turtles: nature`s living sculptures architecture in bone

TURTLES: NATURE’S LIVING SCULPTURES
ARCHITECTURE IN BONE
Turtles have played in the imagination of man for centuries. For example, between the 6th and 4th centuries B.C., the silver coins of the ancient Greek state of
Aegina depicted the image of a sea turtle, and later that of a land tortoise. So widespread were the turtle and tortoise coins of ancient Greece that their popular name was
simply “chelonai”-meaning turtles.
Turtles were prominent in ancient Chinese and Hindu myths concerning the
origins of the world. In Hinduism, the turtle represents the second incarnation of the
powerful god Vishnu. It is believed that Vishnu lifted the world from a powerful flood
and that the Indian subcontinent is the remains of his vast carapace. In ancient China,
the dragon turtle Kwei is believed to be the first creature to emerge from chaos and
bring order to the world. Throughout eastern Asia a popular motif depicts a turtle
carrying a crane on its back across a raging torrent. In its beak the crane carries a lotus
blossom as a candlestick bringing light to the Holy Buddha. Similar beliefs can be found
in the native peoples of North America. The Algonquins and Iroquois believed in a
“mother turtle” supporting a world entirely surrounded by water.
While it is impossible to know what qualities of turtles prompted the beliefs of
these ancient people, they did with certainty hold these animals in high esteem and with
reverence. Perhaps part of the answer lies in the beauty of the animal itself. When
the early North American naturalist John LeConte first described the wood turtle of
the northeastern United States in 1830, he named it Testudo insculpta for the handcarved appearance of its exquisite shell. Almost a century later, Harold Babcock,
writing in the Memoirs of the Boston Society of Natural History in 1919, called this
turtle the sculptured tortoise and quoted his colleague D.H. Storer, in describing it as
“our most beautiful tortoise.” The use of the term tortoise was a carry-over from English terminology. The wood turtle is a member of the large family of freshwater
turtles and not a land tortoise as we think of them today.
Freshwater turtles find their greatest diversity in southeast Asia and eastern
United States. Perhaps some of these were the inspiration of ancient beliefs.
The spiny turtle which ranges from Thailand to
Borneo is a striking example of nature’s eccentricities.
Extraordinary examples of
Young spiny turtles are like living pin-cushions,
color and form can be seen in
bearing sharp points around the entire perimeter of
turtles and tortoises around
the shell as well as small spines on the plates, or
the world.
scutes, of the carapace. These formidable points and
spines deter many would-be predators. As the turtle
grows, the shell becomes less pointed, eventually
losing its spines as it attains a size too large for most predators.
Another beautiful turtle of southeast Asia reveals a
disturbing story of the potential dangers of being too highly
esteemed by man. The Chinese three-striped box turtle is
one of the most striking members of a large group of Asian
box turtles, unrelated to our own box turtles but sharing the
hinged lower shell which enables them to close their shells in
times of danger. The Chinese three-striped box turtle is
believed to have tremendous medicinal powers. Some believe
its flesh holds the cure for cancer. As a result, this unfortunate species, which rarely
exceeds eight inches in length, commands a price of $1000 each in the markets of Hong
Kong. With such incentive, turtle collectors are relentless in their collection of this
animal.
One of the most distinctive color patterns appears repeatedly in many unrelated
groups of turtles and tortoises. This is a starred pattern of radiating lines on each scute
of the animal’s shell. The pattern starts as a simple spot in the center of each scute of
the hatchling. As the shell of the turtle or tortoise grows, laying down concentric rings
on each scute, sunburst patterns develop. Held in hand, these animals are almost ostentatious in their gaudiness, but place them among the bunch-grass stems and dappled
sunlight of their native savanna habitats and they virtually disappear. This sunburst
pattern can be seen on unrelated tortoises from southern Africa, Madagascar and India,
but is also found on the Florida box turtle and ornate box turtle of North America. Both
species of box turtles are freshwater turtles which have adapted to a life on land where
such a pattern serves them well as camouflage.
In the true tortoises, the namesake of this distinctive pattern is the Indian star
tortoise. Ranging through India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, this is a small tortoise usually less than a foot in length. Here too, the uncommon beauty of the animal is resulting
in tremendous pressure on wild populations. Although protected by Indian law as well
as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and
Flora (CITES) large numbers are traded illegally to supply an ever increasing demand
for exotic pets. The Tennessee Aquarium, with staff on both the American Zoo and
Aquarium Association (AZA) Chelonian Advisory Group and the IUCN Tortoise and
Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group, is involved in efforts to protect this species.
The beautiful turtles and tortoises of the world are by no means restricted to far
away and exotic lands. As one of the centers of diversity of freshwater turtles of the
world, the southeastern United States can boast its share of contenders. Our own eastern box turtle should certainly be near the top of list. This species varies considerably in
color across its range and the male tends to sport the most dramatic markings of yellows
and oranges. The box turtle was in such high demand in the world pet trade that over
80,000 were sent overseas between 1990 and 1993. Fortunately, scientists have recognized the devastating impact that this trade has had on our native populations and the
species received protection under the CITES in 1995. That same year, the eastern box
turtle was adopted as the state reptile of Tennessee.
TO HAVE OR NOT TO HAVE A SHELL
There is nothing new about animals having shells, and turtles were not the first
to have them. Invertebrates, especially mollusks like snails, oysters, and even the
strange nautilus have had shells almost since the dawn of time. Other familiar animals such as crabs, lobsters and their kin have external, jointed shells like suits of
armor. But the turtle shell is different. Invertebrate armor’s base is of calcium carbonate, whereas turtle armor is made of bone. The armor is primarily calcium phosphates,
covered with a thin layer of keratin, a protein similar to the covering of our own fingernails. And the whole point of vertebrates, or animals with backbones, is that they
have their hard parts on the inside, not the outside. The turtle ancestor must have
been an unshelled reptile, but it may have had plates of bone in the skin.
Turtles are classified in the taxonomic class Reptilia which is composed of 4 orders:
♦
♦
♦
♦
Testudinata -turtles and tortoises
Squamata -snakes and lizards
Rhynchocephalia -tuatara
Crocodylia -crocodiles and alligators
The major characteristics of reptiles found in all of these orders are :
♦ Ectothermic - regulation of body temperature through behavior and surroundings
♦ Body covered by dry, scaly skin and/or scales
♦ Reproduce by laying shelled eggs on land or by live birth.
