Turtles are reptiles. They are sometimes confused with amphibians, but they do not belong to them, since most species can live permanently either on land or on water. There are 230 species of these reptiles, they live on all continents except Antarctica. Turtles are long-lived and can live more than a hundred years. They also exist on Earth for a long time — the oldest fossils are more than 200 million years old. These creatures are covered with a shell, which is their protection from predators. They inhabited the land-deserts, steppes, as well as reservoirs — salt, fresh, swamps. They have their own day-world turtle day is celebrated on may 23.
Long-livers
The oldest ancient fossils date back 220 million years. The oldest fossil was archelon, who lived in the Cretaceous period. It was a true giant up to five meters long and weighing up to two tons. The largest current representatives of this species are half the size.
The oldest turtles were potbellied, but the main difference from modern was that they could not hide their heads in the shell.
The record of official longevity is recorded on the turtle Marion, who lived 152 years. But these animals can live much longer-up to three hundred years. On the island of St. Helena lives a turtle Jonathan, who is more than 180 years old. There is evidence that a turtle named TUI Molina lived 188 years. Age is determined by the annual rings on the shell.
Big and small
The largest of the existing turtles is called leathery. It lives in warm seas and oceans. The record holder had a length of about three meters, the weight was up to one ton. Usually these water reptiles reach length and a half-two dam, under most part 400 — 500 kilograms.
The largest land turtle is the Galapagos elephant turtle. Adults reach a length of two meters, weight-almost halftone. Unfortunately, this species is now considered extinct.
The speckled turtle is the smallest-it is usually less than 10 centimeters. Cape turtle is also very small - with a length of 11 centimeters, its weight is slightly more than 200 grams.
Power and speed
Interesting facts about turtles - speed of movement. Land turtles move quite slowly. But their marine relatives are quite fast-leathery can reach speeds of more than 30 kilometers per hour, and burrows more than one meter deep.
Kaimanawa Cherepaha can be dangerous to humans. It can grab and bite hard in the water diver. Vulture turtles have a strong beak, which can strongly bite a person and even bite off a finger.
Vulture turtles intensively hunt, lying at the bottom of the pond-its long tongue fish perceive for chrobachka and swim themselves into the mouth of this predator.
The green sea turtle can transport up to five people on its back, no longer allowing the area of the shell. It eats up to five years of plankton, later becomes completely herbivorous.
The strongest tortoise shells can withstand the weight of more than two hundred times the owner of this natural armor.
Behavior
Interesting about the turtles ' behavior, habits, and peculiarities. If the turtle lives at home, she could perceive the tone of a man hiding in a shell when she scolded.
In the ocean, choosing the right direction of travel is due to sensitivity to The earth's magnetic field.
In 1968, the turtles flew harmlessly around the Earth on a Soviet spacecraft.
In past centuries, turtles were taken on ships as a source of meat. These animals can for several months do not eat anything, unlike other animals for which the road had to take food. Thus, the cost of living turtles, it was a question of the supply of seafarers to the time of the invention of canned food.
Soft-bodied turtles have leather folds instead of a hard shell. They hunt by burying themselves in local sediments at the bottom of the reservoir.
On the territory of the new York airport, turtles often appear, which come out of Jamaica Bay and look for places where they could lay their eggs. Presumably, the runways were built on the site where these animals laid eggs for thousands of years. During this time from time to time delayed flights.
Leathery, box-like, as well as Hawksbill turtles eat poisonous mushrooms, and jellyfish. Toxins that are in the meat, can poison a person if she wants to eat meat of these reptiles.
The salivary glands found in some sea turtles remove excess salt from the body.
Brown turtle is a caring mother, her children live in the nest, which is under supervision. Other species simply lay eggs and do not watch over them, and small shells should worry about themselves from the first days.
Land
Turtles often become prey of Jaguar, which their its thorough and prehensile legs strapon until heads and limbs even when they hidden under shell.
Marsh turtles may not eat for up to five years. But probably after a period of good nutrition, during which fat stores are formed.
Some species are not afraid of the cold-caimans can crawl on the ice. Some species can die in years and after thaw, continue to live. Bladna turtle lives in Large lakes, in winter she is not falling asleep, but continues to swim under the ice.
Many species of turtles are endangered species, they are entered in the International Red book. The culprit of the disappearance of these armored reptiles is a man who catches them for food, for pet stores and zoos, as well as degrades the habitat, polluting water, land and building up places where they live or vidkladuyut eggs.