Turtles and Tortoises
KNOWN SPECIES
363
0.02% of our world's living things are turtles and tortoises
CHARACTERISTICS
- animals with a backbone (vertebrates)
- two broad bony shells enclose and protect the body
- jaws without teeth form a beak-like structure
SIZE RANGE
3 inches to 6.5 feet (8 centimeters to 2 meters)
WHERE THEY LIVE
in oceans, in fresh water, and on land
Here are just SOME of the world’s turtles and tortoises:
![Sticker about size](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/turtles--tortoises/turtles_size_sticker/5943391-2-eng-US/turtles_size_sticker_full_495.png 495w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/turtles--tortoises/turtles_size_sticker/5943391-2-eng-US/turtles_size_sticker_full_990.png 600w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/turtles--tortoises/turtles_size_sticker/5943391-2-eng-US/turtles_size_sticker_full_1468.png 600w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/turtles--tortoises/turtles_size_sticker/5943391-2-eng-US/turtles_size_sticker_full_1980.png 600w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/turtles--tortoises/turtles_size_sticker/5943391-2-eng-US/turtles_size_sticker_full_2475.png 600w)
diamondback terrapin
SCIENTIFIC NAME:
Malaclemys terrapin
![Green, orange, and yellow patterned turtle](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/turtles--tortoises/turtles_diamondback_terrapin/5942287-1-eng-US/turtles_diamondback_terrapin_full_495.png 495w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/turtles--tortoises/turtles_diamondback_terrapin/5942287-1-eng-US/turtles_diamondback_terrapin_full_990.png 990w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/turtles--tortoises/turtles_diamondback_terrapin/5942287-1-eng-US/turtles_diamondback_terrapin_full_1468.png 1200w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/turtles--tortoises/turtles_diamondback_terrapin/5942287-1-eng-US/turtles_diamondback_terrapin_full_1980.png 1200w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/turtles--tortoises/turtles_diamondback_terrapin/5942287-1-eng-US/turtles_diamondback_terrapin_full_2475.png 1200w)
map turtle
SCIENTIFIC NAME:
Graptemys geographica
![Patterned turtle with large eyes](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/turtles--tortoises/turtles_map_turtle/5942279-1-eng-US/turtles_map_turtle_full_495.png 495w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/turtles--tortoises/turtles_map_turtle/5942279-1-eng-US/turtles_map_turtle_full_990.png 990w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/turtles--tortoises/turtles_map_turtle/5942279-1-eng-US/turtles_map_turtle_full_1468.png 1200w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/turtles--tortoises/turtles_map_turtle/5942279-1-eng-US/turtles_map_turtle_full_1980.png 1200w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/turtles--tortoises/turtles_map_turtle/5942279-1-eng-US/turtles_map_turtle_full_2475.png 1200w)
radiated tortoise
SCIENTIFIC NAME:
Astrochelys radiata
![Orange and black patterned tortoise](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/turtles--tortoises/turtles_radiated_tortoise/5942283-1-eng-US/turtles_radiated_tortoise_full_495.png 495w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/turtles--tortoises/turtles_radiated_tortoise/5942283-1-eng-US/turtles_radiated_tortoise_full_990.png 990w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/turtles--tortoises/turtles_radiated_tortoise/5942283-1-eng-US/turtles_radiated_tortoise_full_1468.png 1200w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/turtles--tortoises/turtles_radiated_tortoise/5942283-1-eng-US/turtles_radiated_tortoise_full_1980.png 1200w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/turtles--tortoises/turtles_radiated_tortoise/5942283-1-eng-US/turtles_radiated_tortoise_full_2475.png 1200w)
Aldabra tortoise
SCIENTIFIC NAME:
Aldabrachelys gigantea
![large, grey tortoise](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/turtles--tortoises/turtles_aldabra_tortoise/5942271-1-eng-US/turtles_aldabra_tortoise_full_495.png 495w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/turtles--tortoises/turtles_aldabra_tortoise/5942271-1-eng-US/turtles_aldabra_tortoise_full_990.png 990w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/turtles--tortoises/turtles_aldabra_tortoise/5942271-1-eng-US/turtles_aldabra_tortoise_full_1468.png 1200w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/turtles--tortoises/turtles_aldabra_tortoise/5942271-1-eng-US/turtles_aldabra_tortoise_full_1980.png 1200w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/turtles--tortoises/turtles_aldabra_tortoise/5942271-1-eng-US/turtles_aldabra_tortoise_full_2475.png 1200w)
leatherback sea turtle
SCIENTIFIC NAME:
Dermochelys coriacea
![Large, dark grey sea turtle](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/turtles--tortoises/turtles_leatherback_sea_turtle/5942275-1-eng-US/turtles_leatherback_sea_turtle_full_495.png 495w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/turtles--tortoises/turtles_leatherback_sea_turtle/5942275-1-eng-US/turtles_leatherback_sea_turtle_full_990.png 990w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/turtles--tortoises/turtles_leatherback_sea_turtle/5942275-1-eng-US/turtles_leatherback_sea_turtle_full_1468.png 1200w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/turtles--tortoises/turtles_leatherback_sea_turtle/5942275-1-eng-US/turtles_leatherback_sea_turtle_full_1980.png 1200w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/tree-of-life/turtles--tortoises/turtles_leatherback_sea_turtle/5942275-1-eng-US/turtles_leatherback_sea_turtle_full_2475.png 1200w)
Guess what?
Some of the giant tortoises, like those found in the Galápagos Islands, can live for more than 120 years.
Image Credits:
Aldabra tortoise, map turtle, John White/© California Academy of Sciences; diamondback terrapin, © Todd Pierson/CC BY-NC; leatherback sea turtle, Courtesy Claudia Lombard, USFWS; radiated tortoise, © Charles J. Sharp/CC BY-SA 4.0.