Fun Turtle Facts For Kids
Turtles are such fun, don’t you think?
Let’s learn all about these interesting creatures which you may have first heard about through cartoons such as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles!
Quick Turtle Facts
- Sea turtles are able to breathe air when submerged for extended periods of time.
- There are no teeth on turtles.
- Turtles consume a variety of foods.
- The shell of a softshell turtle is flattened.
- Turtles are capable of diving down to 960 feet.
- Turtles can move more easily because of their webbed feet.
- In the sand, soil, or on the grass, turtles lay their delicate eggs. They place the eggs in holes they have dug.
Turtles are Reptiles, not Mammals!
Turtles are reptiles, and you can find them living almost anywhere.
They have a hard shell which helps keep them protected from attackers and the elements. The official name for their shell is a ‘carapace’.
Turtles are cold-blooded, like all reptiles. This means their body temperature changes based on how warm or cold it is outside.
Many turtle species are able to hide their heads inside their bodies if they feel under threat. Combined with their hard outer shell, this helps keep them safe from predators.
How big are turtles?
There is no average size of turtle, as there are so many different species. However, the largest turtle out there is the leatherback sea turtle, which can weigh over 2000 lbs, or 900kg!
Turtles are known for their slow and steady movement, but as you probably know, slow and steady wins the race!
Turtles have been around for 215 million years. Isn’t that a long time?
Many turtles are endangered. This means they may not exist at some stage, but for now we need to look after turtles and ensure they are safe.
They spend most of their lives in water, and have webbed feet to help them move around.
Only five species of turtle live in Europe. They mostly live in southern Asia and south eastern North America (where it’s nice and warm!).
