FatCow47's+Animal+Report+page

[] 1.  Turtles are reptiles 2. their soft body is covered by a hard shell 3. Most turtles can pull their legs, tail, and head into the shell for protection 4. Different turtles live on land, in water, or both on land and in water 5. Some turtles that live on land are called tortoises 6. A terrapin is a turtle that lives in or near freshwater or partly salty, coastal water. 7. The name terrapin is only used for a group of North American turtles. 8. Turtles can be grouped into seven main types: (1) mud and musk turtles, (2) pond and marsh turtles, (3) sea turtles, (4) side-necked turtles, (5) snapping turtles, (6) soft-shelled turtles, and (7) tortoises 9. Like other reptiles, all turtles are cold-blooded; their body temperature about matches the temperature of their environment 10. They are found living in deserts, forest, grasslands, lakes, marshes, ponds, wetlands, coastal areas, and in the oceans 11. Turtles live in almost all geographic regions except those which are cold year-round 12. They cannot remain active in cold weather, so species in regions that have harsh winters must hibernate 13. Some desert species survive the hot, dry periods by going into a related state of limited activity called estivation. 14. Sea turtles spend most of their life in the water 15. Other species live mainly on land or in fresh water or spend about an equal time on land and in water. 16. There are over 250 different turtle species 17. about 50 live in North America 18. Between species, turtles vary in size from the bog turtle of about 4 inches long (10 centimeters) to the huge leatherback sea turtle, which can mature to 4 to 8 feet lengths (1.2 to 2.4 meters) 19. Many turtles spend their entire life within a short distance from where they were hatched, but most sea turtles migrate thousand of miles 20. Sea turtles are also fast swimmers; but on land most kinds of turtles are slow, lumbering creatures 21. However, some land turtles like the smooth soft-shell specie can sometimes outrun a human. 22. Most turtles are omnivores, that is they eat both plants and animals but the exact foods consumed vary between the species. For instance, green sea turtles and tortoises feed almost entirely on plants 23. A few freshwater species including the map turtle and soft-shelled turtles eat mainly other small animals. 24. Today over 40 species of turtles including most sea turtles and many types of tortoises are endangered, and if turtle conservation and protection does not improve, certain species will become extinct. 25. People are their greatest threat 26. Historically people have sought turtle eggs and meat for food 27. Turtle shells have been used for ornamentation 28. Rare exotic turtles have been shipped and trafficked as pets 29. Turtles are still hunted and captured today; turtle nests are plundered 30. People further harm turtles by eliminating their natural living areas as forests, swamps, and other areas are transformed for farms and urban growth. 31. Further endangerment comes from continued pollution of their living areas. ** wikipedia facts: [] 32. body is shielded by a special [|bony] or [|cartilaginous] [|shell] developed from their [|ribs]. 33. Like other reptiles, turtles are [|ectotherms]—varying their internal temperature according to the ambient environment, commonly called [|cold-blooded34.] Like other [|amniotes] (reptiles, dinosaurs, birds, and mammals), they breathe air and do not lay eggs underwater, although many species live in or around water 35. The largest turtles are aquatic. 36. **Shell** The upper shell of the turtle is called the //[|carapace37.] The lower shell that encases the belly is called the //[|plastron38. The shell protects the turtle, without it, it would die.39.] The carapace and plastron are joined together on the turtle's sides by bony structures called //bridges 40. The inner layer of a turtle's shell is made up of about 60 bones that includes portions of the backbone and the ribs, meaning the turtle cannot crawl out of its shell 41. In most turtles, the outer layer of the shell is covered by horny scales called [|scutes] that are part of its outer skin, or[|epidermis42.]Scutes are made up of a fibrous [|protein] called [|keratin] that also makes up the scales of other reptiles 43. **Limbs** //  // Terrestrial tortoises have short, sturdy feet 44. Tortoises are famous for moving slowly, in part because of their heavy, cumbersome shell, which restricts stride length 45. The amphibious turtles normally have limbs similar to those of tortoises except that the feet are webbed and often have long [|claws]. 46. These turtles swim using all four feet in a way similar to the [|dog paddle], with the feet on the left and right side of the body alternately providing thrust 47. Large turtles tend to swim less than smaller ones, and the very big species, such as alligator snapping turtles, hardly swim at all, preferring to simply walk along the bottom of the river or lake 48. // As well as webbed feet, turtles also have very long claws, used to help them clamber onto riverbanks and floating logs, upon which they like to [|bask] [|49.][|Male turtles tend to have particularly long claws, and these appear to be used to stimulate the female while mating.50.] While most turtles have webbed feet, some, such as the [|Pig-nosed Turtle], have true flippers, with the digits being fused into paddles and the claws being relatively small 51. These species swim in the same way as sea turtles 52. Sea turtles are almost entirely aquatic and have [|flippers] instead of feet 53. Sea turtles fly through the water, using the up-and-down motion of the front flippers to generate thrust 54. the back feet are not used for propulsion but may be used as [|rudders] for steering 55. Compared with freshwater turtles, sea turtles have very limited mobility on land, and apart from the dash from the nest to the sea as hatchlings, male sea turtles normally never leave the sea 56. Females must come back onto land to lay eggs 57. They move very slowly and laboriously, dragging themselves forwards with their flippers New facts from: [] 58. The Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtle (Rafetus swinhoei) is the most endangered turtle in the world 59. There are only four known specimens of the species that remain: three in captivity and one in the wild 60. Now conservation biologists are trying to bring the species back from the brink of extinction. 61. In a desperate move to save the species, a team of conservationists undertook a risky endeavor earlier this month. 62. They transferred the last remaining female of the species from her home at the Changsha Zoo to the Suzhou Zoo, more than 600 miles away 63. When she arrived at Suzhou Zoo, she was paired with a male and now the hope is that the couple will breed 64. The risk of the journey (such moves are very stressful to turtles) was outweighed by the need to pair the turtles for breeding and potentially save the species from extinction.
 * Research 75 facts with sources:

65. The Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtle is among Asia's largest softshell turtle species native to the southern parts of China

66. It range historically included the Yangtze River and Lake Taihu and extended into northern Vietnam's Red River 67. Recently, there have been reported sightings of the turtle along the Red River and small remnant populations may still exist there. 68. Throughout its range, the Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtle (Rafetus swinhoei) population has suffered as a result of habitat destruction, and pollution 69. It has been over-harvested for Asian food markets and its carapace is valued for use in traditional medicine. Now, from:[] 70. Aquatic and semi-aquatic turtles are popular as pets 71. The most well known is probably the red eared slider, although there are several other species which are kept as pets. 72. Turtles have been popular for a long time. Baby red eared sliders were readily available and inexpensive many years ago, which unfortunately resulted in a lot of neglected turtles 73. They were often sent home with tiny plastic bowls with a little plastic tree 74. With no filtration system and no room to grow, these little babies didn't have much chance. In the 1970s, the US government banned the sale of turtles less than 4 inches long, once the connection was made between turtles and __[|////Salmonella////]__ infections, especially in children 75. It is not that baby turtles carry more Salmonella than larger ones; it is more of a case of children being more likely to handle the smaller turtles Paper resource: National Audubon Society First Field Guide to Reptiles 76. Mud Turtles live in murky lakes and Rivers. 77. They can grow to 2-5" 78. They skim the water floors for food, like crayfish 79. They can blend in to be like an algae covered stone 80. There are around 10 types of mud or stinkpot turtles. 81. They are commonly red, light brown, dark brown, and black with some green 82. The Red-Eared Slider is a medium large turtle 83. It has a red stripe behind each ear and is black, yellow, and green. 84. They have large curled claws. 85. It can grow 5-11" 86. It is in quiet waters with basking logs. 87. It is all throughout the East border all the way in to mid-u.s. 88. The painted turtle is almost all throughout the U.S. 89. It is black, red, and yellow 90. It's face and limbs look like they were painted, giving it the title Painted Turtle 91. it will grow to 4-9 and a half " 92. It has a very smooth, hard shell, too. 93. They are mostly in lakes on basking logs 94. The River Cooter is found in slow moving waters 95. It can grow to 9-15 and a half" 96. It has a yellow, large head. 97. The colors include yellow, black, and brown patterns 98. It is in the Southern U.S. 99. It is the Pseudemys Concinna 100. It is rare