The first turtles appeared in the fossil record over 200 million years ago. They
differed in appearance from modern turtles in that they had teeth and could not pull
their heads into their shells. But they did have a shell. The turtle shell is quite unique
among vertebrates. It is composed of 59-61 bones and is made up of two parts, the
carapace and the plastron, which are connected together on each side of the turtle.
The CARAPACE, which covers the turtle’s back, is formed from bones fused with each
other and with the animals ribs and vertebrae. The carapace is covered by large scales
or SCUTES, which help strengthen the bone. The PLASTRON, located on the belly, is
made up of certain bones from the shoulder or pectoral girdle and abdominal ribs.
This armor was so successful that it has become the basis of turtle architecture. Because of the shell, no species of turtle has evolved to fly, jump, or run. However, within
their limitations, they have adapted to many different environments including terrestrial, semiaquatic, aquatic, and marine.
A turtle cannot keep its head under its shell all the time, but an exposed head and
neck would be so vulnerable that there’s not much point protecting the trunk if the head
remains exposed. The head must be retractile, making unprecedented demands upon
the neck. This also creates stress upon the structures within the shell, which have to
move aside fast to make room for the bulky head and neck during retraction. In many
turtles, the retracted neck is folded back almost to the pelvic region. Another challenge
the turtle faces is that both the shoulder girdle and pelvis have migrated into the rib
cage. This trick is completed during embryological development. In most vertebrates
the shoulder bones are outside the rib cage, and the pelvis is loosely attached to the
backbone well behind the last rib.
The completed shell is a masterpiece of nature’s engineering. It is remarkable, not
just for inspiring designs, but also for the variations and modifications that enabled
shelled reptiles to adapt to life in wide-ranging habitats. Turtles are found from the
desert to the deep ocean, from marshes to lakes, and from rainforests to ecological niches
in ancient granite outcrops. To adapt to these various environments, changes have
occurred both in the weight and the size of the shell. Many terrestrial turtles still have a
large protective shell but the bones have thinned, allowing for a lighter shell. The
strength is now provided by the scutes and shell
shape. In many highly aquatic turtles the bone
sizes are decreased, leaving large spaces. This
allows for cover but does not create as much drag
or weight as a heavy shell. This provides for
better efficiency of movement and greater water
buoyancy. Shell shape is also variable. Terrestrial turtles usually have high-domed shells as a
defense against predators while aquatic turtles
have more streamlined shells for less water resistance. Of course, there are always exceptions to
this and many of the turtles and tortoises we
Indochinese Box Turtle
feature will be exceptions!
Just as in the construction of ancient cathedrals or modern bridges, the challenge
is to maximize strength while minimizing weight. In accordance with great architecture, the turtle shell comprises the cupola or rounded dome in many species. However,
in the impressed tortoise, a high altitude species of southeast Asia, removal of the thickened external horny plate of the carapace reveals a geodesic rather than a cupola
structure. Both domes require that the lower edges be joined together with a tension
membrane. This prevents the dome from collapsing or splaying open when subject to
vertical pressure. In the box turtle, the area on each side is fibrous to permit operation
of the plastral hinge. And in these species, the carapace, lacking a strong tension membrane, becomes fully fused into a single bony bowl as the connections between all the
individual bones disappear.
Neural Bones
The dome is complete with a row of keystones known as
neural bones. The keystone was an architectural detail
known to the ancient Romans. Downward pressure on
the stone that forms the top of the arch actually strengthens the overall structure. Moreover, the shell or carapace
of many land tortoises, rather than being smoothly
curved, shows slight humps along the midline corresponding to each of the external plates. Under each of
these humps is an enlarged neural bone which transmits
downward pressure on the horny plate and the neural
bone below to no fewer than eight neighboring bones,
thus absorbing or redirecting the pressure. There are
many other parallels between cathedral architecture and
turtle shells. For example, the fan vaulted ceilings of
certain ancient British cathedrals parallel the curved
ribs that are fused into the shell bones of a turtle. While
cathedral architects utilized buttresses to prevent the sides of lofty building from being
forced apart by the weight of the upper structures,
external buttresses are not feasible in a living moving
fortress like a turtle shell. Instead, those turtles that
have an urgent need to make their shell as strong
and crack-resistant as possible, especially those that
live with crocodiles and alligators, often develop
internal buttresses that occasionally reach an astonishing degree of development.
Internal view of turtle shell showing
buttresses.
SHELL SHAPES
The shape of a turtle shell often gives clues to the animal’s way of life. Species with
high domed shells usually live on land. By maximizing volume and reducing surface
area, its stability is improved. As a result, it doesn’t heat up too much in the sun, or
cool too fast at night. Also, predators may find they cannot open their jaws wide
enough to crack a high, rounded shell.
Turtles live in a wide variety of habitats around the world. While their shell has
proven to be a valuable suit of armor, it often gets in the way. Many small types of
turtles and tortoises find it safer to hide from danger than to rely on their shell to protect
them.
Giant Snake-necked Turtle
Chelodina expansa
The largest of Australia’s chelid
turtles, the giant snake-neck turtle grows to
a length of 48 cm. The large carapace is oval,
slightly broader toward the posterior and
keelless. The turtle’s carapace becomes
deeper with age. The giant snake-neck
Giant Snake-necked Turtle
turtle’s neck is often over 65% of the length of
the carapace. It is covered with wrinkled
skin but lacks the fleshy tubercles often seen in aquatic turtles.
This turtle is found in Queensland and throughout the Murray River drainage.
It lives in permanent bodies of freshwater. Nesting occurs in the fall but their courtship
behavior has not been described. The nests are dug in sandy soil after heavy rains or
during periods of high humidity. Strickly carnivorous, the giant snake-neck turtle feeds
on insects, shrimp, small fish and frogs.
Flattened Musk Turtle
Sternotherus depressus
The flattened musk turtle is, perhaps, one of the rarest species found in the United
States. Its range is limited to Walker County, Alabama, above the fall line of the Black
Warrior River system. It is protected as a federally listed threatened species by the
United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
This turtle attains a maximum shell length of about four inches. The carapace
gives this turtle the name “flattened” musk turtle. It is extremely flat and broad, almost
having the appearance of being depressed. Many herpetologists believe that this flattened, depressed carapace allows the turtle to hide under boulders and in narrow passages of its rocky stream habitat.
