Types of Turtles: Lots of Pictures and Clear Info Loggerhead Sea turtle Land Tortoise Many people seem to be confused with the apt usages of the terms “turtle” and” tortoise “. To put it in a simple manner, the term “turtle” applies to the members of the reptilian family that reside in Oceans and fresh water, while they call those thriving on land as “tortoises.” However, the main reason for the confusion is due to language interpretations. In British English, the term 'turtle' refers to those reptiles residing mainly in the sea, and 'tortoise' refers to the ones inhabiting in the land, while in American English, 'turtle' is a general term coined for all the species belonging to this family; and the species thriving in the sea are more specifically mentioned as 'sea turtles'. Classification of Turtles Two suborders Turtles are the reptiles coming from the Testudines order, which you can further divide into fourteen families, altogether about 97 genera of the species reptiles.

The fourteen families can be further subdivided into two suborders: Testudines order Podocnemididae Cryptodira (consisting 11 families) Those turtles belonging to the Cryptodira sub-order have the characteristic ability to retract their head into the shell. Here is a description of each of the 11 families with a brief representative description of one sample turtle from each family. 1. Carettochelyidae Carettochelys insculpta or pig-nosed turtle, Fly River turtle or pitted-shelled turtle is the only living species of the family Carettochelyidae, subfamily Carettochelyinae. You find these turtles in south of New Guinea and Northern Australia. Description of Pig-Nosed Turtle (Carettochelys insculpta) Carettochelys insculpta or the pig-nosed turtle live mainly in the Southern part of New Guinea and Northern Australia. These turtles are not aquatic and there is not much information on them. 2.

Cheloniidae Belonging to the Chelonioidea super family, the Cheloniidae are a family of sea turtles including: Caretta Caretta or Loggerhead sea turtle Lepidochelys olivacea or the Olive Ridley Lepidochelys-kempii or Ridleys sea turtles (Kemp’s) Chelonia mydas or Green sea faring turtle Description of Lepidochelys Olivacea or the Olive Ridley Sea-Turtle Amongst the smallest sea turtles existing, the Olive Ridley got its name from the Olive color of its shell. These adult turtles reach a length of between 2 to 2 and 2ï¿½ feet and can way between 80 to 110 pounds. The very high number of vertebral costal scutes (6 to 9 pairs) identifies this species. Some people call this turtle as a Pacific version of the Sea Turtle.

You can find these turtles in the typically warm tropical waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans Description of the Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas) The Green Sea Turtles are distinct because they have only a single pair of prefrontal scales unlike other sea turtles that have two pairs in front of their eyes. These Turtles also go by name Black Sea Turtle and have a serrated jaw in a small blunt head. Its body is flat and oval. The plastron varies from between white and yellow and has pale yellow, deep yellow to green and brown colors that accentuate the stripes on the body. 3. Chelydridae This includes a family of sea turtles with only two living genera that are widespread in the Western Hemisphere and include: Chelydra, the snapping turtle Found in Southern China and Southeast Asia, this includes big-headed turtle (Platysternon megacephalum) Description of TheBig-Headed Turtle (Platysternon Megacephalum) Peculiarly, this big-headed turtle uses its tail to enhance the reach of its claws to climb over obstacles in fast streams and rivers. Its beak assists in climbing bushes and trees. They occasionally use the tail like a scorpion’s arch.

Because it cannot pull its head into the shell, it defends itself by using its powerful jaws. For food it eats fish and snails. 10. Testudinidae This is a family of land reptiles and includes the Aldabrachelys gigantean or the Aldabra giant tortoise Description of Aldabrachelys gigantean or the Aldabra giant tortoise These are giant land tortoises living in the Seychelles in the Aldabra Atoll. They are about the bigger world tortoises, for which reason people refer to them as gigantic Aldabrachelys. They have a high domed carapace with a tan or brown color, heavily scaled stout and strong limbs to support its weight and a very long neck that can eat leaves from the branches of trees at one meter from the ground surface.

Their size averages around 4 feet (120 cm) and a male will weigh about 550 pounds or (250kg), with the females slightly smaller with a carapace size of 35 inches of 90 cm and weighing about 330 pounds or (150 kg) 11.Trionychidae The Softshells or Pancake turtles belong to this taxonomicfamily. The soft shells are some of the largest fresh water turtles in the world, but they can adapt to highly brackish areas and belong mainly to Asia, Africa and North America Description of the Florida Softshell turtle ((Apalone ferox) ) is a type of a soft shell turtle The Florida Softshell turtle (Apalone ferox) is a type of a soft shell turtle whose habitat is the Southeastern United Sates. The typical characteristic of the Florida Softshell turtle is that its carapace color is deep brown fading to olive green. The color of its belly is cream or white. The carapace conceals and shields the juvenile turtles from their predators. They have stout tails. Their tails, legs and head are more or less of the same color.

Running through from the rear of the eye all along their neck is an orange or cream line with a black border. Both the male and female have on their shell blotches, streaks or dark spots. The infant smooth Softshell turtles have olive, black or brown colored shells, with many stains. In appearance, they are like spiny Softshell turtles. The habitat of the smooth Softshell turtles is South-central and central parts of the United States. They spread over from Pennsylvania to New Mexico and south of the Florida panhandle. Simply put, their habitat is North America. Peurodira (consisting of 3 families) 1. Chelidae Belonging to the suborder of Pleurodira, the Chelidae live throughout South America, parts of Indonesia, New Guinea and Australia. Most people refer to these turtles as the Austro-South American side-neck turtles. A famous example of these turtles is Chelus fimbriatus or the Mata mata freshwater turtle endemic to the Amazon and Orinoco basins in South America. It is the only living species belonging to the genus Chelus.

Description of Chelus Fimbriatus or the Mata Mataa freshwater turtle The full-grown mata mata turtle weighs 15kg (33lb), and has a life span of 40-75 years. These sedentary turtles are large. The head with many flaps of skin and tubercles is flat and triangular. The snout tubular and manifests in a long form with a “horn”. A mature Mata Malta has an oblong carapace that is either brown or black. 2. Pelomedusidae These are a family of round shaped fresh water turtles that inhabit Southern and Eastern Africa, and have a size range of 12 to 45 cm (4.7 to 17.7 inches). These turtles cannot withdraw their heads into their shells, and instead, have to fold them beneath the upper edge of their shells, for which reason people refer to them as African Side-Necked Turtles, an example of which is African Helmeted Turtle (Pelomedusa subrufa) Description of African Helmeted Turtle (Pelomedusa subrufa) This omnivorous side-necked turtle goes also by the name of Crocodile turtle or marsh turtle.

