Turtles' Favorite States: Where They Feel Most At Home

Turtles are among the oldest and most primitive groups of reptiles, having evolved millions of years ago. They are highly adaptable and can be found on every continent except Antarctica. Turtles can be found in almost every type of climate and habitat, from the ocean to the desert. In the United States alone, there are 55 species of turtles, including sea turtles, snapping turtles, box turtles, and softshell turtles. The world regions richest in non-marine turtle species are the Amazon basin, the Gulf of Mexico drainages of the United States, and parts of South and Southeast Asia.

Turtles in the USA

Turtles are among the oldest and most primitive groups of reptiles, having evolved millions of years ago. They are highly adaptive and can be found on every continent except Antarctica. They are divided into two major groups: the Pleurodira (side-necked turtles) and the Cryptodira (hidden-necked turtles). There are 55 species of turtles occurring naturally in the United States, and they can be found in a variety of habitats, including freshwater, brackish, and marine environments.

Freshwater Turtles

The most common freshwater turtles in the United States include snapping turtles, softshell turtles, painted turtles, map turtles, and sliders. These species can be further divided into non-basking and basking aquatic turtles. Non-basking aquatic turtles, such as common snappers and softshell turtles, spend most of their time completely submerged in shallow ponds, lakes, and slow-moving streams or rivers. On the other hand, basking aquatic turtles like painted turtles and sliders climb onto rocks, branches, and logs above the water to soak up the sun.

Brackish Water Turtles

In the United States, terrapins are considered turtles that primarily live in brackish water. They can also be found in swamps, ponds, lakes, and rivers.

Marine Turtles

Sea turtles are mainly found in tropical and subtropical regions, although the leatherback sea turtle can survive in colder areas of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Sea turtles are highly migratory and can travel thousands of miles each year, nesting on beaches to lay their eggs. Six of the seven species of sea turtles are threatened or endangered due to human activities such as accidental capture in fishing gear, coastal development, poaching, and ocean pollution.

Turtles in the ocean

Turtles are highly adaptable and can be found in almost every type of climate and on every continent except Antarctica. They are ancient reptiles, having evolved millions of years ago, and are divided into two major groups: Pleurodira (side-necked turtles) and Cryptodira (hidden-necked turtles).

Sea turtles, which belong to the Cryptodira suborder, are well-adapted to ocean life. They are found in much of the ocean and live in almost every ocean basin in the world. They are the only reptiles that migrate long distances to lay their eggs on favoured beaches, and they are also the fastest swimmers among turtles, reaching speeds of 30 km/h (19 mph).

Sea turtles are threatened by human activity, with six of the seven species considered threatened or endangered. They face accidental capture and entanglement in fishing gear, loss of nesting sites due to coastal development, poaching, and ocean pollution, including plastic. They also face natural threats, such as predators like birds, crabs, fish, and mammals.

Despite these challenges, sea turtles are long-lived creatures, with some living for over a hundred years. They play an important role in various human cultures and societies, often viewed positively and associated with ancient times and old age.

Turtles in hot, dry regions

Turtles are incredibly diverse and adaptable creatures, found in almost every type of climate and habitat across the globe. While they are typically associated with aquatic environments, some species are well-suited to hot, dry regions. In the United States, the term "tortoise" typically refers to land-dwelling turtles that inhabit arid areas. These tortoises have specific characteristics that enable them to thrive in such conditions.

One of the key adaptations of tortoises in hot, dry regions is their ability to dig burrows. When the sun becomes too intense, they retreat underground to escape the heat. This behaviour is common among land-dwelling turtles, including the Eastern Box Turtle, which inhabits woodland areas in North America, and the Ornate Box Turtle, which prefers the open grasslands and prairies of western North America. By digging burrows, these tortoises can regulate their body temperature and protect themselves from the harsh sun.

Tortoises in hot, dry regions also tend to have stumpy, column-like legs with elephant-like feet, which are well-suited for digging and traversing arid terrain. Their feet have strong forelimbs, allowing them to dig burrows efficiently. Additionally, their shells provide protection from potential predators. The shells of land-dwelling turtles tend to be more dome-shaped, making them more resistant to being crushed by larger animals.

While tortoises in hot, dry regions are well-adapted to their environment, they still face significant challenges. One of the main threats to their survival is habitat destruction, as their habitats are increasingly lost to development and human activity. Climate change also poses a significant risk, as rising temperatures can disrupt the sex ratio of turtle populations. The warming temperatures can also impact their ability to regulate their body temperature, as they rely on their environment to cool down.

Conservation efforts are crucial for protecting tortoises in hot, dry regions. Organisations like the Humane Society of the United States are dedicated to protecting these creatures and raising awareness about the dangers they face. By understanding the unique characteristics and challenges of tortoises in hot, dry regions, we can work towards ensuring their survival for future generations.

Turtles in freshwater

Freshwater turtles, or terrapins, are turtles that live primarily in fresh or brackish water. They are adapted for aquatic life, with flexible legs, longer toes with webbing, and flatter, smoother shells that allow them to swim with thrust and cut through the water. Some species of freshwater turtles, such as snapping turtles and mud turtles, mainly walk along the water bottom, similar to how they would on land. Other species, like terrapins, swim by paddling with all four limbs, switching between the opposing front and hind limbs to maintain stability.

Freshwater turtles inhabit ponds, lakes, and rivers with many available basking sites. They climb onto rocks, branches, and logs above the water to bask in the sun. Some species of freshwater turtles, such as common snappers and softshell turtles, spend most of their time completely submerged in shallow waters.

The most commonly seen aquatic turtles are those that bask in the sun, including painted turtles, map turtles, and sliders. The red-eared slider, a common pet, is notable for having an exceptional seven types of cone cells in its retina.

The largest freshwater turtle in North America is the alligator snapping turtle, which can grow to 2.5 feet (80 cm) long and weigh up to 200 lbs. (91 kg).

Freshwater turtles are facing various threats, including habitat destruction, harvesting for consumption, the pet trade, light pollution, and climate change. Conservation efforts are crucial to ensure the survival of these fascinating creatures.

Turtles in subtropical areas

Turtles are highly adaptable and can be found in almost every type of climate and on every continent except Antarctica. Sea turtles, in particular, are found in tropical and subtropical regions, nesting on beaches and migrating long distances to feed. They can be found as far south as Chile and as far north as Alaska.

Sea turtles are well-adapted to ocean life but require air to survive. They are the only reptiles that migrate long distances to lay their eggs on favoured beaches. They spend their entire lives at sea, except when adult females come ashore to lay eggs several times per season every 2 to 5 years. After about 60 days, baby sea turtles (known as "hatchlings") emerge from their sandy nests and make their way to the ocean. The juvenile turtles spend their first few years in the open ocean, eventually moving to protected bays, estuaries, and other nearshore waters as adults.

Sea turtles face many threats, including accidental capture in fishing gear, loss of nesting and feeding sites due to coastal development, poaching, and ocean pollution, including plastic. They are also vulnerable to temperature changes, as the sex of sea turtles is determined by the temperature in the nest. Due to rising temperatures, too many sea turtle females are being born, contributing to the decline in species numbers.

In the United States, a tortoise typically refers to a turtle that lives on land in hot, dry regions, while terrapins are turtles that live primarily in fresh or brackish water. There are 55 species of turtles occurring naturally in the United States, including common snappers, softshell turtles, painted turtles, map turtles, sliders, and box turtles.

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