Turtles

Species

Turtles have many diffrent species around about 360 of sea turtles and land dwelling turtles. As you can see here on this table it shows the different types of turtle from the ocean to the ground. the Leatherback turtle, which are widely spread around New Zealand and have been recorded as far south as Fiordland. Satellite tracking studies indicate that the waters around North Cape and the eastern coast of Northland are favoured foraging grounds. They prefer oceanic waters and can tolerate much colder temperatures than other turtle species. Leatherbacks only come ashore to breed those occurring in the Southwest Pacific breed in northern Australia, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands. They appear to return swiftly to feeding grounds in cooler waters, such as those around New Zealand.

The Loggerhead turtle in New Zealand are concentrated around the upper North Island, though they get washed up as far as Steward Island. Loggerhead turtles can live in cold waters around 10◦c. And can hibernate in waters below 15◦c. they hibernate on the seafloor where they can hold there breath for 10 hours then going up to breathe, the Hawksbill turtle lives around tropical areas and a tropical species. they live in clearer and shallow waters and have been mostly seen in the upper North Island. The Green sea turtle is mostly preyed on by many diffrent animals and humans as a kid to a adult. the reason they are called green turtles is because the color of there meat when there killed and turned into soup. Most turtles spend there time around northern North Island, these turtles mostly come from Indo/Western Pacific population. Green turetles are listed as a endangered species as humans being the most casue to it by rubbish or being hunted.

These are all sea turtles but what about turtles who live on land like the famous Tortoise which has its hard and massive shell and can retract there heads into it. Tortoises can be diffrent sizes and has evoled into large bodys and are generally the longest living land animal ever, which can be estimated to live around 80-150 years olds. The next turtle the Common snapping turtle where they usally live around rocky mountains. The snapping turtle has the most powerful, beak like jaw and highly mobile neck with snake like movement that can snap more then fingers or toes maybe even a leg or arm. Snapping turtles live around shallow ponds or streams and chill around by floating at the top with there carapaces exposed.

The Red-eared slider turtle which is the most popular turtle around the world because there the best turtle to have as a pet. the red slider is native to the Midwestern United States and Northern Mexico. This turtle gets its named becasue of it having a small red stripe around where its ear would be that can help it slide quickly of rocks into the water. This turtle lives in the wild around calm rivers or bodys of water and are able to leave the water quickly by climbing onto rocking or trees. This turtle is also famous for being the species of turtles in TMNT(Teanage Muntant Ninja Turtles). The last turtle on the table which is the Common musk turtle. or called the stinkpot turtle beacause it release's a foul musky odor from the edge of its shells, and grouped in the same family as a mud turtle. This smelly turtle can be found in a lot of wetlands and littoral zones mostly in shallow watercoures with a slow curret and muddy bottom. this turtle it mostly more aquatic but can climd on wooden debris or fallen trees.

Conclusion

Overall there are alot more sea/land turtles then the ones I talked about but theses are some of the cooler ones in my opinon. and a lot more of infomation about these reptites. But some Fun Facts LIke how turtles are the oldest reptile group in the world, and lving all the way back in the time of dinosaurs over 200 million years ago. Turtles are known for there hard and tough shells with the turtles like the snapping turtle being able to retract there head into there shell for more protection from other preadotors Speaking about there shells there apart of there skeleton and made up of 50 bones which include its rib cage. also about there shells there grow with them and can't come out of its shell. depending on where the turtle lives on land it will eat insects and fruit but if there live in water they will eat stuff like algae, jellyfish and other stuff from the ocean. turtles are born out as omnivores but grow up to be a herbivores. Overall turtles and cool reptiples with alot to them about there history and species.

Table of Species