Turtles are not crustaceans, they are reptiles. Crustaceans are animals such as crabs, lobsters, shrimp, crayfish, krill and barnacles that have an exoskeleton and are required to go through the process of molting in order to grow. Most crustaceans are free living aquatic animals, however some are terrestrial (woodlice), while others are parasitic (fish lice and tongue worms) and some are sessile (barnacles). The group has an extensive fossil record which dates as far back to the Cambrian period and includes living fossils such as Triops Cancriformis, which has apparently existed since the Triassic period. Crustaceans can be distinguished from other groups of arthropods since they have two parted limbs and also from the form of their larva.

Turtles are classified as being reptiles of the order Testudines (the crown group of the super order Chelonia) characterized by a special bony orcaartilaginous shell that is developed from their ribs and acts as a type of shield. The order Testudines includes both extant (still living) and extinct (species that are no longer living) species. The earliest known turtles date back some 200 million years ago, which makes them one of the oldest reptile groups and a more ancient group than lizards, snakes and even crocodiles. Turtles are cold blooded animals whose temperatures range varying upon their ambient environment.

There are no known species of turtles today that are asexual. When turtles reproduce they do so by mating sexually and reproducing. During this process, male turtles can be found attracting females with a combination of sounds and movements particular to each species. Some common rituals used include head bobbing, dancing and making a clucking noise. Once two turtles decide to partner up, the actual mating begins. Sometimes it takes no longer than just a few minutes for a pair to decide they want to mate.

The male turtle mounts the female by getting on top of her shell from behind her. He may grab onto the shell with his claws and then twist his tail around hers or even bite her head. It is important during this time that their tails meet. The male then deposits his sperm from his penis, (located in his tail) into the female’s “cloaca” (a small opening in her tail). Sometimes this process can take as long as an hour, in which the male turtle will remain on top of the female until they are done.

When it comes time for the female turtle to lay her eggs beforehand she will dig a nest on the beach located in the sand, dirt or rocks. If it is an ocean beach, she will try to dig this nest as far away from the water as possible, so that a high tide does not become a potential danger to the eggs. This can be a large amount of land travel for such a creature that does not typically move quickly out of water. Once the female turtle makes the nest big enough for her body to fit inside of it she then climbs inside and begins to dig an even smaller chamber directly underneath her tail. This deeper portion of the nest is what will serve in keeping her eggs protected from predators. Finally, she passes the eggs out of her cloaca and will cover them and return to the water. Depending upon the species of turtle, some can lay anywhere from 2 eggs to well over 100. Female turtles do not stay with the eggs to help in the incubation process.

The baby turtles usually spend only about a month’s time inside their eggs where they feed off of the yolk. When it is time for them to hatch they peck their way out of their shells by using an “egg tooth” that they are equipped with. This tooth will fall off soon after. As soon as the young turtles are ready, they start heading out to the water. Those young that make their trip to the water at night often have the best chance for survival.

We’ve probably all seen the cartoon turtle that pops out of his shell; this could be why so many people think that in real life turtles are not attached to their shells. However, this is a big myth. The truth of the matter is that turtles are indeed attached to their shells as they are connected to their backbone and ribs.

The top of a turtle’s shell is called the carapace and the bottom portion that encases the belly is known as the plastron. The part of the shell that connects these two together is known as the bridge. The carapace does not have scales; rather they are equipped with large sections that are called scutes. These scutes are made up of keratin (similar to a human’s fingernails). The cloaca is an opening in the body that is located underneath the tail. Through this opening, the turtle can perform fecal, urinary, and reproductive functions.

Contrary to what many people may believe, turtles can feel things that come in contact with their shells because they have nerve endings located there. They cannot however feel pain as they are not equipped with that particular type of nerve ending.

A turtle’s chest is different from a human’s chest. We humans expand our chests when we breathe and then our chest’s contract. This is done to pull in air and then release it. A turtle’s chest cannot do this because they have hard plastron. Instead, they breathe by inflating their lungs, which take up room inside of their shell.

No turtle is able to leave their shell and still be alive afterwards. If you have found a vacant turtle shell than the creature that once lived in it is in fact dead. They are attached to their shell, it is actually a part of their rib cage. This shell grows at the same rate as the rest of the turtle, so there is not really a concern for turtle’s becoming too fat for its shell. When the shell begins to look as if it is coming apart, it most likely means that it is growing and discarding portions of the old with incoming segments of the new shell. If the scutes come off in large layers or there are red or raw areas shed in some areas, then there is a problem with your turtle and a veterinarian should be consulted immediately.

As the turtle continues to grow you will notice a separation of the scutes as well as a lighter colored area between them on the plastron. This is common and completely normal. The area will also be softer than the surrounding scutes.

