World Turtle Day

Today, Saturday 23rd May, 2015 is World Turtle Day! 

Did you know that turtles have been around for more than 200 million years? These ancient creatures evolved before mammals, birds, snakes, or lizards! Biologists believe that turtles have managed to outlive many other species due to the unique protection provided by their shells.

Some interesting facts about turtles and tortoises:

• Turtles have been on the earth for more than 200 million years. Several species of turtles can live to be over a hundred years of age including the American Box Turtle.
• One documented case of longevity involves an adult Indian Ocean Giant Tortoise that when captured as an adult was estimated to be fifty years old. It then lived another 152 years in captivity.
• Turtles live on every continent except Antarctica.
• Turtles will live in almost any climate warm enough to allow them to complete their breeding cycle.

• The top domed part of a turtle's shell is called the carapace and the bottom underlying part is called the plastron.
• The shell of a turtle is made up of 60 different bones all connected together.

• Turtles have good eyesight and an excellent sense of smell. Hearing and sense of touch are both good and even the shell contains nerve endings.
• Some aquatic turtles can absorb oxygen through their skin on their neck and cloacalareas allowing them to remain submerged underwater for extended periods of time and enabling them to hibernate underwater.
• Turtles are one of the oldest and most primitive groups of reptiles and have outlived many other species. One can only wonder if their unique shell is responsible for their success.

There are a number of ways you can help endangered and threatened turtles:

 Barbara Schroeder, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s national sea turtle coordinator suggests that as for sea turtles, you can help them with acts as simple as not leaving trash on the beach and keeping an eye out for them if you boat in areas where they live. If you are near nesting beaches, follow lighting restrictions so you don’t disorient hatchlings, and refrain from spending time on the beach in areas where you can disturb them.

“What everybody can do is be aware of environmental legislation and requirements that may be proposed by federal or state governments to protect species,” Schroeder goes on to say. “Connect with environmental organizations working to preserve turtles. They always know what’s coming up and going on.”

CREDITS

http://www.punchbowl.com/holidays/world-turtle-day

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=17+1797&aid=1492

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/23/world-turtle-day-2013_n_3326107.html