Turtle
hideCryptodira Pleurodira and see text
Turtles are reptiles of the order Testudines (the crown group of the superorder Chelonia), characterised by a special bony or cartilaginous shell developed from their ribs that acts as a shield. "Turtle" may either refer to the Testudines as a whole, or to particular Testudines which make up a form taxon that is not monophyletic—see also sea turtle, terrapin, tortoise, and the discussion below.
The order Testudines includes both extant (living) and extinct species. The earliest known turtles date from 215 million years ago, making turtles one of the oldest reptile groups and a more ancient group than lizards and snakes. About 300 species are alive today, and some are highly endangered.
Like other reptiles, turtles are ectotherms—varying their internal temperature according to the ambient environment, commonly called cold-blooded. Like other amniotes (reptiles, dinosaurs, birds, and mammals), they breathe air and do not lay eggs underwater, although many species live in or around water. The largest turtles are aquatic.
For more information about Turtle, read the full article at
Wikipedia.
This text uses material from Wikipedia and is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.
News tagged with turtles
Indonesia rejects Bali plan for turtle sacrifices
Nov 27, 2009 |
5 / 5 (1) |
0
(AP) -- Indonesia has rejected a push by the resort island of Bali for rare turtles to be legally slain in Hindu ceremonies, siding with conservationists of the protected reptiles against religious advocates, ...
82 healthy sea turtles hatch at San Diego SeaWorld
Nov 03, 2009 |
4 / 5 (1) |
0
(AP) -- The population of endangered green sea turtles at SeaWorld in San Diego grew by 82 in October when the eggs hatched on Shipwreck Beach without human help.
Remotely Operated Vehicles and Satellite Tags Aid Turtle Studies
Oct 28, 2009 |
not rated yet |
0
(PhysOrg.com) -- Researchers are using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and satellite-linked data loggers to learn more about turtle behavior in commercial fishing areas and to develop new ways to avoid catching ...
Largest turtle-linked salmonella outbreak detailed
Oct 19, 2009 |
not rated yet |
0
(AP) -- Two girls who swam with pet turtles in a backyard pool were among 107 people sickened in the largest salmonella outbreak blamed on turtles nationwide, researchers report.
Captive turtle found to have infectious disease
Oct 05, 2009 |
5 / 5 (1) |
0
An Australian veterinary student said Monday she has documented the country's first known case of a bred-in-captivity turtle acquiring a highly infectious disease which could potentially spread to humans.
Scientists track green turtle’s 900km migration
Oct 02, 2009 |
5 / 5 (1) |
0
(PhysOrg.com) -- University of Exeter scientists are part of the first team to monitor a sea turtle's journey from the Turks and Caicos Islands. The adult female green turtle, named ‘Suzie’ by local fishermen, ...
Feds reviewing humpback whale endangered status
Sep 27, 2009 |
5 / 5 (1) |
0
(AP) -- The federal government is considering taking the humpback whale off the endangered species list in response to data showing the population of the massive marine mammal has been steadily growing in ...
Research team saves turtle species on the brink (w/ Video)
Sep 22, 2009 |
not rated yet |
0
University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) researchers exploring strategies for conserving the Diamondback Terrapin along Alabama's Dauphin Island coastline are working to keep the once-celebrated turtle off ...
Barcoding endangered sea turtles
Sep 14, 2009 |
not rated yet |
0
Conservation geneticists who study sea turtles have a new tool to help track this highly migratory and endangered group of marine animals: DNA barcodes. DNA barcodes are short genetic sequences that efficiently ...
Turtle thought to be extinct spotted in Myanmar
Sep 07, 2009 |
5 / 5 (2) |
1
(AP) -- The rare Arakan forest turtle, once though to be extinct, has been rediscovered in a remote forest in Myanmar, boosting chances of saving the reptile after hunting almost destroyed its population, ...
Study: Loggerhead turtles put at risk by fishing
Sep 03, 2009 |
not rated yet |
0
(AP) -- It's a scene that scientists say is all too common: A commercial fishing boat pulls in a net full of shrimp or tuna and finds a loggerhead sea turtle mixed in with the catch.
New net timer could save sea turtles from drowning
Jun 20, 2009 |
not rated yet |
0
(AP) -- Fishery managers trying to protect rare sea turtles from dying in fishing nets have tapped a Cape Cod company to build a device they think can help balance turtle protection with profitable fishing.
NOAA report finds threats to California's Cordell Bank Marine Sanctuary
Jun 19, 2009 |
not rated yet |
0
A new NOAA report on the health of Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary indicates that the overall condition of the sanctuary's marine life and habitats is fair to good, but identifies several emerging threats to sanctuary ...
Testing begins to save legendary Vietnam turtle
Jun 13, 2009 |
3.5 / 5 (2) |
0
Researchers have begun testing mechanical "SediTurtles" they say will protect a legendary Vietnamese turtle while cleaning the historical lake in which the creature lives.
Scientists identify world's largest leatherback turtle population
May 18, 2009 |
5 / 5 (1) |
0
An international team of scientists has identified a nesting population of leatherback sea turtles in Gabon, West Africa as the world's largest. The research, published in the May issue of Biological Conservation, involv ...