The inner layer of a turtle’s shell is actually made up of about 60 bones and includes portions of the backbone and ribs, which again means that they are unable to simply just climb out of their shells. Furthermore, a turtle’s scutes overlap the seams between the shell bones and add strength to the shell as well.

Turtles are in fact sometimes cannibalistic creatures. If kept in captivity and their tank is too small and there is not plenty else for them to feed upon, they have been known to attack each other and become cannibalistic towards one another. Turtles in the wild and kept in captivity are also prone to eat turtles that are smaller than them or that are sickly.

However, it should be noted that some turtles do not even need to feel crowded, or be around smaller or sick turtles or anything like that. The stomach content of some studies have shown that some snapping turtle’s diets mainly consisted of other turtles.

Turtles are not arthropods. Even irregular turtles are not considered to be arthropods. Turtles are reptiles. Furthermore, they are classified as being reptiles of the order Testudines (the crown group of the super order Chelonia) characterized by a special bony orcaartilaginous shell that is developed from their ribs and acts as a type of shield.

The order Testudines includes both extant (still living) and extinct (species that are no longer living) species. The earliest known turtles date back some 200 million years ago, which makes them one of the oldest reptile groups and a more ancient group than lizards, snakes and even crocodiles.

Turtles, different from some reptiles are ectotherms (cold blooded) which means that their internal temperature varies according to their ambient environment

The word arthropod refers to animals that are invertebrates and have an exoskeleton. (External skeleton). These creatures also possess a segmented body, and jointed appendages. They are members of the Phylum Arthropoda (derived from Greek origin for “joint” and “foot” which together means “jointed feet”).

Arthropods include insects, arachnids such as the spider and crustaceans. Arthropods are required to molt in order for them to grow properly. They are also one of the only two animals groups that can live successfully in very dry environments.

As you can see, turtles and arthropods are very different from each other.

Turtles in general are not blind. However, of course that is not to say that there are not some turtles that are born blind or have become blind. Most of the time, one can tell if a turtle is blind or not if their eyes are shut all of the time. It seems to be unknown whether or not a turtle can be blind and still have its eyes open.

Turtles can become blind for a number of reasons. One reason is a deficiency in Vitamin A. Another reason could be that they were attacked but survived from a predator, or something of the like.

It is also quite common for turtles to suffer from two distinct eye problems. The first is swollen eyelids and the second is a bacterial eye infection.

Swollen eyes effectively render the turtle blind, which in turn makes it quite difficult for these little guys to feed themselves. As a result of this, they are at risk of starvation. Bacterial eye infections are developed on their own or together with swollen eyes and because the bacteria can move quickly and easily from the eye to the nasal passage, if left untreated an eye infection can quickly lead to a potentially fatal respiratory tract infection.

There are certain ways an individual can tell if their turtle is suffering from either of these problems. Some common symptoms found in turtles suffering from a swollen eye or eyes include:

• Swollen or puffy eyelids that seem larger than normal
• Reddening of the conjunctiva and orbital glands (the glands that secrete tears)
• The eyelids have become so swollen that the turtle can no longer open its eyes.
• Weeping (excess production of tears)
• Accumulation of detritus (dead cells) around the eye(s)
• Blockage of the nostrils. A sign of this may be that your turtle is having trouble locating food.
• Loss of appetite. Is no longer eating at all.
• Weight loss.

The following symptoms can occur on their own or in association with swollen eyes. Eye infections can also be linked to a respiratory tract infection. In any case symptoms may include:

• Watery eyes
• Puffy or swollen eyes
• Reddening of the conjunctiva and/or surrounding tissues
• The turtle exhibits frequent rubbing or scratching of its eyes
• Wheezing
• Loss of proper balance when swimming
• Excessive amounts of fluid being secreted from the mouth and/or nose.

Any turtle that is suffering from any of the above symptoms needs to be examined by a veterinarian immediately to confirm diagnosis and treat the problems. The veterinarian in this case will often examine the Harderian glands for signs of swelling. If this is found it is usually a good indication that there is a problem with Vitamin A deficiency, which is usually caused by poor diet. If this is the case, the veterinarian will usually give the turtle an immediate injection of Vitamin A in order to help stabilize the condition and then will provide you, the pet owner with advice on how you can improve their diet so that they will recover and you can keep this from happening again.

Sometimes turtles may get a bacterial infection or respiratory infection in their eyes from sand being trapped in their eye, or from being wounded. Veterinarians that are familiar with reptiles usually have no problem recognizing this and will consider the options during your turtle’s check up. Bacterial infections of the turtle’s eye can be confirmed by the vet by sampling some of the mucous around the eyes by using a swab. Once the precise infection is properly diagnosed, the vet will then usually prescribe suitable antibiotics such as administering an intramuscular injection.