You can find them mostly in stagnant and freshwater bodies. They inhabit most of Africa and southern Yemen. These are rather small turtles with a carapace length of up to 20 cm. They have a yellowish under side while the tops of the limbs and tail have a grayish brown color. 3. Podocnemididae These side necked turtles belonging to the suborder Peurodira inhabit northern South America and Madagascar. They are all aquactic and inhabit flowing water and streams. Their streamlined shells aid in swimming. A classic example of this family is Podocnemis unifilis or the Yellow-spotted River Turtle Description of the Yellow-spotted River Turtle (Podocnemis unifilis) The Turtle (Podocnemis unifilis) represents the largest of the river turtles inhabiting South America. It can attain a length 45 cm and an eight kg weight. The brown or black upper shell (carapace) and the yellow spots on the lateral sides of the head (that account for its “spotted” name), distinguish this turtle. You will find these side-necked-turtles in the Amazon Basins of South American lakes and tributaries.

They feed mainly on small invertebrates, fish weeds and fruits during the flood season. Various Turtle Types Sea Turtles Sea turtles belong to the families Dermochelyidae and Cheloniidae that account for 7 living species of these marine reptilian animals. You can find sea turtles in all the World oceans except the Arctic Ocean. When you think “turtles” these are the species that come to mind. Their division is as given under: Dermochelyidae family-One monotypic genera only (non family member- leatherback sea turtle Cheloniidae family- polytypic genera (1) + monotypic genera (4) True Tortoises True Tortoises belong to the family Testudinidae and covers all the land based species of these reptiles. They undergo a further sub-division into 2 subfamilies is as follows Testudininae - 38 species Xerobatinae - 6 species Aldabra Giant Tortoise These 44 living species represent the entirety of the true tortoise population on the earth, showing the great diversity of this family of turtles.

An extremely popular associate of the turtle family is the Aldabra giant tortoise that many acknowledge as the largest of the species in the world. Snapping Turtles Alligator Snapping Turtle Belonging to the Chelydridae family, snapping turtles, in the monotypic-genera consist of two species-the “Common” and the “alligator” types. These turtles spread abundantly across South and North America and partly in Asia Mud Turtles and Musk Turtles Mud Turtle Mud and Musk turtles belong to family Kinosternidae and are small animals. Though consensus on the classification is not available in the case of these turtles, most expert group them as 25 living species under four genera. These species of turtles live in the muddy bottoms of stagnant or slow moving water bodies and release a found smelling odor that gives them the tile, “Musk Turtles.” Softshell Turtles The Trionychidae family includes what the experts call Softshells or the Softshell turtles. Their distinct characteristics include a carapace with a hard center and leathery edges without the customary horny scales, the sole exception being the spiny Softshell, exhibiting scaly projections on its carapace.

These turtles are endemic to South America, Africa and Asia and consist of 2 sub-families (Trionychinae and Cyclanorbinae) that include 13 living turtle genera. Central American River Turtles The family Dermatemydidae has only one survivor and that is the Central American river turtle that inhabits the Central American rivers. IUCN or the International Union for Conservation of Nature that is the largest and oldest world environmental organization has included this turtle in the list of endangered species. Similar to the impending extinction of the pig nosed turtle, when the Central American river turtles cease to exist, it will result in the total extinction of the entire family Dermatemydidae forever. Side-necked Turtles Side-necked turtles, have this special distinction of turning their neck towards the side and tucking their head into a hollow close to their anterior legs, and do not retract it inside the shell. These turtles normally inhabit the earth’s southern hemisphere.

The geographical range of these turtles classifies them into 2 families- “Chelidae,” that includes the side-necked turtles of extant side-necked turtle species are further classified into two families based on their geographical range - family Chelidae, which comprises side-necked turtles (Austro-American), and the Pelomedusidae family, comprising: The American side-neck river turtles The Madagascan big-headed turtles Ocean Ambassadors -- Turtle Biology search oneocean ea turtles are ancient creatures. They have traveled our planet for more than 200 million years, tracing a highly successful evolutionary path, living in a variety of environments from dry land to the open sea. This makes them fascinating, albeit tough, subjects to study. Scientists have uncovered precious few secrets of the turtles' life in the sea. Nevertheless, what they have already learned provides some valuable clues to understanding these intriguing animals and their important part in both land and marine ecosystems. The Turtle Family Tree In order to understand better how different life forms are related, biologists classify them into a hierarchical system, from Kingdom to species.

Of the 16 Orders of reptiles that evolved during the last 310 million years, that of the Testudines, or turtles, is one of only four that remain today (the three other Orders are Crocodilia (alligators, caimans and crocodiles), Squamata (snakes and lizards) and Rhyncocephala (Tuataras). Turtles, terrapins and tortoises all belong to the Order Testudinata (also called Chelonia), which comprises two Sub-Orders, namely Cryptodira and Pleurodira. The Pleurodires (2 Families) are also known as "side-necks" because they curl their necks into a horizontal S-shape when retracting their heads into their shells. The Sub-Order Cryptodira, or the straight-necked turtles, bend their necks in a vertical S when they pull their heads into the shell. The Cryptodira is the largest Sub-Order, comprising 11 Families, which include 2 Families of living sea turtles. Of the more than 220 species of living turtles, only 7 are marine.

Kingdom: Animalia Family Dermochelyidae - only one known species, the leatherback turtle (worldwide) Dermochelys coriacea -- leatherback turtle A Closer Look Reptile in a shell. Turtles are distinctive because they live inside shells. The top shell, over the back, is called the "carapace", and the shell on the bottom, over the belly, is called the "plastron". These are joined along both sides at the "bridge." In most turtles, the shell is made up of large bones, covered on the outside by large scales, known as "scutes". The number, shape and distribution of these scutes are used to differentiate species. The carapace has three basic kinds of scutes. The "vertebrals" run down the middle of the carapace, from head to tail, over the vertebrae (some people also call these "centrals"). Usually there are 5 vertebrals. On either side of the vertebrals (both left and right) there is a row of scutes, the "costals".

Many turtles have 4 pairs of costals, or, in other words, 4 costals on the left and 4 on the right (these are also called "laterals"). All around the outside of the carapace, on its margin, are the "marginal" scutes. The plastron generally has 6 pairs of scutes, occasionally with an additional scute in the center in the front, under the neck, and one in the center in the back, under the tail. Along the side, joining the plastron with the marginals of the carapace, and between the front and back limbs, is the bridge. This is covered with the "inframarginal" scutes. The head also has scales that are often distinctive from one species to another. For example, just behind the nostrils of sea turtles are the "prefrontal" scales, and their number and form can be used to differentiate the species. The front limbs of sea turtles are long and wing-like, and formed into flippers; the back limbs are paddles (not really flippers) with a membrane joining all five of the toes.

