Philosophy:
Turtles are known also for their remarkable longevity. Many can live to reach 100-130 years old. There is an old Chinese saying: "The tortoise is good at nurturing energy, so it can live a century without food." Early followers of the ancient Chinese philosophy of Taoism are said to have revered turtles because they knew when to withdraw into themselves to restore energy. This is how they were thought to live so long. A turtle, then, can be more than a fascinating pet; it can be a guide to inner peace and long life!

Evolution:
Turtles are considered to be the oldest and most primitive of the modern reptiles. The fossil record has not yet revealed any turtle ancestors in the evolutionary chain. That is, turtles (as far as we know) have always been turtles. Fossil specimens of turtles have been found that date back over 220 million years ago!

Anatomy:
The most distinctive trait of turtles is, of course, their shells. Adapting to life in a shell has made turtles highly specialized. For example, turtles are unique among the vertebrates in that their pectoral and pelvic girdles are situated inside the rib cage. Also, because of the shell, a turtle's limbs are fixed in a relatively primitive position. This gives turtles their unique "sprawling" walk, distinguishing them from the other vertebrates.

Behavior:
Although turtle behavior varies among the 250+ species, some generalizations can be made. Most turtles have efficient senses of sight, smell, and touch. However, the sense of hearing is relatively weak. Also, turtles are generally not vocal. Turtles have managed to colonize every continent except Antarctica. Turtle species have adapted to become either totally terrestrial, semi-aquatic, or mainly aquatic. Also, turtles may be either mainly herbivorous (plant eating), omnivorous (plant and meat eating), or mostly carnivorous (meat eating). One can only wonder at the power of such a silent creature by human standards, that has managed to traverse practically the entire planet.

Extinction:
Of the  250+ species of turtles and tortoises on earth today, 96 are threatened, some critically so. All sea turtles are endangered; all giant tortoises are threatened. Many are killed by longline fishermen or caught in drift nets. Ocean pollution and oil spills also take their toll. Without the help of many individuals and organizations, sea turtles may be destined for extinction. Yet, of all the threats to the Sea Turtle, humans continue to pose the most serious coastal threat.

Also, a relatively new threat to Sea Turtles has been documented. A recent disease noted in Florida and Hawaiian green sea turtles is "fibropapilloma," tumorous growths thought to be viral in origin. Scientists at the University of Florida's Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research suggest the tumors are caused by chemical runoff that affects sea turtles' habitat and damages their immune systems.

Doesn't this make you wonder what these chemical runoffs are doing to humans, as well? Here's a thought...perhaps in helping the turtles we will be helping ourselves!

Visit the websites below to find out more.

Turtle Resources

Florida Turtles
Information about Florida Turtles in relation to habitat, extinction and protection.

www.turtles.org
Friends of turtles who dive the reefs of Hawaii each year and document turtle activity in that location.
Click here to learn about ways you can help the Sea Turtle.