Facts about Tortoise

Many people are interested  in reading about tortoises.  They would like to know more about the facts regarding the various aspects of the life of this reptile.  - See more at: http://www.pet-tortoise.com/tortoise-facts.html#sthash.FGDlcX5S.dpuf

Many people are interested  in reading about tortoises.  They would like to know more about the facts regarding the various aspects of the life of this reptile.  - See more at: http://www.pet-tortoise.com/tortoise-facts.html#sthash.FGDlcX5S.dpuf

Many people are interested  in reading about tortoises.  They would like to know more about the facts regarding the various aspects of the life of this reptile.  - See more at: http://www.pet-tortoise.com/tortoise-facts.html#sthash.FGDlcX5S.dpuf

Many people are interested  in reading about tortoises.  They would like to know more about the facts regarding the various aspects of the life of this reptile.  - See more at: http://www.pet-tortoise.com/tortoise-facts.html#sthash.FGDlcX5S.dpuf

Many people are interested  in reading about tortoises.  They would like to know more about the facts regarding the various aspects of the life of this reptile.  - See more at: http://www.pet-tortoise.com/tortoise-facts.html#sthash.FGDlcX5S.dp

Many people are interested  in reading about tortoises.  They would like to know more about the facts regarding the various aspects of the life of this reptile.

The tortoise is the third member of the Chelonian family – along with turtles and terrapins. Chelonians are also reptiles, which means they are cold-blooded and warm themselves by drawing heat from their environment.

They have four legs and a shell that is joined down the sides. They also have strong, horny mouths, or beaks, and no teeth.There are about 40 types of tortoise.

·  Tortoises evolved well before crocodiles, snakes, lizards, birds and mammals.  They are the oldest inhabitants of the earth.

·  North America has a number of tortoise species. Europe has only three species.

·  Sixty different bones, connected  together, constitute the shell of the tortoise.

·  Many tortoise species have life spans exceeding hundred years.

·  Tortoises can exist and live in any continent except Antartica.

·  The dome of the tortoise shell is called the Carapace and the underlying bottom part is the  Plastron.

·  Tortoises do not possess teeth.

·  Tortoises store their sperm and produce fertile eggs only after three years of their last mating.

·  Plates cover the bony portion of the shell and they protect the tortoise from various elements.

·  Some aquatic tortoises are able to absorb oxygen through the skin on their neck and cloacal areas.  This helps in their hibernating underwater for long periods.

·  The desert tortoise can survive in regions where the temperature exceeds 140 Degree F.

·  Adult tortoises can survive for years without any access to water.

·  Many land based tortoises possess high domed Carapaces that protect them from the terrestrial predators’ snapping jaws.