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Turtle Fun Facts

Turtle Fun Facts

Reviewed by Petco’s Animal Care, Education and Compliance (ACE) Team

holding pet turtle

Turtles may seem like mostly sedentary and low-key creatures, but they’re also fascinating. Whether you’re a current turtle parent, on the fence about if this particular pet is right for you or simply interested in animal facts, here are some fun details that are sure to have you saying, “Wow! I never knew that about turtles!” 

9 Fun Facts About Turtles

  1. Turtles live all over the world.

    2. Turtles can be found in many different climates and are classified as either aquatic, semi-aquatic or semi-terrestrial. But no matter where they live, all turtles need water for either swimming or soaking. Some also need to bask on dry land. The amount of each need depends on the specific species.

  2. Turtles and tortoises aren't the same thing.

    3. Well, that's not exactly true. The truth is that the term "turtle" is an umbrella term for all 200 species of the testudine group, including both turtles and tortoises, among others. So the word "turtle" may mean more than you first expected! 

  3. Turtles are some of the oldest animals around.

    4. If you've never had a turtle, you might not know just how long their life spans can be. In general, turtles evolved millions of years ago, and as such are among the oldest groups of reptiles. As pets, certain species of turtles can live to be 10-150+!

  4. The largest turtles weigh more than a thousand pounds.

    5. You aren't going to find these in your neighborhood pet store tank, but the largest sea turtle species—the leatherback turtle—can weigh between 600 and 2,000 pounds and grow up to 8 feet in length.

  5. A turtle's shell is not an exoskeleton.

    6. Some people mistake a turtle's hard outer shell for an exoskeleton, but it's actually a modified rib cage that's part of the  vertebral column.

  6. Turtles have a second shell.

    7. Besides their outer shell, turtles also have a lower shell, called a plastron. The plastron usually joins with the upper shell—called the carapace—along both sides of the body to create a complete skeletal box.

  7. Turtles aren't silent.

    8. Although they're not likely to be as loud as dogs or cats, turtles do make a range of noises, anything from chicken-like clucks to dog-like barking, depending on the species.

  8. In some species, weather determines if turtle eggs become male or female.

    9. In certain species of turtles, within a viable range, lower temperatures lead to male eggs hatching, while higher temperatures lead to female hatchlings.

  9. Turtles lose their first "baby tooth" within an hour.

    10. Baby turtles, called hatchlings, have an "egg tooth" on their beak to help them hatch out of their shell. This tooth disappears approximately an hour after hatching.

  10. There are over 350 species of turtles.

    11. There are approximately 356 species of turtles in the world, found in all continents exceptbut Antarctica. These turtle species live on land or in saltwater or freshwater. A few popular turtle species for pets are the red-eared slider turtle, African sideneck turtle, eastern box turtle and common musk turtle.

  11. Sea turtles can hold their breath underwater for up to 5 hours.

    12. A turtle’s ability to hold their breath underwater is particularly useful for those living in waters with low oxygen levels, allowing them to remain submerged for longer while searching for food and avoiding predators. Sea turtles can swim long distances underwater using their ability to hold their breath while they migrate to different locations.

  12. Turtles can dive up to almost 1000 feet down in the water.

    13. Some species of turtles can dive to depths of up to almost 1000 feet or 300 meters underwater. This ability is just one of many physical adaptations that allow them to withstand high pressure and low oxygen levels found at those depths.

  13. Turtles are cold-blooded.

    14. Turtles are cold-blooded, meaning their body temperature is regulated by the temperature around them instead of internally like humans. Because of this, their metabolism is faster when they are in warmer climates than when they are in cold environments.

  14. Turtles lay eggs every year.

    15. Turtles lay eggs every year, but the timing of this varies depending on species and environmental conditions. The eggs will usually hatch several weeks or a few months after laying, depending on the ambient temperature.

  15. Turtles sleep underwater.

    16. Turtles can sleep underwater by entering a state known as “torpor”. This state is similar to sleep in mammals, where the turtle’s heart rate and metabolism slow, and they become less active. Turtles are able to sleep underwater by extracting oxygen from the water through specialized structures in their necks and heads.

  16. Sea turtles can’t retract their heads.

    17. Similar to the cartoon portrayal of turtles, sea turtles can retract their heads into their shells as a means of protection from predators. This is made possible by specialized neck bones that connect in a way that allows them to fold their head backward and tuck it into the edge of their shell.

  17. Turtles are omnivores.

    18. Turtles are omnivores, meaning they feed on a wide variety of plant and animal material. Omnivorous turtles will feed on a mix of plants and meat, often including insects, worms, small fish, other small animals, fruits, berries and other plants.

  18. Turtles are great travelers.

    19. Turtles can travel long distances, whether in search of food, mates or the perfect nesting site. Sea turtles may travel hundreds or thousands of miles, sometimes across entire oceans, navigating by a combination of celestial cues, the earth’s magnetic field and other environmental indicators.

  19. Turtles face many threats in nature.

    20. In the wild, turtles can face many threats from a variety of predators, including birds of prey, mammals and other animals. They can also be affected by habitat loss from human development or other activities that destroy the environments turtles depend upon to survive. Turtles can also be negatively affected by pollution, disease or other factors in human-modified environments. Many species of turtle are at risk of extinction as a result.

  20. A group of turtles is called a bale.

    21. Similar to how we call a group of fish a “school” or a group of lions a “pride”, a group of turtles is called a “bale.” And just for trivia bonus points, a group of turtle eggs is called a clutch. Do you know what a group of baby turtles is called? A flotilla!

Weird and Funny Turtle Facts

  1. Jonathan the tortoise is the oldest known living land animal.

    2. Jonathan is a Seychelles giant tortoise and believed to be the oldest living land animal in the world! He is thought to be 187 years old. He currently lives on the island of Saint Helena, a British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic Ocean, and he is currently in good health.

  2. Turtles date back to the time of the dinosaurs.

    3. Turtles have a long evolutionary history and are said to have evolved from a group of reptiles called the procolophonids—small armor-plated animals that lived around 200 million years ago. So, they might have been hanging out with the dinosaurs over 2 million years ago. Wow!

  3. The Galapagos Islands were named after the turtles that Spanish sailors found there.

    4. The islands were named “Galapagos” by the Spanish explorers who visited the islands in the 16th century. The name is derived from the Spanish language word “galapago” which means “tortoise.” The islands house many different species of turtles and tortoises.

  4. Turtles live by “survival of the fittest.”

    5. “Survival of the fittest” in this sense means that the individuals or species of turtles that are best adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce.

  5. Turtles make weird noises.

    6. Some turtle species can make a variety of sounds, including hissing, grunting, clicks or chirps.

  6. Turtles always come home.

    7. Many turtles will return to a specific area, whether that be a specific nesting region or a particular basking spot. And this might be on an annual or even daily basis. 

  7. To find out if it’s a turtle, tortoise or terrapin, you can tell by their feet!

    8. One of several ways to tell the difference between turtles, tortoises and terrapins is looking at their feet. Turtles usually have webbed feet, tortoises have thick, sturdy feet and terrapins usually have a combination of webbed and clawed feet.

By now one thing should be clear: turtles are complex creatures with a specific set of needs. If these fun facts piqued your interest in becoming a turtle pet parent, visit your local Petco to meet one in-person and learn more about appropriate habitat and husbandry for a species you are interested in!

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