Large scales cover the flippers and the top (dorsal surface) of the back limbs, while the skin on the other parts of the limbs has small scales and is very flexible. In biology, the science of variation and adaptation in living beings, there are usually exceptions to the "rules"! Among sea turtles, the exception is the leatherback turtle, which only has small scales, and no scutes anywhere on its body. Also, it is only the very young leatherbacks that have scales. The bones that form the shell of the leatherback are, with the exception of a few in the plastron, all relatively small. Illustrated guide to external parts (PCP/KKP, 1996, unpublished). Click image to enlarge. Is it a he or a she? Marine turtles are heterosexual, with sexual dimorphism being evident in adults. In other words, in marine turtles, males can be distinguished from females only when the animals are adult or nearly adult. Sexual differentiation in hatchlings, juveniles and sub-adults is almost impossible without internal examination. The adult male has a long, thick tail that extends well beyond the posterior margin of the carapace, often as long as the hind limb.

The male carapace tends to be more elongate, tapering at the tail region. The plastron is often more flexible and concave than in the female. Except for the leatherback, the adult male has long, heavy claws which are used to cling to the female during mating. In adult green turtles, the males are less strikingly marked than the females. Adult females have short tails that do not extend appreciably behind the hind margin of the carapace. They have shorter, thinner claws and a harder, less concave plastron. The female carapace tends to be more highly domed. Life of a sea turtle (as we know it). Although the first two months of their lives are on land, sea turtles spend most of their lives in the sea. In some very remote islands, sea turtles will rest on the beach, but the general rule is that females come back to the beach only for nesting, and males never return to land. But, no matter how brief, the turtles' sojourns on land have given scientists valuable opportunities to trace and study at least part of the life history of these interesting creatures.

When the breeding season starts, sexually mature males and females migrate hundreds or thousands of kilometers from their feeding grounds to breeding grounds, coastal waters near their nesting sites. In general, the males arrive earlier in the season at the breeding grounds and they also leave earlier than the females to return to the feeding grounds. The female stays near coastal waters between nestings in the "internesting habitat", resting in preparation for her next nesting. Right after nesting, she ovulates, shedding over a hundred eggs from her ovaries into her oviducts, where they are fertilized and covered with egg white (albumin) and shells. The entire process from ovulation to oviposition (egg laying) takes about two weeks. Where many turtles concentrate to nest, the area is often called a "turtle rookery." A nesting begins when the female turtle emerges from the sea onto the beach at night. She climbs to the top of the beach, well above the high tide line, and digs a large depression in the surface of the beach using a swimming movement of her front flippers, creating the "body pit". After ten minutes or more, actively throwing sand behind her, she begins digging with her hind limbs, excavating the egg chamber.

In green turtles, this vertical chamber may be about 80 cm deep. When she can no longer dig any deeper, with hardly a pause, the nester lays more than a hundred leathery-shelled eggs, each about the size of a ping-pong ball. This may take nearly half an hour. Inside, each egg is a pinhead-sized embryo that has developed to the stage of mid-gastrulation. Development is stopped at this stage a couple of days before the nester comes ashore to lay the eggs. While the eggs are being deposited into the egg chamber, they can tolerate bouncing, rolling, tumbling or handling, but about two hours after being laid, the embryo will resume development, and may be killed by a simple roll of the egg. A turtle prepares to nest: (from top to bottom) using her front flippers, the turtle creates the "body pit" and, with her hind legs, digs the egg chamber, where she deposits more than a hundred eggs. (PCP, file) After laying eggs, the turtle covers the egg pit by throwing back sand to fill the body pit, thus creating what is called "a complete nest" and concealing the location of the nest.

(PCP, file) After nesting, the female goes back to the internesting habitat to rest and complete the next clutch of eggs. She can be expected to lay several clutches of eggs at approximately two-week intervals before finally migrating back to her feeding ground. During the breeding migration, courtship and residency within the internesting habitat, the adult turtles eat almost no food, depending mainly on stored fat reserves. The season and frequency of nesting among females depend on individual populations and species of turtles. Worldwide, remigration (when turtles that have nested in earlier seasons return to nest in subsequent seasons) and renesting intervals have been determined through results of recapturing turtles that have been tagged. At the Baguan Island Marine Turtle Sanctuary, Turtle Islands, Tawi-Tawi, the renesting interval is 11.08 days and remigration interval (period between two nesting seasons) is 3 years. Both recruits (turtles nesting for the first time) and remigrants (those that have nested in a previous season) nest 3-4 times in a season. Female sea turtles do not exercise parental care. The eggs incubate in the sandy beach to become "hatchlings" (baby turtles) in about 2 months.

The sex of the hatchling and the rate of development are determined by temperature. Higher temperatures produce more females and result in shorter incubation periods. A newly laid turtle egg (background) is about the size of a ping-pong ball. As the embryo develops, the egg becomes bigger and its eggshell becomes chalky white (foreground). (De Veyra, 1996) After hatching, the young turtles dig their way up out of the nest and scurry to the ocean, usually in a group. It is thought that during incubation, or immediately following emergence from the nest, the hatchling is imprinted on to the earth's magnetic field at the rookery. This "imprinting" guides them back to the same site when they are sexually mature. Soon after they emerge from their shells, young turtles leave their natural nest (top and middle photos) and scurry to the water (bottom photo) to begin their seaward journey. (Palma and De Veyra 1996/De Veyra 1998) Once they enter the water, the hatchlings spend at least several months or even more time - probably several years - dispersing in oceanic currents.

Sargassum rafts floating on the surface of the ocean often provide a refuge for hatchling green turtles and loggerheads. These mats of brown algae harbor a diverse, specialized fauna, including many kinds of little fishes, crustaceans, worms, mollusks, tunicates (sea squirts) and coelenterates (jellyfishes, sea anemones, etc.) that appear to be suitable forage for the little turtles. Seaweed mats and drift lines may act as fish nurseries providing food and shelter. Besides the concentration of potential prey and the concealment the rafts offer to baby turtles, there is a tendency for the mats to occur off high-energy beaches. This enhances the probability that, during their seaward journey, the little turtles leaving a nesting beach will intercept these mats. Floating logs, coconuts, and other jetsam may attract small turtles where floating seaweed is absent. Juvenile green turtles are usually seen near coastal waters where they feed on seagrasses and algae.

(PCP, file) Except for the leatherback, which remains entirely pelagic (living in the open seas), young turtles move into shallow coastal waters (in green turtles, this occurs when the carapace is about 30 cm long). Here they feed principally on benthic (bottom-living) organisms. Each individual is thought to remain associated with a restricted feeding area for many years but may shift to different feeding areas as it matures. There is considerable variation in growth rates, but green and loggerhead sea turtles may require as long as 30-50 years to reach maturity. It is thought that, when turtles reach sexual maturity, both males and females migrate to the area where they hatched. There they breed and complete the reproductive cycle, and at the end of the breeding season, they return to the feeding area from which they began their migrations. This cycle is repeated with each breeding season. In most species, the energy demands of long migrations and egg-laying dictate that most females do not nest annually but, on the average, every 2-5 years. The males of at least some populations breed more frequently (every 1 or 2 years).