In addition to having a unique-looking
shell, its plastron is also very reduced. A colorful
and attractive turtle, the head and hind limbs are
yellow with wavy black lines. The irises of the
eyes are vivid light yellow, giving the flattened
musk turtle the appearance of having an intense
stare. The carapace is brown with a broken,
radiating pattern giving the illusion of sunlight
on leaves. Camouflage such as this helps the little
turtle hide from predators.
Flattened Musk Turtle
Currently measures are being taken to help protect the limited habitat of the
flattened musk turtle, as well as trying to restore damaged areas that cannot support
turtle populations.
Chinese Big-Head Turtle or Casked Terrapin
Platysternon megacephalum
At first glance, this turtle could be mistaken for a
member of the snapping turtle family. However, it is
found along the Indochina Peninsula (Southern
China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Burma, and Thailand),
not North America where snappers are located. Like
its western counterparts, this turtle has a very flat
shell, reduced plastron, and an extremely long tail
covered in scales. The uncharacteristically large
head gives this turtle the name “big-head”. Even the
species name reflects this physical attribute, mega
means very large and cephala means head. The head
is so large that it cannot be retracted into the shell,
also similar to the snapping and musk turtles.
Chinese Big-head Turtle
During the day, the turtle can be found hiding among the rocks and stones of the
mountain rivers. At night, the Chinese big-head comes out of hiding and hunts for its
favorite prey: crustaceans and hard-shelled mollusks. The large, strong jaws of this
turtle can easily crush these shells. Occasionally, a benthic, or bottom-dwelling, fish will
be caught and eaten as well.
The Chinese big-head turtle is also an excellent climber. The flat shell, powerful
claws, long tail, and hooked beak allows the turtle to grab roots and limbs and hold on
along steep inclines. This unusual use of the turtle’s beak is quite unique in the turtle
world. Despite its prowess as a climber, the Chinese big-head turtle is a weak swimmer.
It rarely swims across the bottom of a river. Instead, it will walk.
African Pancake Tortoise
Malacochersus tornieri
Flattened shells are not only useful in aquatic habitats, but can also be very
useful in dry rocky areas. In rocky outcroppings of the East African savannas of Kenya
and Tanzania lives a cave dwelling land tortoise, the African Pancake Tortoise.
When the African Pancake Tortoise, Malacochersus tornieri, was first discovered
during the turn of the century, it was thought to be pathologically deformed because of
its unusual appearance. However, as investigations continued, scientists realized that
this tortoise’s odd appearance was not a deformity but actually an adaptation that enabled it to be perfectly suited to its environment. The mountainous regions of East Africa, ranging in height from 20 meters to 1800 meters, are full of caves, cracks, and
crevices that would be unsuitable for practically any other turtle species. However, this
is the ideal habitat for this unique tortoise.
The African pancake tortoise begins life as a hatchling that looks like a typical
tortoise, having a high domed and curved carapace. However, as it matures, the tortoise
begins to take on the characteristics that give it the name “pancake”. Other names that
this turtle is appropriately called are flexible-shelled tortoise and crevice tortoise. After
starting out life looking the same as other tortoises, the carapace of the pancake tortoise
soon grows into a very flexible and lightweight covering. Unlike other turtles that possess a carapace that is a thick and solid protective hull for the animal, the bones of the
adult pancake tortoise’s shell are paper thin. In addition, the plastron fontanels (gaps
between the carapace bones) do not close in the course of growth, as in other turtles, but
become proportionally larger. This combination of thin bones and wide gaps allows this
tortoise to be unusually agile and fast, defying almost every stereotype that fits a turtle.
The pancake tortoise is even a good climber!
These interesting shell adaptations enable the pancake tortoise to find safety in
the crevices and hollows of its mountainous home. When danger or a predator approaches, the tortoise quickly hides by wedging itself in a rocky crack. Next, the African
pancake tortoise presses its shell tightly against the rock and braces its head and long
limbs against the roof and floor, and
then slightly inflates itself to ensure
that it cannot be removed from its
rocky retreat.
When this tortoise is not hiding
in a crevice, it is searching for food,
which primarily consists of succulent
plants. It locates its food by either
foraging during the cooler parts of the
Pancake Tortoise
day or at night, using its keen sense of
smell. The lightweight carapace and long legs of the pancake tortoise allow it to climb
over rocks searching for a meal. If the tortoise inadvertently gets flipped over while
searching, the gaps between the bones creates a very flexible shell that makes it easy for
the turtle to right itself.
The pancake tortoise will lay one egg, occasionally two, per clutch. With only
three clutches per year, this low rate of reproduction, coupled with excessive collecting
by commercial pet dealers, has resulted in this little tortoise being placed on the endangered species list. It has become extremely popular with the pet industry because of its
small size, interesting habits and appearance, and relatively pleasant disposition. Unfortunately for the pancake tortoise, the attention given to its unique adaptations that
have allowed it to live successfully in inhospitable areas may actually cause its decline.
TURTLE COLORS
Some turtles are plain-colored because they have no particular reason to be
otherwise. For a Florida gopher tortoise, living deep in its burrow, color is unimportant. Giant tortoises are brown or black in color and unpatterned. In recent times,
they have been confined to remote oceanic islands, where
the adults, at least, lack natural enemies. Again, the
brown or black may be a “default” color, but it may be
related to somewhat complex phenomenon called “insular melanism” or Island Blackness. Galapagos marine
iguanas, another large island reptile species, are also
gray to black in color. Their dark skin color allows for
faster warming when they bask in the sun. This heating
also enables the tortoises to digest their food.
For most tortoises, natural enemies are only too abundant, maximum speed is
proverbially slow, and the rocky ground does not permit excavation of burrows. So
they need to be difficult to see. Their shell pattern breaks up their outline and aids
in concealing the tortoise.
Freshwater turtles often share their habitats with many other species and
they may show brilliant patterns and colors. Turtle and tortoise colors and patterns
may also reflect sexual selection. Among tortoises that share their habitat with other
related species, it is important that they recognize their own species and do not
waste energy on unproductive mating with females of different species Thus, when
only a single tortoise species is present in a habitat, they will generally have shells
and extremities of earth tones, buff, brown, yellow, etc. But when two or more
species share their habitat, bright distinguishing colors may appear.
For example, in much of tropical South America, two tortoise species are
present, the red-foot and the yellow-foot tortoises. The former is characterized by an
intensely black and yellow spotted shell, with bright red marking on the legs and tail,
whereas the latter has a brown carapace with bright orange scales on the head and
limbs. The male can thus identify a female of his own species at a glance, and can
confirm the identification with stereotypical courtship rituals to which no other
female except the right species will respond. Another example, the parrot-beaked
tortoise of South Africa, lives with several other small tortoise species and it is
easily recognized by elegant green and orange coloration on the shell and head.
