Turtles are reptiles with a strong shell that protects their inner organs and backbone. They can live on land or in water, breathing air through a process called buccal pumping. Their shells come in different shapes depending on whether they live on land or in water. While most turtle species lay eggs, some turtle genders are determined by temperature during incubation. The alligator snapping turtle is one of the largest turtle species known for its size, spiked shell, and diet of fish and smaller animals.

1. Turtles
By Connor

2. Turtles
• Turtles are reptiles
• They have a strong shell
• Turtles are cold blooded (ectothermal)
• Many turtle species are endangered
• Turtles have good night vision

3. Turtles
• Turtles breathe air and don’t lay eggs
underwater but live in or near water. Turtles
have their eyes close to the top of their head
because they look down at stuff in front of
them. Turtles use their jaws to cut and chew
food. Carnivorous turtles have really sharp
ridged teeth for slicing prey while
herbivorous turtles have sharp serrated teeth
for cutting through tough plants.

4. The Shell of a Turtle
• The shell of a turtle acts a a shield for them.
The inner layer of the shell is made up of
about 60 bones that include the backbone
and the ribs that make the turtle stuck inside
of its shell. In most turtles, horny scales
called scutes that are part of its outer skin or
epidermis that cover the outer layer of the
shell.

5. Shell continued and breathing
• Scutes overlap the seams between the shell
bones of a turtle and add strength to the
shell. The shell makes the turtles breathe
differently from other reptiles Instead, they
pull air into their mouth then push it into
their lungs and then into the oscillations of
the floor of their throat.

6. Shell Continued and breathing
• Then, by contraction the abdominal
muscles, that cover the posterior opening of
the shell, the internal size of the shell
increases, drawing air onto the lungs,
allowing the muscles to function. Some
turtles don’t have scutes but have leathery
skin overlapping their shell bone instead.
This is called buccal pumping.

7. Shell continued…
• The turtle’s shell makes it difficult for
predators to crush the shell between their
jaws. One exception is the African pancake
turtle, which has a flat, flexible shell that
allows it to hide in rock crevices. Most
aquatic turtles have flat streamlined shells,
which aid them in swimming and diving.
The most common colours of a turtles shell
are brown, black, and olive green.
Picture of an African Pancake Turtle

8. Tortoises and turtles
• The difference between a turtle and a tortoise is that a
turtle is either aquatic or spends most of its time in water
while tortoises live mostly on land. Tortoises have short
sturdy feet. Tortoises move very slowly because of their
extremely heavy shell. Aquatic turtles have webbed feet
with long claws. These aquatic turtles swim in a motion
similar to the doggy paddle.Picture of a Galapagos Tortoise, the largest tortoise in the world

9. Turtles
• Larger turtles tend to swim less then smaller
ones, and the very big species, such as the
Alligator Snapping turtle, hardly swim at
all. Although many turtles spend large
amounts of time underwater, they breathe
air, meaning that they have to come up for
air regularly.
Picture of a turtle swimming

10. Turtles
• Turtles lay eggs that are slightly soft and leathery. In some
species of turtles, the temperature decides the chances that
it will be a male of female. The warmer it is, the more
likely it will be a female, while the cooler it is the more
likely it will be a male. The eggs are laid in large numbers
in holes made by the mother ins sand, dirt, or mud then left
to fend for themselves when they are born. When they are
born, they race to the water for safety from predators like
birds. No known species of turtles takes care of their
young.
Picture of turtle eggs

11. The Alligator Snapping Turtle
• The alligator snapping turtle is one of the largest turtle
species in the world. It has a large heavy head, and a
long, thick shell with 3 dorsal ridges of large scales.
They can be distinguished from the Common
Snapping Turtle by 3 distinct rows of spikes whereas
the Common Snapping Turtle has a smooth carapace.
The Alligator Snapping turtle is a solid gray or black
colour, often covered with algae.
Picture of the Alligator Snapping Turtle

12. Alligator Snapping Turtle vs. the
Common Snapping Turtle
• They can be distinguished from the Common Snapping
Turtle by 3 distinct rows of spikes whereas the Common
Snapping Turtle has a smooth carapace. The Alligator
Snapping turtle is a solid gray or black colour, often
covered with algae.
Alligator Snapping Turtle Common Snapping Turtle

13. Alligator Snapping Turtle
These turtles are carnivorous, but are also
scavengers. They usually eat fish and dead
fish carcasses, but are also known to eat
snakes and other smaller turtles. Even
though they are called the alligator
Snapping Turtle, they do not actually eat
alligators. They were given that name
because of their immense size and 3 spikes
on their shells.

14. The End