The Philippine Sea Turtles As indicated under The Turtle Family Tree above, there are 7 sea turtle species worldwide. These species share many common features, but they also have many distinct characteristics which distinguish them from each other. In fact, if you study turtles closely enough, you may find some unique traits to differentiate one individual from another. Five sea turtle species are known to occur in the Philippines. These are Chelonia mydas (green turtle), Eretmochelys imbricata (hawksbill turtle), Lepidochelys olivacea (olive ridley turtle), Caretta caretta (loggerhead turtle), and Dermochelys coriacea (leatherback turtle). These species are described below. Chelonia mydas (Green Turtle) Adult green turtle (PCP, file) Green turtle hatchling (PCP, file) The green turtle is one of the most tropical of marine turtles. It is widely distributed in tropical and subtropical waters, near continental coasts and around islands; they are less common in temperate waters. Baby green turtles that live in the open ocean feed on small animals found on the surface of the sea, while juveniles and adults feed mainly on seagrasses and algae.

The green turtle is widely distributed in the Philippines, with a major aggregation occurring in the Turtle Islands, Tawi-Tawi. Local names in the Philippines: Pawikan (most Filipino dialects); bildog (Isabela); talisayon, magdarahit (Bicol); darawanan, wara-cawa (Samar); kutuan (Cuyo, Palawan); tortuga (Zamboanga and Basilan); pudno (Tausug and Samal); payukan (Mapun) Identification Illustrated guide to external parts of green turtle (PCP/KKP, 1996, unpublished). Click image to enlarge. Hatchlings have a distinct black carapace with a white margin and no keels; the plastron is white. As the hatchlings grow, the carapace color turns light or brown, often shaded with olive or green with radiating wavy or mottled markings of darker color or with large blotches of dark brown; the white margin disappears. Carapace is smooth, relatively broad and low, more or less heart-shaped. In juveniles, the posterior edge of the carapace can be scalloped, but not serrated.

Curved carapace length of adults ranges from 80 cm to 120 cm. All scutes are placed side by side, not overlapping, and there are 4 pairs of costal scutes. Plastron is whitish to light yellow, except in the eastern Pacific where it is gray. The bridge on both sides, connecting the plastron and the carapace, usually has 4 large inframarginal scutes. Head is relatively small and blunt and has 1 pair of elongate profrontal scales, just above the nose; the lower beak has serrated edges. One claw is on each of the four limbs. In hatchlings, the flippers are fringed with a white margin that turns yellowish in juveniles and is lost with age.

Eretmochelys imbricata (Hawksbill turtle) Adult hawksbill turtle (Indo-Pacific Marine Turtles Chart, Greenpeace and the Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage) Hawksbill turtle hatchling (PCP, file) Hawksbills are most common where living coral reef formations are present, in clear, shallow waters of mainland and island shelves, including lagoon and bays, feeding mainly on sponges and soft corals. The most tropical of all sea turtles, they have very few major nesting places remaining. There are few hawksbills in the Philippines, but they are widely distributed. The hawksbill nests in the Turtle Islands, but in low numbers. Local names in Philippines: Pawikan (most Filipino dialects); ulaniban, kinarahan (Samar); karahan (Bicol); sisikan (Mapun and Tausug); payukan (Sulu) Identification Illustrated guide to external parts of hawksbill turtle (PCP/KKP, 1996, unpublished). Click image to enlarge. Carapace is oval or elongated, sides and rear portions are sharply serrated in all but very old animals and hatchlings.

In hatchlings, the carapace is brown or gray, varying from light to dark; three keels run down the carapace, they disappear with age. Adults often have richly patterned carapace with irregularly radiating streaks of brown or black on an amber background. Adult straight carapace length ranges from 66 cm to 86 cm worldwide. Scutes are thick and overlapping toward the rear; there are 4 pairs of costal scutes. In hatchlings, the plastron is brown or gray, varying from light to dark; it may be darker than the carapace. In adults, the plastron is usually clear yellow, with little or no dark pigmentation. The bridge on both sides, connecting the plastron and the carapace, has 3 or 4 large inframarginal scutes. Head is narrow; the beak, which resembles a hawk's bill, tapers to a point and the maxilla (upper jaw) projects slightly beyond the mandible (lower jaw). There are two pairs of profrontal scales, just above the nose. One claw is on each of the 4 limbs.

Lepidochelys olivacea (Olive ridley turtle) Adult olive ridley turtle (Indo-Pacific Marine Turtles Chart, Greenpeace and the Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage) Olive ridley hatchling (PCP, file) Olive ridleys are found in continental coastal waters, principally in the eastern Pacific, Indian Ocean and south Atlantic where the water does not drop below 20ï¿½C. Occasionally, they are carried by warm currents into subtropical areas. Hatchlings and smaller turtles feed on fish egg masses and jellyfish in the open ocean. In coastal waters, they feed mainly on crabs and shrimps. In the Philippines, olive ridleys have been found to occur nationwide with nestings recorded in the western coast of Luzon (Bataan and Zambales). The species is not known in the Turtle Islands. Local names in the Philippines: Pawikan (most Filipino dialects); mukoy (Bicol) Identification Illustrated guide to external parts of olive ridley turtle (PCP/KKP, 1996, unpublished). Click image to enlarge. Carapace is nearly round and highly domed, uniform olive green in adults, and dark gray or black in hatchlings.

The edge of the carapace, toward the rear, can be slightly scalloped and upturned in juveniles. Keels on carapace and plastron are conspicuous in juveniles but disappear with age. Adult straight carapace length is 63 cm to 75 cm. The scutes are thin and do not overlap; there are 5 to 9 costal scutes, and asymmetry relative in the number of scutes on either side is not uncommon, for example, there can be 6 costals on the left and 7 on the right, or 8 on the left and 6 on the right. Hatchlings have a dark gray or black plastron, which becomes white in juveniles. In adults, the plastron and bridge are greenish white to yellow. The bridge on both sides, connecting the plastron and carapace, has 4 infra-marginal scutes; near the rear edge of each of these scutes is a small pore, which connects by a duct to an internal gland. Head is triangular, medium-sized, with a parrot-like beak.

