Turtle
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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
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News tagged with turtles
Indonesia rejects Bali plan for turtle sacrifices
Nov 27, 2009 |
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(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, ...
Captive turtle found to have infectious disease
Oct 05, 2009 |
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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.
Turtle thought to be extinct spotted in Myanmar
Sep 07, 2009 |
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(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, ...
Testing begins to save legendary Vietnam turtle
Jun 13, 2009 |
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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 |
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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 ...
Rare prehistoric pregnant turtle found in Utah
Other Sciences / Archaeology & Fossils
May 08, 2009 |
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(AP) -- Paleontologists say a 75-million-year-old turtle fossil uncovered in southern Utah has a clutch of eggs inside, making it the first prehistoric pregnant turtle found in the United States.
Prehistoric turtle goes to hospital for CT scan in search for skull, eggs, embryos
Other Sciences / Archaeology & Fossils
Apr 15, 2009 |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- Michael Knell carried a 75-million-year-old turtle into Bozeman Deaconess hospital recently, then laid it carefully on the bed that slides into the CT scanner.
Uni-flipper turtle gets it straight with swimsuit
Apr 11, 2009 |
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(AP) -- Allison, a green sea turtle with only one flipper, has been going around and around and around for most of her life.
Prehistoric Turtle Threatened by Modern Menace
Mar 13, 2009 |
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They survived the extinction of the dinosaurs. They're descendants of one of the oldest family trees in history, spanning 100 million years. But today leatherback turtles, the most widely distributed reptiles ...
No place like home: New theory for how salmon, sea turtles find their birthplace
Biology /
Dec 01, 2008 |
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How marine animals find their way back to their birthplace to reproduce after migrating across thousands of miles of open ocean has mystified scientists for more than a century. But marine biologists at the University of ...
Revealing the evolutionary history of threatened sea turtles
Biology /
Oct 15, 2008 |
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It's confirmed: Even though flatback turtles dine on fish, shrimp, and mollusks, they are closely related to primarily herbivorous green sea turtles. New genetic research carried out by Eugenia Naro-Maciel, ...
Leatherback turtles' newly discovered migration route may be roadmap to salvation
Biology /
Jul 15, 2008 |
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With a name like "Leatherback Turtle" you might think the sea turtles could stand up to just about anything the ocean can throw at them, and for more than a hundred million years, they have. But tough, long-lived critters ...
82 healthy sea turtles hatch at San Diego SeaWorld
Nov 03, 2009 |
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(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 |
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(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 |
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(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.
