Turtle shells are made mostly of bone; the upper part is the domed carapace, while the underside is the flatter plastron or belly-plate. Its outer surface is covered in scales made of keratin, the material of …

Jan 19, 2026 · A turtle’s shell is typically made of 50 to 60 bones arranged into a dorsal, domed carapace and a ventral, flat plastron. The latter is an assemblage of bones from the sternum, …

May 11, 2026 · A turtle is any reptile with a body encased in a bony shell, including tortoises. The turtle shell has a top (carapace) and a bottom (plastron). The carapace and plastron are bony structures …

They all belong to a group of reptiles called Testudines, which includes turtles, tortoises and terrapins. From giant, slow-moving land-dwelling tortoises and snappy terrapins basking in their fresh-water …

Sea turtles, along with other turtles and tortoises, are part of the order Testudines. All species except the leatherback sea turtle are in the family Cheloniidae. The superfamily name Chelonioidea and family …

May 23, 2026 · Sea turtle, any of seven species of marine turtles belonging to the families Dermochelyidae (leatherback sea turtles) and Cheloniidae (green turtles, flatback sea turtles, …

Jun 21, 2022 · 30 amazing types of turtles, from the land-dwelling desert tortoise Gopherus agassizii, to the mighty leatherback sea turtle Dermochelys coriacea, the world’s largest living turtle species.

Apr 8, 2026 · Turtles, like other reptiles, are ectothermic or cold-blooded, which means that their body temperature changes with their surroundings.

Turtles Turtles (Testudines) are one of the most prominent reptile orders, characterized by their large bony shells that act as their primary defense mechanism. The head and limbs are retrieved within the …

Turtle diets are as varied as their habitats, reflecting their diverse ecological roles. They can be herbivores, carnivores, or omnivores, with dietary preferences often shifting with age and species: …