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 …

Dec 11, 2025 · Tortoises (family Testudinidae) live exclusively on land and have anatomic features distinguishing them from other turtles, but the term tortoise has long been used to refer to other …

Sep 3, 2025 · The leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) is the world’s largest living turtle and the fourth-largest reptile. It measures over 2.7 m (8 ft 10 in) in length and weighs over 500 kg (1,100 …

Sea turtles, such as the Green Sea Turtle or Loggerhead, have streamlined shells and paddle-shaped flippers for efficient aquatic movement. They spend nearly their entire lives in the ocean, with …

Here at Nat Geo Kids we’re turt-ally mad about turtle – so we’ve put together these ten terrific turtle facts! These magnificent creatures come in all shapes and sizes and live in a number of different …

Although the word turtle is widely used to describe all testudines, it is also common to see them called terrapins, tortoises or sea turtles. How these names are used depends on the type of English.

Everything you should know about the Turtle. The Turtle is an aquatic reptile that lives inside its shell. Some turtles live in the water, some venture out.