Pond Critters

12 Tantalizing Turtle Tidbits
By: Robert Gthrie

1. A turtle is an animal that can partially or totally withdraw its head, forelimbs, hind limbs and tail into its ribcage.

2. Turtles are reptiles and are found as fossils up to about 230 million years ago.

3. Turtles are found throughout the world, except for places that have very dry deserts or very cold environments.

4. Sea turtles spend all their lives in the oceans  The females come ashore only to lay their eggs.

5. Freshwater turtles live in lakes and rivers.  The females come on land to lay their eggs.  When a pond dries up, the turtles either dig in the mud or walk to another pond.

6. Tortoises can live in dry areas.  They get their water from the plants they eat.

7. All turtles hatch from eggs laid by their mother in a hole dug with her hind legs.

8. Turtles are cold-blooded animals.  Their temperatures are just a few degrees above the temperature of their environment, except for when they are basking in the sun.  Turtles cool off by moving to a cooler place in their environment because turtles have no sweat glands.

9. Turtles have no teeth, but they do have scales that act like scissors to cut their food.  Different turtles have different eating habits.  Some eat only plants.  Some eat only living animals.  Others eat any plant or animal - alive or dead.

10. Some turtles hibernate during the winter in very cold areas.  Their body temperature drops to just above freezing.

11. Some turtles make deep burrows, where they retreat during the heat of the day in very hot areas.  They come out to eat only in the cool, early morning hours.

12. Have you ever seen ears on a turtle?  Turtles have ears on the sides of their heads, but they are covered with skin to keep the water out.