There are 2 pairs of prefrontal scales, just above the nose, and in juveniles, conspicuous white areas are around the eyes. There are 2 claws on each of the 4 limbs. Caretta caretta (Loggerhead turtle) Adult loggerhead turtle (PCP, file) Loggerhead turtle hatchling (Limpus, file) Loggerheads are widely distributed in coastal tropical and subtropical waters (16-20ï¿½C) around the world, and can nest successfully outside of the tropics. This species commonly occurs in temperate waters and in boundaries of warm currents. It is capable of living for a relatively long time in a variety of environments, such as brackish waters of coastal lagoons and river mouths. Once they have matured to the benthic stage, loggerheads are equipped with powerful jaws than can crush crabs and mollusks. Loggerhead turtles from Japan have been reported in Palawan, Albay and Basilan, but no nesting has been recorded. It is not recorded in the Turtle Islands.

Local names in the Philippines: Pawikan (in most Filipino dialects); bulawon (Bicol) Identification Illustrated guide to external parts of loggerhead turtle (PCP/KKP, 1996, unpublished). Click image to enlarge. Carapace is broad; males have comparatively narrower shells, which gradually taper toward the rear. In adults, the carapace is reddish brown, sometimes tinged with olive, often bordered with yellow; hatchlings have gray, reddish or olive brown carapace. Hatchlings and juveniles have 3 longitudinal keels on the carapace, with blunt spines on the front scutes that disappear with age; the edge of the carapace may be slightly scalloped. The rear marginal rim is moderately serrated in juveniles, and it becomes smoother with age. Worldwide average for an adult female is 95-100 curved carapace length. Scutes are often flaky and rough; there are 5 pairs of costal scutes, the first pair is relatively small and often overlooked. Plastron is gray, reddish or olive brown in hatchlings, becoming yellow to cream-colored with age.

The bridge on both sides, connecting the plastron and carapace, has 3 infra-marginal scutes without pores. The head is comparatively large and broad and varies from reddish or yellow chestnut to olive brown, often with yellow-bordered scales; the beak is broad and powerful. There are 2 or more pairs of profrontal scales, just above the nose. There are 2 claws on each of the 4 limbs. Dermochelys coriacea (Leatherback turtle) Adult leatherback turtle ( Indo-Pacific Marine Turtles Chart, Greenpeace and the Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage) Leatherback turtle hatchling (Limpus, file) The leatherback is the most widely distributed of all sea turtles. Adult leatherbacks are adapted to colder water than other sea turtles, a capability that is due to their protective thick and oily dermis, counter-current heat exchangers in the limbs, and other physiological adaptations. They can occur far from tropical and subtropical nesting grounds, where water temperatures are between 10ï¿½ and 20ï¿½C. Leatherbacks feed on soft-bodied invertebrates such as jellyfish, comb jellies and scalps.

Leatherbacks are known to inhabit feeding grounds in Philippine waters, but no nesting has been documented. It is not known in the Turtle Islands. Local names in Philippines: Pawikan (in most Filipino dialects); benereran, binalimbing (Bicol dialects); kantuhan (Cuyo, Palawan); kulod, ratong (Samar) Identification Illustrated guide to external parts of leatherback turtle (PCP/KKP, 1996, unpublished). Click image to enlarge. Carapace is long with 7 prominent longitudinal ridges and black in color with varying degree of pale spots; it tapers to a blunt point toward the rear. Leatherback hatchlings are unmistakable: the longitudinal ridges are well defined as are rows of white scales that appear as stripes along the length of the back. At hatching, the entire outer surface of the animal, including shell, limbs, head, neck and tail, is covered with small, soft and polygonal scutes. After the first few months of life, the epidermis (outer skin layer) loses the small beady scales that are present at hatching, and the carapace is covered with a thick, oily skin.

Adult carapace length can reach 270 cm, but is usually less than 200 cm. The plastron is black or gray with mottled, pinkish-white spots. No sharp angle is formed between the carapace and the plastron, so the leatherback is somewhat barrel-shaped. Head is large; each side of the upper jaw bears a tooth-like projection, flanked on either side by a deep cusp. There are no claws on any of the limbs; the front flippers are longer than in any other sea turtle and in an adult may span 2.7 m from tip to tip. In hatchlings, the front flippers are almost as long as the carapace, with white margins. For more information on the biology of sea turtles, refer to the following books and scientific papers: Alderton, D. 1988. Turtles and tortoises of the world. Facts on File Publications. 191p. Balazs, G. 1982. Growth rates of immature green turtles in Hawaiian Archipelago. pp 117-125. In: Biology and Conservation of Sea Turtles. K.

Bjorndal (ed.), Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC. Carr, A. 1984 Secrets of the sea turtles. Animal Kingdom Magazine (Dec. 1985-Jan 1985) 8pp. Carr, A. 1986. Rips, FADS, and little loggerheads. BioScience, 36(2):92-100. Cornelius, S.E. 1986. The sea turtles of Santa Rosa National Park. Fundacion Tinker, Fundacion de Parques Nacionales, Servicio de Parques Nacionales and Universidad Estatal a Distancia. 64p. De Veyra, R.T.R. 1994. Status of marine turtles in the Philippines. In Proceedings of the Fourteenth Annual Symposium of Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation. NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-SEFSC-351, K.A.Bjorndal, A.B.Bolten, D.A.Johnson and P.J.Eliazar (compilers). 323 pp. De Veyra, R.T.R. (Contributor) 1997. Philippine Red Data Book.

Wildlife Conservation Society of the Philippines. 262 pp. Dodd, Jr., C.K. 1988. Synopsis of the biological data on the loggerhead, Caretta caretta (Linnaeus 1758). US Fish. Wildl. Serv. Biol. Rep. 88(4), 110p. Limpus, C. 1979. Notes on growth rates of wild turtles. Marine Turtle Newsl. 10:3-5. Limpus, C.J. 1994a. Preface. In Proceedings of the Australian Marine Turtle Conservation Workshop, 14-17 November 1990, iii-iv. Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage and the Australian Nature Conservation Agency, R. James(ed). 208 p. Limpus, C.J. 1994b. Biology and ecology of marine turtles. In Proceedings of the First ASEAN Symposium-Workshop on Marine Turtle Conservation, Manila, Philippines. Dec. 06-10, 1993. pp.33-42. Limpus, C.J. and D.G. Walter.