Turtles are adapted in many ways. They can have webbed feet for swimming. Sharp claws for digging and burrowing. With that they also have adapted to protect themselves from being eaten as prey. Their shells are hard and rough, so most animals can't open then. They have quick reflexes allowing them to bundle up inside their shell when threatened. || Problems Turtles need a large area to live and they always have to have food. Snapping turtles typically live on the bottom of lakes and on land. Turtles also often carry many diseases, such as salmonella. || Behavior Turtles mainly bask on logs and sit in Rivers or lakes. They like to travel around occasionally too. Tortoises usually lye around all day in the hot desert drinking water. Sea turtles are almost always moving in the ocean and sea. || Diet They commonly eat many different types of plants. They also eat fish, tadpoles, fruit, veggies, leaves, algae, frogs, insects, crayfish, mollusks, and shrimp. || Predators / Prey
 * ===**Physical characteristics**=== || Life Cycle || Growth || Body Functions || Pregnancy & Birth || Location / Habitat || Adaption

> > PREY >> === ===
 * Predators
 * crows
 * mink
 * raccoons
 * otters
 * fish (pike and bass)
 * frogs
 * <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">snakes
 * <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">large turtles
 * <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">wading birds (heron)
 * <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">skunks
 * **Plant matter**
 * <span style="color: rgb(0, 128, 0); border-collapse: separate; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;">=


 * <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">both blue-green and green algae
 * <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">leaves
 * <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">duckweed
 * <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">emergent herbaceous plants
 * <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">stems
 * <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">roots
 * <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">fruits
 * <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">seeds of vascular plants
 * <span style="color: rgb(0, 128, 0); font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;">= ==**<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Animal matter **==

= >>> === ===

A group of turtles is called a bale. There are over 200 types of turtles. || Relatives <span style="border-collapse: separate; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;">Reptilia is a class cold-blooded vertebrates that includes snakes, lizards, crocodiles, and turtles. Most reptiles lay eggs. ||  ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||
 * <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">tadpoles
 * <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">frogs
 * <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">small fish
 * <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">insects (adult and larvae)
 * <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">crayfish
 * <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">shrimp
 * <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">amphipods
 * <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">mollusks (mostly snails) || Family groups
 * Turtles have shells that make up most of the viewable sights. It is made up of cartilage. Turtle come in green, brown, black, yellow, and red. || All turtles, wether they are tortoises, terrapins, or sea turtles, lay their eggs on land. The babies later grow at a fast rate. Sea turtles immediately go out to sea. They rush out before they become prey. || Turtles grow at fast rates. They walk slow but can grow fast. Some Sea Turtles grow to 700 lbs. Other turtles and Terrapins, and Tortoises grow to as low as 6 lbs. to 200 or 300 lbs. || Turtles have shells that cover them for protection. They can pull all of their limbs into their shell incase of emergency. When they swim they push out modeling the doggy paddle. Most turtles go slow. Sea turtles swim very fast. || Turtle pregnancy is between 6 and 10 weeks. Sea Turtles lay their eggs on the beach and then the babies crawl out to the sea as fast as they can because a common predator is the Wading Bird. All turtles lay their eggs on land. || <span style="border-collapse: separate; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"> **<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;">Different turtles live on land, in water, or both on land and in water.

A terrapin is a turtle that lives in or near freshwater or partly salty, coastal water.

Most turtles and Tortoises are native to all Continents and Bodies of Water ** ||  ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   || ** > || || >
 * <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px;"> ||
 * Sloppy Copy drafts of writing
 * Sloppy Copy drafts of writing