If your turtle seems to be blind in one eye or is suffering from asymmetrical swelling of the eye (meaning that only one eye is swollen and the other is not) this usually indicates that it was caused by some kind of physical damage. Due to this damage, sometimes a secondary infection behind the eye has been known to cause the eye to bulge out. This type of infection required proper antibiotics and it is for this reason that a veterinarian should be consulted immediately. If left untreated, the infection will usually spread and can cause frequent blindness as well as result in the death of Mr. Turtle.

Owners who use chlorinated water in tanks may want to consider that this could be the reasoning behind your turtle’s eye troubles. Chlorinated water has often been found to irritate the eyes of many aquatic turtles which cause them to try wiping their eyes and usually results in scratching the types. All new water added to the tank should have the chlorine removed using a dechlorinator. These are often found sold in pet stores as many are often used inside fish tanks.

To prevent eye infections, swelling and blindness from occurring within your pet turtle it cannot be stressed enough how important it is to feed your turtle the proper diet and make sure that he or she is getting enough Vitamin A in their diet. It is also very important to make sure that they are kept in a clean tank that is free from lots of debris, etc. as these kinds of things can get caught in their eyes and cause an infection. Keeping objects that are very pointed (such as logs, etc.) or can cause great damage to the turtle’s eye if bumped on out of the tank is also never a bad idea.

Never keep a turtle in a tank with other creatures that may prey upon the turtle, this could make injuries to the eyes more likely as they may get into a scrap or have to try and defend themselves against a predator. Make sure that you do not keep the water in your turtle’s tank chlorinated or that if you do there is not too much chlorine. If it seems to irritate your turtle’s eyes, get rid of the water by dechlorinating it as mentioned in the process above.

Turtles, different from some reptiles are ectotherms (cold blooded) which means that their internal temperature varies according to their ambient environment. In other words, they are hot when their environment is hot and cold when their environment is cold. In hot environments, cold blooded animals such as the turtle have blood that is much warmer than warm blooded animals. Cold blooded animals are also much more active in warm environments and are very sluggish in cold environments. This is due to the fact that their muscle activity is dependent upon chemical reactions that run quickly when they are hot and slowly when they are cold. Cold blooded creatures can convert much more of its food into body mass compared to warm blooded creatures.

Many warm blooded animals sweat or pant to lose heat by water evaporation and can cool off by moving into a shaded area or getting wet, cold blooded animals such as the turtle often like to bask in the sun to warm up and increase their metabolism. Some may also prefer heat lamps when kept in captivity.

Cold blooded animals require much less energy to survive than warm blooded animals do. Mammals and birds (warm blooded creatures) require much more food and energy than do cold blooded animals of the same weight. This is because in warm blooded animals, heat loss from their bodies is proportional to the surface area of their bodies, while the heat created by their bodies is proportional to the surface area of their bodies; the heat created by their bodies is proportional to their mass.

Furthermore, the ratio of a body’s surface area to its mass is less the larger the animal is. What this means is that larger, warm blooded animals are able to generate more heat than they lose and more easily able to keep their body temperatures stable. This in turn also makes it easier for them to stay warmer by being larger. This also means that if a warm blooded animal is too small it will lose its heat faster than it can produce it. Since cold blooded animals like the turtle do not need to burn as much food to maintain a constant body temperature, they are more energy efficient and can survive longer periods of time without food than warm blooded creatures can. Many cold blooded creatures will try to keep their body temperatures as low as possible when food is scarce.

Cold blooded creatures also have the advantage of being less prone to infections than warm blooded animals. This lies in the fact that being a warm blooded body provides a warm environment for viruses, bacteria and parasites to reside. As a general rule, mammals and birds since they are warm blooded, are usually prone to more problems with infections and such than reptiles, whose constantly changing body temperature make life more difficult for bacteria, etc. to survive in. However turtles are known to carry diseases and suffer from infections quite commonly, so they could be one of the exceptions to this rule.

Mammals when compared to cold blooded animals still typically have a stronger immune system than cold blooded animals such as the turtle. A reptile’s immune system is more efficient when the animal is warmer, however since bacteria are known to most likely grow slower in lower temperatures, reptiles will sometimes lower their body temperatures when they have an infection.

Some people have mistaken turtles and clams to be related because they share a few similar traits, such as having a shell. However, just because they have this in common does not make them related. Turtles and clams are two completely different creatures. Peanuts have shells too, but that doesn’t make them anymore related to a turtle than you or I.

Turtles are classified as being reptiles of the order Testudines (the crown group of the super order Chelonia) characterized by a special bony orcaartilaginous shell that is developed from their ribs and acts as a type of shield.

The order Testudines includes both extant (still living) and extinct (species that are no longer living) species. The earliest known turtles date back some 200 million years ago, which makes them one of the oldest reptile groups and a more ancient group than lizards, snakes and even crocodiles.