Among the most beautiful freshwater turtles are the map turtles and saw-backs of
the Gulf-draining rivers of the United States, most of which are represented in the collection of the Tennessee Aquarium. They generally share their habitats with turtles of the
related genus Pseudemys, among others, and sometimes with other species of map
turtles. Not only do they have brilliant markings on the head and shell that are unique
to each species, but these markings intensify during the breeding season. During courtship, the relatively tiny males pay close attention to the head markings of the huge
females, and they “court” the female by vibrating their elongated fingernails to stroke or
caress her face.
In addition to shell and head patterns
designed by nature to protect the turtle from
enemies or to help it find a mate, a few species
have “flash” colors and patterns that seem
designed to startle a predator and possibly
distract it for long enough to allow the turtle to
escape. For example, certain Asiatic turtles of
the genus Sacalia display two or even four
Sacalia sp.
large, circular markings on the rear of the head
when the neck is extended. These markings
have the appearance of staring eyes, and may
frighten the attacker when they suddenly
appear. This often gives the would-be predator a
moment’s shock, feeling that it is about to become prey itself. And some of the softshell
turtles in Asia have bold eye spots, usually four in number, on the back of the leathery
shell, that may serve the same purpose. Of course, no predator is likely to have four
eyes, but in biological science four eye markings is what is known as a “supernormal
stimulus.” If two are scary, then four eyes that suddenly appear are twice as scary.
Some of the turtles and tortoises that we find most beautiful actually use their
bright markings for hiding. One pattern, resembling stars, appears repeatedly in tortoises that are not even closely related to one another. This pattern, which develops as
the tortoise grows, gives rise to the beautiful “star tortoises” of India, Madagascar, and
southern Africa. It can also be seen in the ornate and Florida box turtles of the United
States which are not tortoises at all, but freshwater turtles adapted to life on dry land.
Indian Star Tortoise
Geochelone elegans
The star tortoise, also called the Indian starred tortoise, is a close relative of the
leopard tortoise and is found in peninsular
India and Sri Lanka. It is adapted to a wide
range of environmental conditions, ranging
from tropical deciduous forests to the dry
dunes along the coast. This small species of
turtle is most active during the rainy or
monsoon season when it may been found
feeding and moving during most of the day.
During the dry season, it is most active in
the early morning and late afternoon. The
principal diet of the star tortoise consists of
grass, fallen fruit and flowers.
Indian Star Tortoise
This reptile gets its name from the star pattern on its shell. Each large scute of
the carapace has a yellow areola with 6-12 yellow streaks extending to the margin. The
carapace background is black or dark brown and the forelimbs are yellow with large
scales. The head is yellow to tan with brown jaws and black spots on the crown of its
head.
The mating season of the star tortoise corresponds to the rainy season from midJune to mid-October. The female usually digs a flask-shaped nest 10-15 centimeters
deep in which she lays three to six elongated eggs encased in brittle shells. Incubation
may last up to 147 days and the hatchlings have round, slightly domed carapaces that
usually lack the characteristic star markings of the species.
While sunburst patterns may help a tortoise of the grasslands to hide, such a
pattern is of little value to turtles that make their living as predators in muddy waters.
Two unrelated turtles have adapted similar appearances as well as similar behaviors to
survive in large river environments. The alligator snapping turtle of the southeastern
United States is a “lie-and-wait” predator that attracts its prey within striking distance with a worm-like appendage in the floor of its mouth. Its muted colors and
heavily sculptured shell blend convincingly with the submerged root snags in which it
often hides.
But the champion of cryptic form and predatory stealth is probably the mata
mata of the Amazon and Orinoco river basins of South America.
Mata Mata
Chelus fimbriatus
Perhaps one of the most unusual turtles, both in behavior and appearance, is the
mata mata turtle of South America. The range of this turtle is along the Amazon,
Orinoco, rivers of Guyana, French Guinea, and Trinidad. To find this highly camouflaged creature, one must go to the slow-moving, blackwater streams, oxbows, muddy
lakes, stagnant pools, marshes and shallow swamps of the mata mata’s range. This
relatively large turtle, its carapace reaching up to 16 inches in length, is dark brown or
black in color and covered with warty tubercles. These fleshy appendages cover the
carapace, head, and limbs. This physical feature not only helps to camouflage the mata
mata from predators and prey but also acts as a lure to fish.
Mata Mata
In much the same way that the
‘tongue lure’ of the alligator snapping
turtle attracts prey, the fleshy tubercles
of the mata mata also attract hungry
fish searching for a tasty worm. However, unlike the alligator snapping
turtle, when a fish or aquatic invertebrate approaches, the mata mata does
not snap at it, but rather it sucks in the
animal. When the mata mata sucks in
the prey, it also inadvertently sucks in
water. It then closes its mouth to only a
slit, pushes the water out, and swallows
its meal. The neck of the mata mata is
very long, thick and muscular. These
are important features for sucking up a
meal.
To further aid in camouflage, algae and moss often grow on the entire body. The
slow movements of this turtle promotes this plant growth. This turtle hardly ever moves
around, and when it does, it doesn’t swim but rather it creeps slowly along the river
bottom. The mata mata’s long neck , flattened head and snorkel-like snout allow the
turtle to stay submerged and only poke its nose out to take an occasional breath. The
eyes of the mata mata are extremely small and located very close to the end of the
snout. Another unusual feature of this turtle is its tail, which ends in a rod-like bony
sheath. Scientists are still unsure of the purpose of this tail armor.
TURTLE NECKS
In most vertebrates (mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish) the backbone
or vertebral column consists of numerous individual bones forming the neck, back and
tail. Most animals with backbones can move or
flex, at least a little, along the entire length of
their spinal cord. This is not true for the turtle.
The ten vertebra of the back are rigidly fused
into the carapace. To compensate, the eight
neck vertebra must accomplish all the movement of the head.
So distinctive is the turtle neck in the
animal world that we even named an article of
clothing after it. But there is far more to the
neck of a turtle than meets the eye. Much of the
story lies not in the neck at all, but in the shell.
