The beak of a turtle is adapted for it's primary diet. Carnivorous species have sharp hooked beaks to grasp and slice animal prey. Vegetarian turtles and those that eat mollusks have beaks with flat, broad crushing surfaces. Turtles can be found on every continent except Antarctica. They have adapted to a wide range of habitats, including deserts, rainforests, mountains, and rivers.
Marine turtles occur in tropical and temperate seas throughout the world.
Many of the terrestrial turtles are referred to as tortoises . In the United Kingdom and many other countries, freshwater turtles are called terrapins . In the United States, this name is used for a species that lives in brackish water. Today, many species of turtles are threatened with extinction. Human activities, such as habitat destruction and overcollecting, are the main causes of diminishing populations.