Scientists Uncover Secret Foraging Havens of the World’s Largest Turtles
Leatherback sea turtles, the largest of all living turtles, embark on extensive migratory journeys that may extend over several years. These turtles move from warm…
Turtle News
Turtles are a diverse group of reptiles known for their distinctive bony or cartilaginous shell, which develops from their ribs and acts as a shield against predators. This group, classified under the order Testudines, includes both marine turtles and terrestrial tortoises. Turtles have existed for over 200 million years, making them some of the oldest reptile groups, older than snakes or crocodilians. They are found in a variety of habitats, from the deepest oceans to the sandiest deserts, adapting uniquely to both freshwater and saltwater environments. Their diets vary widely, ranging from herbivorous species that eat only plants to carnivorous species consuming a diet of insects, fish, and other marine animals. Turtles are known for their slow metabolism and long lifespans, some even living over fifty years. Unfortunately, many turtle species are now threatened or endangered due to habitat destruction, pollution, and the illegal pet trade, making conservation efforts critical for their survival.
From Myth to Reality: Scientists Uncover Hidden Turtle Paradise in Kerala’s Rivers
Biologists have identified a breeding group of Cantor’s Giant Softshell Turtles during conservation initiatives in southern India. Local communities have provided essential knowledge leading to…
The “Turtwig” Revelation: Unveiling a Baby Turtle Disguised as a Plant Fossil
Researchers nicknamed the fossil “Turtwig” after a Pokemon that’s half-turtle, half-plant. From the 1950s to the 1970s, a Colombian priest named Padre Gustavo Huertas collected…
Ancient Time Capsule: Scientists Discover DNA in 6-Million-Year-Old Turtle Shell
There are seven existing species of sea turtles, with the genus Lepidochelys comprising two of them: the olive ridley and the Kemp’s ridley. Despite being…
New Analysis Sheds Light on Mystery of Turtle Remains Found in Ancient Roman Iron Age Grave
An examination of European pond turtle remains discovered at a burial site in Poland provides new insights into Wielbark culture burial custom The discovery of…
127 Million Years Old – First Side-Necked Turtle Ever Discovered in UK
An amateur fossil enthusiast, in collaboration with paleontologists from the University of Portsmouth, has uncovered the UK’s first side-necked turtle fossil. These ancient remains represent…
Why Does Temperature Determine the Sex of Turtles?
A recent discovery sheds light on how and why temperatures determine the sex of turtles Research from Duke University suggests that not only does a…
Rare Reptiles in Peril: The Surprising Extinction Risk for Unusual Turtles and Crocodiles
New research led by the University of Oxford has revealed that the most endangered turtle and crocodile species are those that are most unique. Their…
Scientists Discover a New Species of Ancient Marine Turtles: Largest Ever Found in Europe
According to a new paper published in Scientific Reports, a recently discovered species of ancient turtle in Spain may have been one of the largest…
Secrets of Longevity Revealed: Scientists Find Species That Essentially Do Not Age
The largest study of its kind reveals that wild turtles age slowly, live long lives, and uncovers several species that practically do not age Jonathan…
Snuggling Sea Turtles Filmed for the First Time
First known filmed footage of the behavior in the elusive marine animal. Do sea turtles canoodle? They do, according to a study published by a…
New Species of Ancient Turtle Discovered: 96 Million-Year-Old Fossil Is Earliest Evidence of Sidenecked Turtles in North America
The discovery of a new species of ancient turtle is shedding light on hard-to-track reptile migrations about 100 million years ago. Pleurochayah appalachius, a bothremydid…
New Turtle Discovered From the Late Cretaceous of Madagascar
A new pelomedusoid turtle from the Late Cretaceous of Madagascar provides evidence for convergent evolution of suction feeding among pleurodires. We here describe a new…
Illuminating the Mystery of Sea Turtles’ Epic Migrations
North Pacific loggerhead turtles’ years-long oceanic journeys remain poorly understood. Using data from satellite tracking and other techniques, scientists reveal a unique phenomenon that may…
InvestEggator: Tracking Sea Turtle Egg Traffickers With GPS-Enabled Decoy Eggs
By placing 3D-printed and GPS-enabled decoy sea turtle eggs into nests on the beach, it’s possible to gather key evidence needed to expose rampant illegal…
Sea Turtles Complete Impressive Feats of Navigation Despite Surprisingly Crude “Map”
Since the time of Charles Darwin, scientists have marveled at sea turtles’ impressive ability to make their way — often over thousands of kilometers —…
Absolutely Massive Extinct Turtle Weighed 2,500 Pounds and Had Giant Horned Shell
The tropical region of South America is one of the world’s hot spots when it comes to animal diversity. The region’s extinct fauna is unique,…
Red-Eared Slider Invaders Are Hurting California’s Native Turtles
In the summer of 2011, visitors to the University of California, Davis, Arboretum may have witnessed an unusual site: small teams of students wielding large…