1980. The growth of immature green turtles (Chelonia mydas) under natural conditions. Herpetologica. 36(2):162-165. Marquez, M.R. 1990. FAO Species Catalogue. Vol.11: Sea turtles of the World. An Annotated and Illustrated Catalogue of Sea Turtle Species known to date. FAO Fisheries Synopsis, 125:81p. Mendonca, M.T. 1981. Comparative growth rates of wild immature Chelonia mydas and Caretta caretta in Florida. J.Herp. 15(4):447-451. Ross, J.P. 1985. Biology of the green turtle, Chelonia mydas, on an Arabian feeding ground. J.Herp. 19(4):459-468. Witzell, W.N. 1983. Synopsis of biological data on the hawksbill turtle Eretmochelys imbricata (Linnaeus 1766) FAO Fish. Synop., (137):78 pp.

turtle: Types of Turtles turtle Types of Turtles Turtles are classified in 12 families. The Northern Hemisphere's largest family is that of common freshwater turtles (Emydidae), which includes about a third of all turtle species and is abundant in S and E Asia, E North America, and Central America. Members of this group have webbed feet; many spend most of the time in freshwater ponds or marshes; some live in brackish estuaries. They include such well-known North American turtles as the pond turtles (including the spotted, wood, and Muhlenberg's turtles), the painted turtle, the sliders, the diamondback terrapin, and the Blanding's turtle. The box turtle , which is primarily terrestrial, belongs to this family. Land tortoises (Testudinidae) form the second largest family. Tortoises have high-domed shells, move on club-shaped feet, are vegetarian, and live in warm regions throughout the world. The musk turtles and mud turtles (family Kinosternidae) are common small turtles of the E United States, and are found only in the Americas.

The soft-shelled turtles (family Trionychidae) are flat-bodied, carnivorous freshwater turtles of the Northern Hemisphere, with a leathery covering instead of horny shields on their shells. The snapping turtle family (Chelydridae) is a North American group that includes the common snapper and the alligator snapper. Marine turtles are classified in two families. The family Chelonidae includes five sea turtle species of tropical and subtropical distribution: the green turtle, the loggerhead, the hawksbill (or tortoiseshell turtle), the Kemp's ridley, and the olive ridley. The family Dermochelidae includes only one species, the leatherback , or leatherneck, largest and heaviest of all turtles, weighing as much as 1100 lbs (500 kg). Marine turtles lack toes, and their legs are oarlike, allowing speeds of nearly 20 mph (32 kph) in the water. With the exception of the loggerhead, all are endangered, either by pollution with plastic debris, which some turtles eat by mistake, or by commercial fishing, especially shrimp trawling.

Commercial trade in all endangered sea turtles is banned; however, many wild turtles are skinned for leather and tortoiseshell ornaments, or taken for food. Sections in this article: Sea Turtle Species | Sea Turtle Conservancy Loggerhead (Caretta caretta) Of all the sea turtles that nest in the United States, the loggerhead is the one seen most often. The loggerhead was listed in the United States under the Endangered Species Act as threatened in 1978, and is the only sea turtle species not listed as endangered. Loggerhead populations in Honduras, Mexico, Colombia, Israel, Turkey, Bahamas, Cuba, Greece, Japan, and Panama have been declining. The majority of loggerhead nesting is concentrated in two main areas of the world — at Masirah Island, Oman, in the middle east and on the coast of the southeastern United States. The Masirah Island’s annual nesting population is about 30,000 females, while up to 25,000 loggerheads nest in the southeast U.S. each year. The majority of nesting in the southeast U.S.

takes place on Florida’s Atlantic coast between the inlet at Cape Canaveral and the Sebastian Inlet, especially within the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge. Green turtle (Chelonia mydas) Green turtles are an endangered species around the world, but they still nest in increasing numbers on the east coast of Florida. The green sea turtle was listed in the United States under the Endangered Species Act as endangered in 1978. The largest nesting site in the Western Hemisphere is at Tortuguero, Costa Rica, where STC has been running a research program since 1959. While the nesting population may be stable in Suriname, and increasing in Tortuguero, there is insufficient information from other nesting sites to determine a species trend worldwide. Leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) The leatherback is the champion of sea turtles: It grows the largest, dives the deepest, and travels the farthest of all sea turtles. The leatherback was listed in the United States under the Endangered Species Act as endangered in 1970. Populations have declined in Mexico, Costa Rica, Malaysia, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Trinidad, Tobago, and Papua New Guniea.

Leatherbacks are seriously declining at all major nesting beaches throughout the Pacific. The decline is dramatic along the Pacific coasts of Mexico and Costa Rica and coastal Malaysia. Nesting along the Pacific coast of Mexico declined at an annual rate of 22% over the last 12 years, and the Malaysian population represents 1% of the levels recorded in the 1950s. In contrast, there has been a recent increase in leatherback nesting on the central and south eastern coast of Florida. Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) The hawksbill turtle’s status in the United States has not changed since it was listed under the Endangered Species Act as endangered in 1970. It is a solitary nester, and thus, population trends or estimates are difficult to determine. The decline of nesting populations is accepted by most researchers. In 1983, the only known apparently stable populations were in Yemen, northeastern Australia, the Red Sea, and Oman. Although they are found in U.S. waters, they rarely nest in North America. While hawksbills nest on beaches throughout the Caribbean, they are no longer found anywhere in large numbers.

Kemp’s ridley (Lepidochelys kempii) Kemp’s ridley is the most endangered of all sea turtles and was listed in the United States under the Endangered Species Act as endangered throughout its range in 1970. The only major breeding site of the Kemp’s ridley is on a small strip of beach at Rancho Nuevo, Mexico. Kemp’s ridleys nest in mass synchronized nestings called arribadas (Spanish for “arrival”). The arribada of Kemp’s ridleys occurs at regular intervals between April and June. In 1942, a Mexican architect filmed an estimated 42,000 ridleys nesting at Rancho Nuevo in one day. During 1995, only 1,429 ridley nests were laid at Rancho Nuevo. Recent good news is that the nesting at Rancho Nuevo seems to be increasing with over 7,100 nests recorded in 2004! The increase can be attributed to two primary factors: full protection of nesting females and their nests in Mexico, and the requirement to use turtle excluder devices (TEDs) in shrimp trawls both in the U.S. and Mexican waters.

Olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) The western North Atlantic (Surinam and adjacent areas) nesting population has declined more than 80 percent since 1967. Declines are also documented for Playa Nancite, Costa Rica, however other nesting populations along the Pacific coast of Mexico and Costa Rica appear stable or increasing. In the Indian Ocean, Gahirmatha located in the Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary, India, supports perhaps the largest nesting population with an average of 398,000 females nesting in a given year. This population continues to be threatened by nearshore trawl fisheries. It is very oceanic in the Eastern Pacific and probably elsewhere too. Large arribadas of olive ridleys still occur in Pacific Costa Rica, primarily at Nancite and Ostional and Pacific Mexico at La Escobilla, Oaxaca. Flatback (Natator depressa) Australian flatbacks are medium size turtles that inhabit coastal coral reef and grassy shallows and is only found in the northern coastal area of Australia and the Gulf of Papua, New Guinea. The shell is very smooth and waxy, and can be easily damaged.

