Tortoise

Chersina

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Dipsochelys

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Furculachelys

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Geochelone

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Gopherus

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Homopus

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Indotestudo

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Kinixys

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Malacochersus

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Manouria

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Psammobates

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Pyxis

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Testudo

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Tortoise is the name given to land-dwelling reptiles most of whose body is shielded by a special shell. Turtles and terrapins are the aquatic species. All living tortoises are members of the order Testudines.

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Tortoises have both an endoskeleton and an exoskeleton. All tortoises have a protective shell around their bodies. The top part of their case is called the carapace, the underside is the plastron, and the two are connected by the bridge.

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The size of tortoises can vary from a few centimetres to up to two meters. Tortoises generally live a long time, some individuals being known to have lived longer than 150 years. Because of this, they symbolize longevity in some cultures, such as China. The oldest tortoise (or living animal) ever recorded is Tui Malila, of Tonga.

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The giant tortoises of the Gal?pagos Islands helped Charles Darwin formulate his theory of evolution, since the isolated populations on the different islands, although descended from a common ancestor, had diverged to different forms. One of Darwin's tortoises, named Harriet, is believed to still be alive and living in an Australian zoo.

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Most land tortoises are herbivorous in the wild.

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The first turtles already existed in the era of the dinosaurs, some 300 million years ago. Turtles and tortoises are the only surviving branch of the even more ancient clade Anapsida, which includes groups such as the procolophonoids, millerettids and pareiasaurs. Most of the anapsids became extinct in the late Permian period, with the exception of the procolophonoids and the precursors of the testudines (turtles and tortoises).

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Terrapin: Terrapin, from the Algonquin word meaning "a little turtle", may mean:...

Endoskeleton: An endoskeleton is an internal support structure of an animal. Three phyla of animals possess endoskeletons of various complexity: Chordata, Echinodermata, and Porifera. the endoskeleton allows the body to move and gives the body structure and shape. A true endoskeleton is derived from mesodermal t...

Exoskeleton: An exoskeleton, in contrast to an endoskeleton, is an external anatomical feature that supports and protects an animal's body. Many invertebrate animals such as insects, crustaceans and shellfish have exoskeletons. Lobsters, for example, have tough outer shell systems which provide rigidity and shap...

Tortoise related Images and Photos (experimental)

Tortoise	Tortoise	Oken Tortoise	Common Land Tortoise
Vintage Linen Tortoise	Tank the Giant Tortoise London Zoo 180 Kilos 80 Years Old on Top is Tiki a Small Tortoise	Aldabra Tortoise on Beach Picard Island Aldabra Seychelles	Various Types of Tortoise
The Hare and the Tortoise Retold The Hare Wins' a Speeding Car Startles a Horse and Cart	According to Hindu Belief the Earth is Supported on Elephants Standing on a Tortoise