Water turtles, like this green turtle, react interestingly with their environments.
Turtles are shelled reptiles that can live either aquatically or terrestrially. Aquatic turtles, living in the water, are diverse in their physical appearances and habitats. They can be diminutive or immense; their shells, also known as carapaces, can be either hard or soft. Unfortunately, several species of water turtles are classified as endangered.
Sea Turtle
There are several species of sea turtles, all of which are endangered for many reasons, including pollution and illegal trading. The most commonly seen is the loggerhead, with a major nesting site on the middle eastern Masirah Island in Oman. Other species include the green, hawksbill, Kemp's ridley, olive ridley, and flatback. Conservationists implore the public to safeguard these turtles for their importance to the environment. Sea turtles regulate the amount of sea grass in oceans, directly linked to manifold other marine creatures who participate in the balance of a delicate ecosystem.
Snapping Turtle
Snapping turtles are found throughout much of the eastern United States (east of the Rocky Mountains) and southern Canada. They're often found in slow-moving rivers and streams and in shallow lakes, where they capture their prey (or defend themselves) with beaklike jaws. The largest species of snapper, the alligator snapping turtle, is the largest freshwater turtle species found in North America. It is found primarily in the rivers and bayous of the American south, can grow to more than 30 in. long and can live 80 years or more.
Red Eared Slider
Red ear sliders are a type of turtle commonly kept as a pet. They are native to the eastern section of the United States, from Illinois to the Gulf of Mexico. As with other turtle species, red ear sliders can be very long-lived; up to 70 years of existence is not unheard of. Though these turtles make great pets, owners should know that caring for them can be a complex matter. For instance, the aquariums must be sized for their adulthood; the water must always be above 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
Leatherback Sea Turtle
Leatherback sea turtles are categorized differently than other sea turtles for their lack of a hard shell. Their carapace, or shell, is 1.5 inches thick and is made of oil saturated tissue. As adults can weigh upwards of 2,000 pounds, leatherbacks rank among the largest reptiles in current existence. The creatures' blood supply system, resembling that of mammals, keeps their bodies several degrees warmer than the water and lets them tolerate chilly seas. There are two genetically distinct populations of these turtles, one in the Pacific Ocean and the other in the Atlantic.
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