Not only must the turtle move its head,
sometimes rapidly, to capture prey, but most can
retract their head entirely into their shell. Most
turtles, including all those found in North
America, pull in their heads by bending the
neck in an S-shape on a vertical plane. Because
the neck can’t be seen when fully retracted, these turtles are called Cryptodires (meaning hidden necks). Long necked species like softshells or Blandings turtles have the
same number of neck bones as other turtles but each bone is extremely long.
The most extreme flex occurs where the last neck bone meets the first dorsal
vertebra. In flat shelled turtles like soft-shelled, the two vertebra lie “belly to belly”
when the head is retracted. This configuration would literally snap both the backbone
and the spinal cord of any “normal,” non-turtle vertebra.
The earliest turtles probably could not retract their heads at all. Instead, they
had armored heads with a roof of bone on top that formed a sort of extension of the armor. Today, the sea turtles are the most familiar examples of turtles that cannot retract
their heads. In these species, the neck vertebra are short and have little potential for
flexion. Indeed, one of the joints in the sea turtle neck is composed of two flat surfaces,
rather than the usual ball-and-socket connections, and cannot bend at all. A retractile
neck would interrupt the streamlining of the torpedo-shaped sea turtle body that
allows this species to swim so well. Sea turtles have well-armored skulls and thick,
short, muscular necks.
To prevent the neck of long-necked turtles from being too wobbly, or shaking in
uncontrolled directions when extended or retracted, it is somewhat stabilized. This is
accomplished by having not one, but two ball-and-socket connections between each pair
of vertebrae, at least towards the base of the neck. With these connections lying side by
side, the neck can flex up and down to an extensive degree. But it can only move significantly in a side-to-side fashion in the front sections, immediately behind the head.
Blandings Turtle
Emydoidea blandingii
The blandings turtle is found only in North America, from southern Ontario
south throughout the Great Lakes and west to Nebraska and Iowa. It is also found
scattered in parts of New York, Massachusetts, Maine and Nova Scotia. This semiaquatic turtle prefers shallow water with a soft bottom and abundant aquatic vegetation.
Therefore, it may inhabit lakes, ponds, marshes and creeks.
The blandings turtle is mostly
carnivorous, feeding on a large variety of
food including snails, leeches, frogs,
tadpoles and fish. Its favorite meal consists of crustaceans and aquatic insects.
Blandings Turtle
This medium-sized reptile has a
smooth, elongated carapace which is
neither keeled nor serrated, and is blueblack in color. The blandings turtle has
tan to yellow irregularly shaped spots
with heavily spotted marginals. There is
a movable hinge between the pectoral
and abdominal scutes. The eyes are
protruding and the skin is bluish gray
with yellow scales on the tail and legs.
The mating season of this turtle begins in the spring and extends into the summer months. The female digs a flask-shaped nest, usually 7-8 inches deep, with 6-17
ellipsoidal eggs. After a 65-80 day incubation period, the hatchlings emerge rounded
and keeled with a dark brown or black carapace.
Strange Side-Necks
In the southern continents of Australia, South America and Africa below the
Sahara, most of the freshwater turtles retract their head and neck differently from the
familiar North American species. Instead of pulling their head straight back into the
shell, they flip their neck sideways and try to hide their head under the overhanging
carapace. It is not very effective because the side of the neck is still exposed. This is
only a minor improvement over not being able to retract the neck at all.
Some of the strangest of the side-necks are the snake-necked turtles of Australia
and New Guinea. Their extraordinarily long necks can straighten rapidly to seize live
prey. They are however, extremely vulnerable to predators. In parts of Australia, where
European foxes have been introduced, the snake-necked turtles are often killed by the
foxes as they make their way overland to nest.
Siebenrock’s Snake-Neck Turtle
Chelodina siebenrocki
The Chelodina is the parallel
genus to the South American Hydromedusa. These turtles get their
name from their extremely long
necks. Some turtles’ necks approach
the same length as the carapace. The
Siebenrock’s snake-neck turtle can
reach a length of 380 millimeters.
The egg-shaped carapace is strongly
expanded toward the posterior,
Siebenrock’s Snake-Neck Turtle
weakly domed and keelless. The
scutes are thin. The head is flat, broad and elongated with a fine reticulate pattern of
skin creases that give the impression of numerous scales. A varying number of skin
barbles may be found on the chin.
Males have a much flatter shell than females and longer, thicker tails. The
Siebenrock’s snake-neck is restricted to the tidal portions of streams flowing into the New
Guinea coast. They do not bask as other turtles do; instead, they spend most of their
time buried deep in soft mud. They are carnivorous turtles, but do not react aggressively when handled. Four to 17 eggs are laid at the end of the wet season in May and
hatching starts at the beginning of the next wet season in November. Unlike other
species of side-neck turtles, the Siebenrock’s is not highly favored for food.
Turtle Diversity of Asia
Turtles are found all over the world on every continent except Antarctica. They
have adapted to living on land, in freshwater rivers and streams, in the ocean and even
in the hottest deserts.
Southeast Asia represents a stronghold for freshwater turtles. More species find
their homes in the widely varied habitats from southern China to the Malaysian peninsula than in any similar sized region on earth. In addition, within this group there is a
tremendous diversity of sizes, shapes and behaviors.
Semi-aquatic pond turtles and their relatives comprise the largest family of
turtles in the world. Asian members of this family can be divided into three distinct
groups-giant, herbivorous river turtles which may exceed two feet in length, pond turtles
and semi-aquatic turtles which are as much at home on land as they are in the water.
The warm, humid environments of much of southeast Asia provide excellent habitats for
this latter, land-loving group. Over one-third of the region’s 50+ species live predominantly terrestrial lives in moist tropical woodlands.
Among these land loving pond turtles are at least eight species of Asian box
turtles, ranging from southern China to Vietnam. Though only distantly related to the
box turtles of North America, they share the ability to competely close their lower shell
in times of danger.
Indochinese Box Turtle
Cistoclemmys galbinifrons
The Indochinese box turtle is a mysterious creature found in parts of Vietnam
and on the Hainan Island of China. Although many of its habitats are unknown, it is
known to eat earthworms, fish and beef in
captivity.
This particular species of box turtle has a high
domed, dark brown carapace with a strong yellow
vertebral stripe and alternating light and dark
longitudinal areas. It has a pointed head, short
snout and a strongly hooked jaw. A narrow,
black-bordered white line extends from the nostril
to an area behind the eye. The box turtle’s preferred habitat is bushy, upland woodlands and
forests of higher elevations.
