Turtles

Information about turtles:

Turtles are aquatic or semi-aquatic reptiles of the order Testudines. Because they are reptiles, they exothermic so they cannot regulate their body temperature and must use their environments to do so. Turtles are part of the Superorder Chelonia, which includes terrapins, sea turtles and tortoises. The oldest known turtles date from about 215 million years ago, in the late Triassic Period of the Mesozoic era, which makes them older than the other reptiles like snakes, lizards and even crocodiles. All turtles breath air and lay their eggs on land.

The largest extant (living) chelonian is the Leatherback Sea Turtle, which the shell alone can grow to a size of over six feet and the animal can weigh in excess of a ton (900 kg) There were turtles who went extinct like the Archelon ischyros, which could grow to a length of over 15 feet (4.6 meters) Turtles have become very successful animals through millions of years of evolution, and inhabit every continent except Antarctica. Turtles are very popular as pets, and thousands of people keep them in aquariums and ponds.

Some turtles, like the red-eared slider, have been introduced into areas they are not native to, and have become an invasive species forcing the native turtles out.