Receive Free sea turtle updates Sea Turtle Conservancy What is the largest sea turtle? Home Ocean Facts What is the largest sea turtle? What is the largest sea turtle? The leatherback is the largest living sea turtle. Leatherback turtle consuming a jellyfish off Cape Cod. (NMFS Permit #1557-03). Weighing in at between 550 and 2,000 pounds with lengths of up to six feet, the leatherback is a big turtle! Leatherback sea turtles can be distinguished from other species of sea turtle by its lack of a hard shell or scales. Instead, leatherbacks are covered with a firm, rubbery skin. You can find leatherback sea turtles as far north as Canada and the northern Pacific Ocean. They tend to nest in the tropics, however. Within the United States, the leatherback is known to nest in southeast Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The leatherback sea turtle feeds primarily on jellyfish. The U.S. federal government has listed the leatherback as endangered worldwide. Primary threats to the turtles include incidental take in commercial fisheries and marine pollution, as well as the harvest of eggs.

Search Our Facts 19 weird and wonderful turtle and tortoise species | MNN - Mother Nature Network 19 weird and wonderful turtle and tortoise species These shelled reptiles take us by surprise with their wacky looks and surprisingly feisty behaviors. Photo: ARSimonds /Shutterstock It's not hard to love turtles and tortoises. They're often cute in their own weird, sometimes freaky way and always fascinating. But despite how much we think we know about these reptiles, many species can take us by surprise with particularly strange adaptations and remarkable abilities. Here, we celebrate 20 species of strange and adorable turtles and tortoises . 1. African helmeted turtle (Pelomedusa subrufa) Photo: Bildagentur Zoonar GmbH /Shutterstock It's hard not to smile back at this grinning guy. But don't let that goofy smile fool you. This species is omnivorous and will eat just about anything it can get its jaws on, including carrion. People have even watched groups of these turtles snag and drown doves and other relatively large prey, dragging them to the depths of the pond to dine. They look cute, but they're stone cold killers. 2.

Mata mata turtle (Chelus fimbriatus) Photo: J. Patrick Fischer /Wikipedia Nope, that's not a collection of rocks and rotting leaves at the bottom of the pond -- that's a mata mata turtle . This South American species is perfectly camouflaged for its preferred habitat of slow-moving streams, stagnate pools and marshes. With a carapace that looks like bark and a head and neck that look like fallen leaves, the fish that swim close enough to be sucked up for lunch never have a chance to see what's coming. The species has a particularly long snout that it uses like a snorkel, sticking it just out of the water to breathe. Photo: Bong Grit /Flickr This adorable turtle species is popular in the pet trade. It features a bright red belly when it is young, which fades to orange or yellow as it ages. Native to tropical Australia and New Guinea, it grows to about 10 inches long and can make for a hardy pet with the right care. 4.

Spiny softshell turtle (Apalone spinifera) Photo: USFWSNortheast /Flickr This is one of the largest freshwater turtles found in North America, and females can grow a carapace of up to about 18 inches long. Found from Canada to Mexico, these turtles are long-lived. They don't reach sexual maturity until 8-10 years of age, and can live to be more than 50 years old. The species gets its name from the small spines that project from the upper front portion of its carapace, making it look even more like its long lost dinosaur relatives! Photo: fivespots /Shutterstock Talk about strange-looking! This is one of several species of turtles with particularly long necks. The Roti Island snake-necked turtle's carapace can reach between 7-9 inches long, and its neck can be equally as long. But this species is critically endangered -- it is one of the most sought-after turtles in the pet trade, which has led to serious declines of wild populations. The two or three populations left are in a tiny area of Rote Island, and they are still often illegally captured for trade.

Thus, collection by humans is tipping this species toward extinction. 6. Radiated tortoise (Astrochelys radiata) Photo: Rob Hainer /Shutterstock Native to Madagascar, this beautiful tortoise species is critically endangered due to habitat loss, poaching and collection for the pet trade . The species grows to a length of about 16 inches, and they can weigh about 35 pounds. Like many tortoise species, the radiated tortoise can enjoy a long life. In fact, the oldest radiated tortoise on record was Tu'i Malila, who died at an estimated 188 years of age! 7. Leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) Photo: IrinaK /Shutterstock The leatherback is the rock star of the sea turtles. This species is the largest of them all, dives the deepest, and travels the farthest . They're also real tough guys, actually fighting back and chasing away predators like sharks. They may have a face only a mother could love, but in terms of sheer amazingness, this species has it in spades. Unlike other sea turtles, it doesn't have a shell; instead its back is covered with skin and oily flesh.

And yet, like most sea turtle species, the leatherback is endangered and still declining. From being caught on fishing lines by commercial fisheries to ingesting plastic mistaken for jellyfish , humans are having a troubling effect on this ancient turtle species. 8. Cantor's giant softshell turtle (Pelochelys cantorii) Photo: Dementia /Wikipedia There's a reason this species has "giant" in its name. It can grow up to 6 feet long! The strange-looking turtle has a very broad head, with eyes placed close to its snout. It spends about 95 percent of its life buried in the sand or mud at the bottom of freshwater rivers and streams, lying motionless in wait for prey that it ambushes. It surfaces only twice a day to take a breath. Otherwise, it simply stays put, waiting for a careless crustacean or fish to swim by and become lunch. Like so many species, the Cantor's giant softshell turtle is listed as endangered. 9.

African spurred tortoise (Geochelone sulcata) Photo: Eric Isselee /Shutterstock As if straight out of a comic book or a dinosaur cartoon, this species of tortoise rocks some impressive "spurs" along its forelegs. Found along the southern edge of the Sahara desert, it is the third largest tortoise species in the world, and the largest mainland tortoise (both the larger Galapagos tortoise and Aldabra giant tortoise are island-dwellers). They can grow to 2-3 feet long over their 50- to 150-year lifespan. Because they're popular in the pet trade , they are often removed from the wild and are listed as a species vulnerable to extinction. 10. Indian flapshell turtle (Lissemys punctata) Photo: L. Shyamal /Wikipedia The species name says it all. The Indian flapshell is known for its many folds of skin that cover its limbs when it retreats into its shell. Whether or not this helps protect it from predators is unknown, but it sure does make it look a little bit like it has a couple snails tucked up into its shell.

As an omnivore, this turtle dines on anything from frogs and fish to flowers and fruit. And while it prefers living in streams and ponds, it can tolerate a certain level of drought by burrowing and traveling to other water holes. Those flaps of skin also help it survive through dry weather. 11. Alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii) Photo: Norbert Nagel /Wikipedia The largest freshwater turtle in the world based on weight -- they can weigh well over 150 pounds -- the alligator snapping turtle is found in the southeastern United States. It gets its name both through its primitive, 'gator-like looks as well as through its ambush-style hunting technique. It's mouth is camouflaged and has a worm-like appendage on the tip of its tongue to lure in prey, which can be anything from fish to snakes to water birds to other turtles. Lying completely motionless with its mouth wide open, it literally just waits for an animal to get close to its mouth, which it then snaps shut with incredible speed. Photo: Ryan M. Bolton /Shutterstock 12.

