### animal | vertebrate | reptile | turtle | tortoise:

Desert tortoise
* Most desert tortoises feed on shrubs.
* Most desert tortoises have dome shells
* Most desert tortoises live in areas
* Most desert tortoises use burrows
  - sharp claws
* Some desert tortoises carry diseases
  - create environments
  - eat insects
* Some desert tortoises emerge from burrows
* Some desert tortoises have characteristics
  - receive vitamins
  - hard shells
* share habitats.

Egyptian tortoise
* Most egyptian tortoises feed on grass.
* Some egyptian tortoises belong to families.
* needs refuge in Israel.

Female tortoise
* Some female tortoises can be very selective about what constitutes a suitable nesting site.
* dig and lay about a dozen eggs in burrows or holes they dig.
* dig burrows in which they lay from two to twelve eggs
  - to lay their eggs in
* have a completely flat lower shell surface.
* make no vocalizations at all.

Giant tortoise
* All giant tortoises are indeed giant.
* Most giant tortoises have heads
  - lifespans
  - round heads
  - live for years
* Some giant tortoises eat fruit
  - reach maturity
* are large tortoises
  - now under strict conservation laws and are categorised as threatened species
* can also survive for long periods without food or water.
  - rather peaceful, trouble-free lives

### animal | vertebrate | reptile | turtle | tortoise:

Gopher tortoise
* Most gopher tortoises eat plants.
* Most gopher tortoises have dome shells
  - front legs
  - hind legs
  - strong legs
  - tails
  - temperature
* Most gopher tortoises live in areas
  - sandy areas
* Most gopher tortoises maintain constant temperature
* Some gopher tortoises carry capacity.
* Some gopher tortoises eat fruit
* Some gopher tortoises engage in behavior
  - mate behavior
  - spread seeds
* are a legally protected species
  - afforded different levels of legal protection throughout their range
  - fairly elusive creatures
  - herbivore scavengers
  - herbivores
  - herbivorous, and can be handled without fear of being bitten
  - known as a keystone species
  - land dwelling turtles which live in dry uplands
  - like small bulldozers
  - mainly herbivores that feed on low growing plant life
  - one of the few species of tortoise that dig burrows
  - reptiles
  - slow to reach sexual maturity, have a low fecundity, and a long life span
* burrow into the sand, providing living space for numerous other animals.
* feed mainly on low-growing plants that require abundant sunlight.
  - populations all the way up into South Carolina
* inhabit regions.
* waddle through the meadows.

Greek tortoise
* Some greek tortoises grow into adults
  - healthy adults
* exhibit behavior.

Land tortoise
* Most land tortoises consume food.
* Some land tortoises are vegetarian, and spend their days grazing and foraging.
* are common in Syria.
* travel slowly but can sometimes manage human walking speeds.

Large tortoise
* Most large tortoises live for years.
* are among the longest-lived animals on the planet
* have large home ranges and small tortoises have small home ranges.

Male tortoise
* Most male tortoises defend territory
  - have tails
* Some male tortoises have home range size
* exhibit behavior.
* have a long tail and females have a short fat tail
* tend to have a longer, protruding neck plate than their female relatives.

Pancake tortoise
* Most pancake tortoises have shells.
* can be hardy and long-lived in captivity.

Wild tortoise
* Some wild tortoises carry diseases.
* dig depressions in the sand to catch rain.
* rely on dried vegetation for food when the spring flowers and grasses are gone.

Water turtle
* Most water turtles are predominantly carnivores, but often like to get some fruit and greens
  - go deep into the pond and snuggle down into some mud and leaves at the bottom
* are primarily a look-at pet.
* eat and defecate in water.
* feed under the water so it is necessary to change their water every day.