Turtles, different from some reptiles are ectotherms (cold blooded) which means that their internal temperature varies according to their ambient environment. Some species of turtles have been known to have noticeably higher body temperatures than the water they are surrounded by due to their high metabolic rates. Turtles are amniotes (includes reptiles, dinosaurs, birds, and mammals). This means that they breathe air and do not lay eggs underwater. However, many species are known to live in or around water.

Now as far as clams go, the word “clam” can actually be applied to freshwater mussels as well as other freshwater bivalves and some marine bivalves. In the United States the general term covers all bivalve mollusks but can also be used in a more limited sense that refers to bivalves that burrow in sediment as opposed to those bivalves that attach themselves to substrate (such as mussels and oysters). The term has also been used to describe ones that can swim and/or are migratory creatures (such as scallops). In the United Kingdom, the word “clam” is one of the common names of various species of marine bivalve mollusks. However it is not generally used to cover edible clams that burrow.

Clams are equipped with “clam shells”. These shells resemble a hinged container that consists of two equal halves that lock together. When clams feel threatened they “clam up” and withdraw back into their shell. These creatures also have open circulatory systems which mean that their organs are surrounded by watery blood that contains oxygen and nutrients. There are over 15,000 different species of clams worldwide and they come in a variety of different sizes and colors. (Shades of brown, red-brown, yellow, cream, etc.)

These creatures burrow under the sea floor and their shells protect their soft bodies. Most clams are typically only a few inches long. The clam’s head is located within its shell and is rudimentary, without eyes or antennae. Water containing oxygen and food particles can be found entering through the clam’s incurrent siphon (two tubes that project from the end opposite of the foot and may be united in a single structure referred to as the “neck”). Waste containing water is expelled through an excurrent siphon.

Clams usually have separate sexes and when they reproduce their eggs and sperm are deposited into the water, where the fertilized egg then develops into a free swimming larva without a shell that may not reach its adult form until several months later.

As one can easily see, turtles and clams are not related and are very different from one another in a number of various ways.

Generally turtles are absolutely not deaf! In fact, this could not be further from the truth! Turtles have an external eardrum known as a tympanum. This tympanum allows them to hear high frequency airborne sounds. Their tympanum is not homologous with the tympanum of mammals because it is developed independently in all three groups. The tympanum of turtles is supported by a deep quadrate emargination, and the stapes of turtles is slender in order for it to be able to vibrate quickly to transmit sounds from the tympanum to the middle ear.

A turtle’s ears can be seen as small ear holes located on the sides of their heads. In the past, and sometimes still today, people have assumed that turtles were or are deaf. This presumption may have most likely arisen from the fact that turtle’s ears are not a highly visible thing and they do not physically stick out from the sides of their heads, as is the case with most animals.

However, even though these creatures do not have visible external ears, they can still hear. They may not hear as acutely as humans; however they do still have the necessary auditory nerve and corresponding brain center that is required for them to feel and decipher surrounding vibrations. Sound waves are gathered via these small external holes found on the sides of the turtle’s head. Once they reach the middle ear (as described above and mentioned earlier), these middle ears help them to increase the volume of the sound waves.

The anatomical makeup of turtles is quite interesting. The reason that their ears are said to be located inside of their heads is so that they are more aero-dynamic whenever they are in the water. As a result, this allows them to detect sounds and vibrations in their surroundings. The way a turtle responds to a sound can often be based on the way they sense the vibrations surrounding them.

It is true that although many people view turtles as being iconic or “good luck charms” that many species are still becoming extinct. There are many reasons for this extinction.

Sea turtles are becoming extinct at higher rates because seagulls often make them a meal when they are born. These turtles have also been known to try eating plastic that they find and sometimes this results in them choking to death. Some get stuck in nets and drown.

Many other species are becoming extinct as a result from us humans. Turtles are killed all the time and their skin is found being used to make leather for handbags and shoes. Their meat is used to make food and put into soups. Their shells are often used to pattern plastic.

Our building habits have become quite a problem for turtles as well as we are using too many lights now near the sea. For instance, if there is a hotel nearby, the lights will confuse turtles when they hatch. This is because when turtles hatch they have an instinct that tells them to follow the moon’s light, however if the artificial light from the hotel confuses the turtle into thinking that it is the moon, the turtle will follow the wrong light and could possibly run into a predator, get hurt, or get ran over if there is a road nearby.

Many turtles are caught by fishermen as bycatch on accident. Often when this happens the fishermen will kill the turtle for no good reason and then throw it back out to sea, along with other innocent creatures that they have accidentally fished up or caught in a net.

Famous rituals in Brazil say that if you eat the meat of a turtle that you will become immortal. This is causing the extinction of many turtles here.