Facts about the Tortoise

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Did you Know? List of Facts about the Tortoise
Facts are statements which are held to be true and often contrasted with opinions and beliefs. Our unusual and interesting facts about the Tortoise, trivia and information, including some useful statistics about animals will fascinate everyone from kids and children to adults.

Interesting Facts about the Tortoise are as follows:

  • Fact 1 - Definition: Tortoises or land turtles are land-dwelling reptiles of the family of Testudinidae, order Testudines. They have four legs and a shell that is joined down the sides. They also have strong, horny mouths, or beaks, and no teeth. The tortoise has the ability to withdraw their head and four legs partially into the shell, providing some protection from predators

  • Fact 2 - The name is applied especially to the land and fresh-water species, while the marine species are generally called Turtles
  • Fact 3 - What is the Difference Between a Turtle and a Tortoise? Tortoises live entirely above water so do not have flippers.
  • Fact 4 - Tortoises have a protective shell around their bodies. The top part of the tortoise shell is the carapace, the underside is the plastron, and the two are connected by the bridge
  • Fact 5 - They are cold-blooded and warm themselves by drawing heat from their environment
  • Fact 6 - Tortoises do not have webbed feet, they are round and stumpy for walking on land
  • Fact 7 - The tortoise generally has a lifespan comparable to a human
  • Fact 8 - Leopard Tortoise stats and facts (Leopard tortoises are one of the largest tortoises in the world)

    • Weight: 30 - 50 pounds

    • Length: 15 -18 inches
    • Habitat: Various - depending on the species
    • Lifespan: up to 90 years
    • Diet: the Tortoise are herbivores eating mainly tree leaves, grass and ferns.
  • Fact 9 - Female tortoises dig nesting burrows in which they lay from 1 - 30 eggs
  • Fact 10 - In most tortoise species, the female tends to be larger than the male tortoise
  • Fact 11 - Giant tortoises can weigh as much as 300 kg (660 lbs) and can grow to be 1.3 m (4 ft) long
  • Fact 12 - The tortoise is susceptible to parasites and pneumonia
  • Fact 13 - The tortoise is the common name for a terrestrial turtle
  • Fact 14 - A healthy tortoise's eyes should be clear, bright, alert, and fully open, without any discharge
  • Fact 15 - A Tortoise is diurnal, meaning active during the day
  • Fact 16 - Pet tortoises kept outdoors need some sort of structure in which to hide or spend the night
  • Fact 17 - When holding a pet tortoise, support it with both hands as most tortoises become stressed when they feel air beneath them
  • Fact 18 - Most male tortoises have tails that are longer than those of the female tortoise
  • Fact 19 - There are about 40 different types of tortoise including those detailed on the following list:

    • Aldabran
      Galapagos
      Mediterranean
      Redfood
      Yellowfoot
      Russian
      Hingeback
      Desert
      Star
      Spurred
      Leopard Tortoise
      Burmese Mountain
      Common long-neck
      Murray River short-neck
      Krefft’s Tortoise
      Western Swamp
      Macquarie Tortoise

  • Fact 20 - The story of Hare and the Tortoise are one of the most famous of Aesop's Fables

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