Indochinese Box Turtle
Keeled Box Turtle
Pyxidea mouhotii
Found in Laos, Vietnam and the
Hainan Islands, the keeled box turtle is often mistakenly placed in the genus
Cyclemys. The carapace is brown, moderately elevated and flat-topped with a
strongly serrated hind margin. The maximum length of the turtle is seven inches.
The plastron is yellowish-brown with a dark
spot on each shield. After the turtle matures, a plastral hinge develops. This turtle
also has a strongly hooked jaw.
The keeled box turtle is a master in
the art of concealment. This small turtle
can remain hidden in the soil for weeks, livKeeled Box Turtle
ing off of its stored body reserves. The turtle
will stay burrowed in the soil during the warm summer months. They appear only in the
early, moist hours of morning to hunt for snails, worms, insects, fungi and fruits.
Spiny Turtle
Heosemys spinosa
Spiny turtle hatchlings are often called
walking pin cushions. They display almost perfectly circular shells with curiously extended
marginals and a distinct dorsal keel.
Hatchlings are two and a half inches in length
with a flat carapace that is almost as wide as
it is long. Their color is described as chocolate
brown, but the sides of the head and scales on
the limbs and tails are marked with pink.
The spines gradually disappear with age
and the adult assumes an elongated form. However, spines remain distinct on the posterior
Spiny Turtle
part of the carapace. Adults also fade to a
brownish monotone color. Adult spiny turtles reach a maximum length of eight to nine
inches. In the wild this turtle is herbivorous, but when raised in captivity it will eat
either vegetables or animal matter, even canned dog food.
Turtle Diversity of Central America
Central America holds a rich diversity of turtles. This narrow land mass represents a bridge between North and South America where turtle fauna of both continents
are represented. Over a dozen species of mud and musk turtles live in Central America
as do several forms of the slider turtle. These groups represent some of the widest ranging species on earth. Another group, the tropical wood turtle or Rhinoclemmys, exploit
a wide variety of terrestrial and aquatic habitats and find their closest kin in Asia.
Central American River Turtle
Dermatemys mawii
This species is the sole survivor of a primitive and once widespread family. It is
found from Belize north to Guatemala. The Central American river turtle is large,
attaining a length of 18 inches. Individuals up to two feet have been found in the
Lacantum and Usumacinta Rivers. The
smooth, flattened carapace is keeled in the
juvenile but becomes keelless in the adult.
The turtle’s head is small and its projecting
snout displays large, prominent nostrils.
Aiding in its aquatic existence, its feet are
fully webbed. It does not bask; instead, it
floats passively, often asleep, on the waters
surface. The river turtle is herbivorous,
feeding mainly on aquatic vegetation in
Central American River Turtle
the wild. Captive specimens prefer apples
and bananas.
The Central American river turtle, called hickety in Belize, frequently shares its
environment with its closest living relative, the Mexican giant musk turtle. The hickety
is so highly aquatic that it has extreme difficulty walking on land.
The Central American river turtle nests in the fall corresponding to the time of
greatest rainfall. The swell of the river carries the turtles into shallow areas where they
bury about 20 eggs in the mud and decaying vegetation. The eggs shells are thick and
hard, helping to protect the developing embryos.
Like many turtles, its meat is highly favored and it is killed and sold for a high
price on the market. This, and the manner in which the turtles float on the surface
allowing themselves to be easily captured, may lead to their decline.
Mexican Giant Musk Turtle
Staurotypus triporcatus
Known in its home range as
“guau”, the Mexican giant musk
turtle inhabits slow moving waterways. The large oval carapace has
three well developed keels that it
maintains throughout its life. The
musk turtle’s head is large and broad
across the temple region with a projecting snout. The head is yellowish
to olive in color with many dark
reticulations extending onto the jaws.
Mexican Giant Musk Turtle
The Mexican giant musk turtle is a voracious predator, capturing small invertebrates, fishes, amphibians and even smaller mud turtles. They possess an ill temper
when disturbed and can inflict a painful bite with their strong jaws. Despite its temperament, humans still continue to hunt the musk turtle for its meat. The musk turtle
lives in the company of large crocodilians, therefore its shell is thick and strong to aid in
its protection.
Red-Cheeked Mud Turtle
Kinosternon scorpoides cruenaturm
The red-cheeked mud turtle can be
found in northeast Nicaragua and
Honduras. The sides of this turtle’s
head have bright red or orange spots,
giving it the common name of redcheeked. The carapace may be yellow
or slightly orange with dark borders
and an orange plastron. The redcheeked mud turtle can close its plastron completely by using two movable
hinges. This small to medium sized
turtle also has three dorsal keels.
Red-cheeked Mud Turtle
The red-cheeked mud turtle can be found in watery habitats such as streams,
rivers, ponds and lakes. If the pond dries up, the turtle can bury itself in the muddy
bottom and wait until the next rain. This aquatic turtle is considered to be omnivorous,
eating snails, fish, adult amphibians and even algae.
Turtle Diversity of Africa
Southern Africa contains the richest diversity of tortoises in the world. Thirteen
species, nearly one-third of the world’s tortoises, are found in this region. This rich
diversity results from the area’s highly variable climates, geology and topography. A
complex mosaic of different vegetation types, called biomes, provide habitats that include Mediterranean-type heathland, arid desert and wet savanna.
Southern Africa is home to one of the largest of all mainland tortoises as well as
the world’s smallest tortoise. The leopard tortoise may reach 68 centimeters in shell
length and weigh over 100 pounds, while the Namaqualand speckled padloper is less
than four inches long when fully grown.
Tortoises of southern Africa exhibit a wide variety of shell adaptations and colors.
The bowsprit tortoise is named for the long projection of its lower shell under its chin.
The hinge-back, such as Bell’s hinge-back tortoise, has a carapace formed in two separate sections.
Leopard Tortoise
Geochelone pardalis
This tortoise gets its name
from the leopard-like pattern on its
shell. They are restricted to a range
from southern Sudan to Ethiopia.
The leopard tortoise prefers to live in
savanna or plains regions, shunning
the heavily forested areas. Nesting
occurs from May to October. It may
take the female up to two hours to
dig the flask-shaped hole about 100300 millimeters deep in which she
Leopard Tortoise
lays 5-30 eggs. Incubation may be
over a year in duration. During the mating season, the turtles become quite aggressive
and males produce an audible sound much like a cry during copulation.
The leopard tortoise prefers to feed on succulent plants because of the high water
content. They also feed on wild plants, fungi and grasses. Their strong jaws allow them
to feed on prickly pear cacti. Adults can attain a length of two and a half feet and weigh
as much 100 pounds.