Big-headed turtle (Platysternum megacephalum) Named for rather obvious reasons, the big-headed turtle's head is so big, it can't retract it into its shell for protection. But it makes up for this failing by readily protecting itself with its powerful jaws (so, don't try to poke it). It also uses those strong jaws as well as its rather long tail to climb trees and bushes. It has no problem navigating the obstacles it comes across in rivers and streams. Unfortunately, humans view this turtle as a tasty meal. Between being caught for food markets as well as caught for the pet trade, the species is now listed as endangered and is disappearing from the wild. 13. Yellow blotched map turtle (Graptemys flavimaculata) Photo: fivespots /Shutterstock This colorful species is one of several species of map turtle, called so because of the map-like markings on their carapace. Map turtles also all have in common the noticeable ridge running along the back of the shell, which is how they get their other common name of saw-backed turtles.

This species has a very small range -- it is only located in the Pascagoula River of Mississippi and most of its tributaries. A combination of its small range, as well as a low reproduction success rate due to human disturbance and crow predation, has led to this species being listed as vulnerable to extinction. Unfortunately, several species of map turtle are also listed as threatened or endangered including the newly discovered Pearl River map turtle . 14. Galapagos giant tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra) Photo: Benjamint /Shutterstock The giant Galapagos tortoise is perhaps one of the most famous terrapins in the world. It is the world's largest living species of tortoise, and lives for over 100 years in the wild. In fact, one captive Galapagos tortoise lives to be 170 years old! The biggest Galapagos tortoises on record reached 880 pounds and over 6 feet long. The species is native to the Galapagos islands, and subspecies are found on seven of the islands in the archipelago. Humans caused species numbers to dive, due to hunting, habitat loss and introduction of non-native species.

But recovery programs have helped to bring numbers back. Even so, the species is still listed as vulnerable to extinction. And in case you were wondering whether a giant reptile could be cute -- why yes, yes they can: Photo: Rich Carey /Shutterstock Hello, hawksbills! These sea turtles are found in coastal waters in the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans. They get their name from the sharp point at the end of their upper jaw, resembling a raptor's bill. This helps them get food from the crevices of coral reefs. They also have a unique feature apart from other sea turtles -- a claw on each of the front flippers. Despite their critically endangered status, their eggs are still collected for food , and they are still caught for meat and for their beautifully colored shells which are made into jewelry and trinkets. There are only around 20,000 nesting females left -- and hawksbills don't reach maturity until about 30 years of age and only nest every 2-4 years. Their slow reproduction rate means that juveniles and adults need far more protection from humans to avoid extinction. 16.

Malayan softshell turtle (Dogania subplana) Photo: Wibowo Djatmiko /Wikipedia Here is another turtle species with a face you won't forget. Found in fresh, fast-running water, the Malayan softshell turtle loves to dine on snails and other small mollusks. Like many softshell turtle species, it has a snout that can be stuck up above the water like a snorkel while it stays submerged and somewhat hidden. But overall, its profile looks almost more like a fish than a turtle. Photo: Ryan M. Bolton /Shutterstock This species, also known as the angonoka tortoise, is native to Madagascar and is also critically endangered. With fewer than 600 left in the wild and still declining, it is considered the rarest tortoise in the world. It is thought it could become extinct in the wild within two decades.

The fact that they may disappear entirely in a matter of years is not a deterrent to determined poachers -- in March of 2013, smugglers were caught in an airport , carrying a single bag containing 54 ploughshare tortoises and 21 radiated tortoises -- possibly as much as one tenth of the entire population of this species. 18. Pig-nosed turtle (Carettochelys insculpta) Photo: reptiles4all /Shutterstock We'll give you one guess as to how this turtle got its name. It's not just the nose that makes this turtle species unique. It is also the only freshwater turtle with flippers like sea turtles. It is found in freshwater streams, lagoons and rivers in the Northern Territory of Australia and also on New Guinea. Sadly, the species has experienced a population decline of about 50 percent in the last two decades, due mainly to the exotic pet trade. The species is known for its territorial behavior and thus high levels of aggression when in captivity, so captive breeding isn't necessarily an option for most owners. Mostly just leaving them alone in the wild is what's needed to protect them from further decline. 19.

Leopard tortoise (Stigmochelys pardalis) Photo: Ecoprint /Shutterstock This gorgeous tortoise is known for its amazing markings on its carapace. The distinct markings are most defined when young, and fade as the individual ages. Found in the savannas of eastern and southern Africa , it spends its days grazing on grasses and succulents. It may look like it is carrying quite a burden with that large shell on its back but it actually is quite nimble. Leopard tortoises are speedy, and can even climb. Their toenails provide them with a solid grip on pourous surfaces like wood and rough stone. They can also go underwater for up to 10 minutes. Never underestimate the abilities of a tortoise! Related posts on MNN: Scientific Classification Class - Reptilia Reptiles are a class of cold-blooded vertebrates - their body temperature varies with their environment. Reptiles include snakes, lizards, crocodiles, and turtles. Reptiles have scaly skin, breathe air with lungs, and have a three-chambered heart. Most reptiles lay eggs, although some produce eggs that hatch internally.

Order - Testudines This order includes all turtles and tortoises. It is divided into three suborders: Pleurodira (side-necked turtles), Cryptodira (freshwater turtles, snapping turtles, tortoises, soft-shelled turtles, and sea turtles), and Amphichelydia (a suborder of turtles that is now extinct). Families Most scientists recognize two families of sea turtles: Family Cheloniidae includes all sea turtles with scutes (horny plates) covering their shells. Family Dermochelyidae are scuteless turtles with only one modern species; the leatherback turtle. A leatherback turtle is covered with leathery skin. It is the only marine turtle whose backbone is not attached to the inside of its shell. Genus, Species Most scientists recognize seven species and one subspecies of sea turtles: green (Chelonia mydas); two subspecies the green (Chelonia mydas mydas) and the black or Eastern Pacific green turtle (Chelonia mydas agassizii) green sea turtle Fossil Record The first turtles appeared during the Triassic period, 245 to 209 million years ago.

The earliest known sea turtles appear in the fossil record in the Late Jurassic period, 208 to 144 million years ago. Scientists believe that modern sea turtles are derived from marsh-inhabiting ancestors that lived during the Late Triassic period. Fossil records show that the now-extinct sea turtle Archelon ischyros, which lived 144 to 65 million years ago, was one of the largest turtles that ever lived. It reached a length of 3 to 4 m (9.8-13 ft.). Sea turtles, saltwater crocodiles, sea snakes, and marine iguanas are the only surviving reptiles that depend on the sea. Sea turtle species are among a small group of reptiles that depend on the sea for survival.

Question: Which is the largest species of the turtle family?
Answer: LEATHERBACK TURTLE