Antarctic. There are over 270 species of turtles; these are just a few.

Loggerhead turtles can be found in mainly in warm ocean waters all over the world. They spend almost all of their time underwater, rising to the surface occasionally for air. Not much has been...

The red-eared slider is a common aquatic turtle that can be seen basking on roots and rocks in the wild with its flippers held out and turned up towards the sun. Red eared sliders are also one of...

The loggerhead turtle is a type of sea turtle that, like many other sea turtles, is dwindling in numbers. The species has been placed on the endangered species lists, and is marked as "threatened."

Leatherback sea turtle populations have been declining for many years now. Their numbers are slowly being wiped from the world's oceans. Today, they are considered an endangered species. These...

Leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) are the largest reptiles on the planet, reaching lengths of 4 to 8 feet and weighing 500 to 2,000 lbs.

Loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) are the largest of the hard-shelled sea turtles. A "loggerhead" is a heavy iron hand tool--hence the name for this turtle, which has a large, thick head and...

There are seven species of sea turtle, living in every ocean except the Arctic. All of them are endangered.

The verdict is still out about exactly when the gender of a sea turtle embryo is decided. Researchers do agree, however, that the determination is made after fertilization and that the nest...

How do sea turtles protect themselves? The most obvious answer to this question is prominently displayed upon their backs. The hard, bony external shell, called a carapace, not only indicates the...

Trying to relocate a biting turtle can be anything from easy to challenging, depending on the species. All turtles bite, and some bite with a ferocity that can take away fingers and toes. ...

At first glance, male and female turtles appear very similar to one another. However, there are a few ways to tell males from females. Unique sexual characteristics differ among species, so this...

One of the most impressive species of sea turtles is the leatherback. Named for its leather looking shell, the leatherback may live up to 80 years roaming the globe. Unfortunately, this reptile is...

The flatback sea turtle (Natator depressus) is named for its carapace, which is more flattened than those of other sea turtles. This species has a limited distribution compared to other sea...

The hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) is a member of the sea turtle (Cheloniidae) family. It is found throughout the world's oceans and Atlantic and Pacific subspecies exist. The...

Snapping turtles can become pond pests. They grow quite large, eat fish and may attack ducklings and goslings. Snapping turtles tend to hide in a pond's bottom mud, and they rarely exit water to...

Turtles on land and in ponds can be pests when they eat their way through a vegetable garden or devour a stock of fish. Snapping turtles also present a swimming hazard and many wish to remove them...