Bell’s Hinge-Back Tortoise
Kinixys belliana
The hinge-back tortoises are the only living
turtles in which the carapace contains a movable
hinge. This hinge allows the posterior portion of
the carapace to be lowered over the hind quarters.
Bell’s hinge-back tortoise is the most widespread
and best known of the genus. It has an elongated,
domed carapace with a flat top. The center of each
scute is yellow to reddish brown or black in color
and the plastron is yellow with black radiations.
Bell’s hinge-back tortoise occurs from Somalia to Zaire in dry brush and grasslands. During
the dry season, the turtle can be found estivating in
the mud bottoms of drying waterholes. The tortoise
nests in the spring and two to four eggs are laid by
the female. Omnivorous, the tortoise feeds on fruits,
grasses, fungi, insects and snails.
Bell’s Hinge-Back Tortoise
Bowsprit Tortoise
Chersina angulata
Bowsprit Tortoise
Abundant along the coast of Cape Province, South Africa, this small tortoise is an adult
at six to seven inches. Large males have been
known to reach ten inches. Its elongated,
hingeless carapace is high domed and distinctively marked with black triangular markings
on the marginal scutes. The anterior opening
of the carapace is quite small and is thought to
offer good protection against predators. The
plastron is remarkable in appearance. It has a
singular gular scute which covers a massive
and greatly projecting battering ram. In captivity, bowsprit tortoises show great pugnacity
toward each other, repeatedly ramming one
another in an effort to turn each other over.
The natural diet of these small tortoises is unknown. In captivity, however, they
are usually herbivores. A single egg is laid in August in a nest hole about three to four
inches deep. After an incubation period of 180 days, the hatchling emerges.
Turtle Diversity of India
Turtles are prominent figures both in eastern mythologies and in modern life of
the Indian subcontinent. In Hinduism, the turtle is an incarnation of the god Vishnu
upon whose back the world arose from a great flood. India is believed to be the remains
of his vast carapace. Certain tribes in India refrain from eating turtles which they
consider their ancestors, while in other regions turtles are heavily exploited for food and
for their supposed medicinal properties.
In another part of India, turtles play a more pragmatic role. The Ganges River is
considered sacred by the Hindus and every year the remains of thousands of deceased
humans and livestock are cast into its waters. In the 1980s the government of India
started a “Clean Ganges” project releasing thousands of captive-raised softshell turtles
whose carrion-eating habits would help clean the river.
Spotted Pond Turtle
Geoclemys hamiltonii
Spotted Pond Turtle
This large, freshwater turtle is a rare species restricted
to the Indus and Ganges river drainages. The spotted pond
turtle is black with a series of dorsally pointing orange,
yellow, cream or white wedge-shaped markings on its carapace. This gives the turtle a striking appearance. The
plastron is yellow while the neck and limbs are dark brown
or black with large yellow spots. The pond turtle inhabits
quiet, shallow, clear waters preferably with an abundance of
aquatic vegetation. Entirely carnivorous, it feeds on snails,
invertebrates, fish and amphibians.
Indian Flapshell Turtle
Lissemmys punctata andersoni
The genus Lissemmys contains the only Asiatic
softshelled turtles with cutaneous femoral flaps. The
shell is covered with leathery skin instead of scutes
and only the rim of the shell is flexible. Their appearance has been likened to that of an animated pancake. The Indian Flapshell turtle lives in shallow,
often stagnant, waters with a sandy or muddy bottom.
They wait out the dry season buried in the bottom of
ponds. During the wet season, they feed on frogs, fish,
worms, snails and plants.
Indian Flapshell Turtle
The turtle varies in color from olive to
brown with numerous spots which make it one of the most attractive of softshells. The
carapace is more domed than other softshells and the head and neck are covered with a
series of yellow stripes. The Indian Flapshell occurs in Nepal and Bangladesh.
What Do Turtle’s Eat?
Anything even remotely edible! Different species certainly have their preferences
though. Most tortoises eat green vegetation most of the time, although they are very
attracted to non-green flowers and fruits. The vegetarian habits of tortoises, are to a
large extent, a result of their slowness. They may feed on carrion, or dead animals, if
they find them.
Turtles that catch live food fall into two categories, those that catch food slower
than they are and those that catch prey that moves faster than they can swim. The
“slower food” category includes a whole range of mostly unrelated turtles that feed on
clams, snails and other hard-shelled invertebrates. Speed is not necessary, but jaw
strength is in order to crush the hard shells. In some species, such as the Barbour’s map
turtle and the Alabama map turtle, only the female’s head is large. Juveniles of omnivorous species tend to eat more insect larvae while the adults are more herbivorous. Sometimes diet is dependent on the sex of the turtle. During breeding season, females rely
on their large jaws to enable them to eat foods high in calcium such as clams and
mussels. The additional calcium allows them to produce strong egg shells.
Turtles have several adaptations for catching food that moves faster than they do,
most notably fish. “Harpooners” include the snake-neck turtles, the chicken turtle,
common snappers and many softshells. These species may not be able to move their
body quickly, but their head and neck strike out with great speed and accuracy. By lying
in wait for their prey, the long neck can strike forward with great speed. Capture is
aided by the hyoid device in the throat. This
device generates a powerful inrush of water at
the strike and helps the predator “slurp” up its
prey.
Alligator Snapper Luring Fish
Some species actually lure their prey, such
as the alligator snapping turtle. Using an appendage inside its mouth, the snapper waits
patiently until a meal swims inside. Even
hatchlings are masters of this patient approach
to eating. In South America, the snapping turtle
is replaced by the mata mata. When a fish approaches through the murky water, the mata
mata senses the vibrations with the lappets of
skin that adorn its head and neck.
The Mature Turtle
Turtles are the longest-lived of all animals, although most turtles die of predations, accidents or disease before they get especially old. Most die as hatchlings but
those that escape death may live 60, 80, even 100 years. The record was probably a
radiated tortoise from Madagascar that lived in the care of the Royal family of Tonga
from 1770 until 1965, a whopping 195 years!
Habitat, temperature, rainfall, sunshine, food types and availability and sex can
all affect turtle growth rates. Generally, the growth rate is rapid until sexual maturity
and then the rate slows. In small species, growth may stop in later years while in
larger turtles, growth can continue throughout life.
