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| There is no need to stress if you live in 150 years. |
Turtles are reptilians of the Order Testudines (all
living turtles belong to the crown group Chelonia),
most of whose body is shielded by a special bony
or cartilaginous shell developed from their ribs.
The Order Testudines includes both extant (living)
and extinct species, the earliest known turtles
being from around 215 million years ago, making
turtles one of the oldest reptile groups, and a
much more ancient group than lizards and snakes.
About 300 species are alive today; some are highly
endangered.
Turtles lay eggs, like other reptiles, which are
slightly soft and leathery. The eggs of the largest
species are spherical, while the eggs of the rest
are elongated. Their albumen is white and contains
a different protein than bird eggs, such that it
will not coagulate when cooked. Turtle eggs prepared
to eat consist mainly of yolk. In some species,
temperature determines whether an egg develops into
a male or a female: a higher temperature causes
a female, a lower temperature causes a male. Large
numbers of eggs are deposited in holes dug into
mud or sand. They are then covered and left to incubate
by themselves. When the turtles hatch they squirm
their way to the surface and make for the water.
There are no known species wherein the mother cares
for the young... |
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