Turtles

More Information

Turtles evolved roughly 260 million years ago from ancient lizard-like reptiles called the diapsids, slowly forming their characteristic shell over millennia. The shell evolved from the arching of the spine and the widening and fusing of the ribs. A turtle’s shell includes the carapace at the top, the plastron at the bottom, and the bridge—the middle area where the carapace and plastron fuse. Turtles require a lot of calcium to properly form their shells; nutritional deficiencies can lead to serious shell malformations.

Turtle shells come in a variety of shapes and sizes, depending on the species’ ecology. Smaller aquatic turtles, like pond sliders, have highly developed shells with a large carapace, plastron, and bridge to protect them from predators. Common snapping turtles have large, camouflaged carapaces and small plastrons. Snapping turtles are large, bottom-dwelling, sit-and-wait predators, so they don’t require as much underbelly protection when they are adults.

Did You know?

• Alligator snapping turtles have a growth on their tongue that looks like a wiggling worm. They use this to lure fish and other prey into their open jaws.
• Common Nature Boardwalk residents include painted turtles, pond sliders, and common snapping turtles.
• Turtles are cold-blooded, or ectothermic, so they are unable to be active during cold months. In late fall, they bury themselves beneath the frost line, entering a state of suspended animation called brumation until spring comes.