As a turtle grows, each plate of the shell expands in size and the new growth each
season is reflected by a new ring around the edge of each plate. Thus in climates where
growth is seasonal, the rings can be counted and the age estimated. Problems occur
when the turtles reach maturity and growth slows or stops and the rings get too close
together to count. Some turtles become smooth through abrasions over time. The
method has some value, but the data needs to be interpreted very carefully before an
accurate count can be determined.
Reproduction in Turtles
Determining sex in turtles is often difficult
but there are some external features that can
help. Males usually have thicker and longer
tails with the vent placed further back on the
tail than the females to allow access to the
female during breeding. Depending on the
species and its habitat, terrestrial or aquatic,
the size of the males may help determine sex.
In aquatic turtles, males are decidedly
smaller than females but in terrestrial or
semiaquatic turtles, males can be the same
Large Female at Left and Small Male at Right
size or larger than the females. In some
species, the male’s plastron is concave to allow room for the female’s high shell. Also, in
some species, coloration can be a determining factor but in the majority of species, the
sexes are similarly colored. For most turtles, probes must be used to precisely determine
sex.
Sexual behavior in turtles is not always gentle. In many cases, courtship consists
of shell-bashing, ramming, and neck biting as well as more tender attentions, and sometimes the neck skin of the female may be torn or damaged in the process. It can be
comical to watch the small male court the mountainous female. He divides his attention between
her face, nuzzling it with elongated fingernails,
and her tail region, which he attempts to climb
(all the while hoping that the “mountain” stays
in one place). If the males are larger, courtship
is shorter and simpler as the male can often
simply overpower
the female.
Once mated, the female turtle may be able
to retain viable sperm for several seasons. Female turtles in captivity have been able to lay
Male Turtle with Nails on Forelimbs
fertile eggs when they have had no contact with
a male turtle for three or four years. Almost all
turtles, bury their eggs in sand, soil or under debris. Females of some species cover and
leave the nest immediately after egg laying, others will carefully conceal the nest, still
others will dig false nests or divide the eggs among several nests, and finally, females of
a few species guard the nest for several days.
Some turtles lay one egg, others hundreds at a time. The size of the egg bears
little relationship to the size of the turtle. Some small turtles lay a single egg that exceeds one-third of the carapace length of the female. The largest egg of all may be laid
by the spiny turtle. This species develops a hinged plastron, that allows the shell to open
at the rear permiting the huge egg to pass through.
One of the most interesting factors involved in
the incubation of the eggs involves the temperature.
In many turtles the sex of the offspring is determined by the temperature at which the eggs were
incubated. In the case of sea turtles, temperatures
above 29 degrees centigrade produce females, while
temperatures below that produce males. In some
tortoises and snapping turtles, medium temperatures produce males and extremes in either direction
produce females.
Star Tortoise Hatchling
Respiration of Turtles
Turtles, having descended from terrestrial ancestors, breathe with lungs. However, they use different musculature to accomplish the task. Due to their rigid shells,
the expansion of the chest cavity (normally the mechanism for producing pressure in
other lung breathing vertebrates) is not possible. Pressure changes are created by
muscles located in the front and hind limb pockets that expand and retract.
In addition to lungs, other organs of respiration are also used by some turtles.
Aquatic turtles can respire through their skin, the lining of the throat, and through
thin-walled sacks or bursae in the cloaca. The degree to which these accessory organs
are used depends on the species. Turtles are very tolerant of low dissolved oxygen levels.
How long a turtle can stay under water depends on the species, temperature and amount
of dissolved oxygen in the water.
Turtle Gallery Overview
Artifact Exhibits
♦Shell Cases: A visual complement to the title graphic illustrating the sculptural and
architectural qualities of the turtle shell.
♦Architecture of the Turtle Shell: The turtle shell is a masterpiece of nature’s engineering. Shells show neural bones for comparison to keystones of Roman arches
along with buttressing and pillars for added support. High domed shells such as
river cooters are used demonstrating the great strength needed for turtles who reside
in the company of alligators.
♦Turtle Lifeline: Illustrates turtle eggs and young, their development, small vs. large
clutch size and the relationship of egg and first year survivorship to population
dynamics.
♦Courtship: Details the fascinating behaviors and physical adaptations revolving
around courtship and breeding. Discusses how to tell the sex of a turtle through tail
length, eye color, nail length and plastron shape.
♦Turtle Skulls: Discusses how the shape of turtle beaks and jaws can reveal information about what turtles eat.
♦Conservation: View beliefs and customs related to turtles. A video loop will show
turtle conservation in action.
Turtle World Docent Station
As you have learned in the galleries of the Aquarium, a prop can be a great tool
as an ice-breaker with a visitor. Many times our guests are shy about approaching a
stranger, even one wearing a smile and an ASK ME button. A prop can help give you a
point to start up a conversation with a guest. Props also give the guest a hands-on
encounter while learning more about an animal.
There will be several props available for your use at the interactive station located in the turtle gallery. As you enter the gallery you will find the station, disguised
to look like part of the exhibit when not in use. Using the key on the stuffed sea turtle
toy, you will access the room to open the station. The yellow control operates the door to
the station. Simply raise the door to the level indicated and latch both sides. Remember to unlatch the door before you lower it. The cabinet under the desk contains the
props. Here’s a list of what you could use while working at this station.
•Hawskbill sea turtle shells
•Box turtle shell with scutes removed
•Keeled box turtle shell
•Red-eared slider shell
•Slider shell with half of scutes removed
•Alligator Snapper skull
•Pond turtle skull
•Turtle egg and early life display
•Examples of turtle diet items
•Sea turtle leather piece
Live Box Turtle - volunteers must attend a training session in order to use the
live turtle.
Here’s a few helpful hints for working at the Turtle World Station:
Try not to use too many props at one time. It’s best to use no more than three props at
one time. This is especially true if you have a very large crowd, as unattended props
may walk off. If you have to leave the desk, put the props back under the cabinet.
Some of the props are fragile. Keep this in mind when allowing a visitor to touch or hold
a shell or other props. If dropped some will break. Turtle skulls come in two pieces so be
sure to let a visitor know its in two halves before they pick it up.
Some of the props can not be replaced. The sea turtle products are on loan from the US
Fish and Wildlife Service. These items were confiscated when someone tried to enter the
country with them. All sea turtles and any product containing any part of a sea turtle is
protected under the CITES agreements. These are valuable props and can be used to
explain to guests what not to buy when visiting or vacationing overseas. Even though
they may be found for sale, they are illegal to import into the US.