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TURTLE ANATOMY

What is a turtle?

Turtles or chelonians belong to the class known as reptiles. Considered the oldest living reptiles, they appeared on Earth about 200 million years ago.

Turtles differentiate themselves from other reptiles by their stocky shape.
With their characteristic carapace, it is difficult to confuse them with other animals.

Turtles are ectotherms. They are unable to internally regulate their temperature, contrary to humans for example, and remain dependent on the temperature of their surroundings.

The Shell

It is a rigid structure that protects the body like a suit of armor.
The shell is divided into two parts:

Carapace d'une Tortue

THE SCUTES ON THE CARAPACE

a - Nuchal
b - Marginal
c - Central
d - Costal
e - Supracaudal

The carapace consists of two layers.
The exterior layer is formed by scutes whose pigments give the animal its characteristic color.
Under the scutes, bony plates are fused together along the spine and ribs.

How to measure a turtle?
Its size is based on the linear length of its carapace from one extremity to the other.


Limbs

The limbs of a tortoise are stocky and robust; capable of lifting the weight of its body which includes a heavy shell.
Its fingers (usually five) are fused together and only its nails can be distinguished.
In contrast, aquatic turtles' fingers are separated.


Respiration

Turtles have two lungs that are located under the carapace at the level of the vertebral and costal scutes.
lungs are separated from other organs by a membrane.
Turtles get air to their lungs by breathing in through their nostrils.

Be very careful! A very frequent accident for a turtle is for it to get turned over on its back.
If the animal fails to get back on its feet, the weight of its organs compresses its lungs and the turtle suffocates to death.


The senses

SIGHT

The eye is protected by three eyelids that close from the bottom towards the top.

HEARING

Turtles don't have external ears, yet they hear perfectly and perceive ground and water vibrations.

SMELL

Turtles have a sense of smell that is sufficiently developed to analyze their food; they will smell it several times, and once the scent is recognized they will take a small piece and taste it.