Turtles are fascinating creatures that have been around for millions of years, and they have many unique characteristics that aid in their survival. One of the lesser-known turtle facts is that they make noise, especially when mating. They are also incredibly adaptable and can be found on every continent except Antarctica. Turtles have sharp senses of smell, sight (including full color), and hearing/touch, allowing them to detect even the slightest vibrations in the earth. Although many people believe that a turtle's shell is insensitive, they contain nerve endings and are sensitive to touch.

Turtles have evolved to have interesting adaptations that help them survive. For instance, they have an egg tooth at the end of their beak to aid in hatching. While some species are timid and pull tight in their shells to avoid predators, others are more aggressive and dominate intruders. Some turtles may emit an odor when startled, but in general, most species prefer to blend in with their surroundings to avoid detection.

Turtles vary significantly depending on their species, environment, and lifestyle. Some are tiny, while others like the leatherback sea turtle are quite large. Some turtles are drab, like the mud turtles, while others display a rainbow of bright colors. Depending on the species, turtles may live for a very short time or up to 150 years or more. On average, turtles in good environments can live for 30-50 years with little or no problem.

Sadly, human activity has caused significant environmental concerns for turtles, such as loss of suitable habitat due to expansion and death on highways during migration. Global warming is also a concern since the temperature during incubation determines the sex of the hatchling. Higher temperatures could upset the natural male/female ratio, causing new breeding problems. Turtles use the earth, water, and sun to regulate their body temperature since they are cold-blooded. Burrowing, swimming, and basking are all ways they raise or lower their temperatures as needed. Interestingly, during hibernation, their blood acts like antifreeze. Luckily taphibians offers great info about pets.