T- “tortuga” is turtle, in Spanish U- usually found in bodies of water on basking logs R- Reptilla is a turtle’s cold-blooded group T- There are over two-hundred types of turtles L- limbs on a turtle can be pulled into the shell E- Egrets, or wading birds, are enemies of the turtle S- salmonella is a common disease found in turtles **//__Revenge of the Turtles__//** Information The turtles are endangered because of decreasing habitat and poachers. The humans predicted that turtles will be extinct in 100 years. Turtles are a big part of our humane society. They have adaptations that are keeping them alive, such as, flippers, shells, flexible limbs, etc. They make kids happy, and are great as pets. Although it is illegal to poach, people sill do it. Fantasy One day the turtles were basking on their log, when a boat was charging at them. They immediately jumped into the water. The boat’s propeller rubbed against Jimmy. It was a tragedy, but he lived. The turtles had had enough. They all got together and then went to the electricity plants. They shut them down and then slowly, the turtles, especially the snappers, injured the humans. They took the humans captive. They eventually shut down almost all the power plants, then took over North America. The power soon spread to all of the Continents. The turtles started to poach humans and endanger them. One day Jimmy spoke up and said, “We should stop. Just because they do this to us, does not mean we should do it to them. How do you think they feel. We can tell them to stop endangering us.” All the others said “He’s right.” So the turtles talked it out with the humans. The turtles stopped getting poached and they reproduced. They were knocked off the endangered species list, along with all the other animals. It was all Jimmy. If he hadn’t spoke up, they would all be dead. The turtles live to tell the tale, happily ever after. <span style="color: rgb(17, 97, 10);"> The End

__**//Menu Veggie Salad $4.99: Includes a delightful mixture of both blue and green algae, and stems, roots, and seeds of vascular plants//**__ Swamp Chow $3.95: This goody includes crayfish, small fish and frogs, tadpoles, and a sprinkle of crushed algae Amphibian Pie $5.65: A warm, delightful, good pie with amphipods, tadpoles, and small frogs on top Insectipod Soup $6.99: This soup is made with larvae, insects, and duckweed, all mixed together in a bowl of pond water Snail-Po $3.75 A dry mixture of snails and mollusks topped with seeds from rare plants Special HSR $5.60 A large serving with herbaceous plants, shrimp, and roots from plants, all topped with algae Pond food Medley $9.99 A very big serving of leaves and duckweed, topped with shrimp, crayfish, frogs, tadpoles, mollusks, insects, and amphipods

INTERVIEW WITH A PAINTED TURTLE Me: Hello, and welcome to the Fatcow Show! Today we are interviewing a painted turtle! How are you Mr. Turtle? Turtle: Great, I just got off my basking log and I am ready to go. Me: Good... Let's get started. Turtle: Okay. Me: hear you are one of the most common turtles in the United States, Turtle: Yes, that is a fact. I am also named for my colorful design. Me: I hear you are, also, red, black, and yellow. Turtle: True, I am part of a reptilla group too. Me: I know. You are also prey to wading bird, right? Turtle: Yeah, you are smart! Me: Thank you. What are your favorite foods? Turtle: Probably crayfish. Me: What are all your foods? Turtle: Crayfish, tadpoles, frogs, fish, insects, shrimp, amphipods, mollusks,both blue-green and green algae, leaves, duckweed, emergent herbaceous plants, stems, roots, fruits, seeds of vascular plants Me: I see, and you have a shell? Turtle: Yes, It is made of cartilage and bony. Me: Can you pull all of your legs and limbs into your body? Turtle: Yes, I can also be protected from many things, like an armadillo can. Me: That is so cool, I never knew this stuff about turtles. Turtle: It is hard to live because we need a fairly large pond or lake or swamp with plenty of food. Me: It must be hard... What other challenges do you encounter? Turtle: Not much more. Some turtles need climate controlled areas and some carry salmonella. Me: I am sorry. What is our favorite type of turtle? Turtle: Probably the Green Sea Turtle. Me: Why? Turtle: Because they lay eggs which hatch and then run out to sea on their own. Me: Cool! Turtle: I have one last fact for you before I leave... It is very interesting. Me: What is it? Turtle: Turtles can breathe through their butts. Me: Okay... Awkward, but fascinating. Goodbye! Turtle: Goodbye! Turtles have many worries in their lives from disease all the way to fierce predators. We will start with disease. Turtles have a bunch of disease, but salmonella is the most lethal, and it can even kill humans. The predators are the biggest issues in their life. For the sea turtle, the wading bird, or egret, is the lethal predator that swipes down to take the babies jut as they are crawling out to sea. For other average turtle, the predators include: crows, mink, raccoons, otters, fish (pike and bass), frogs, snakes, larger turtles, and skunks. Yes, you heard it... some bales of turtles hunt other bales of turtles(bale is a turtles group). Frogs, crows, small fish, and snakes, relatively hunt the baby turtles. Other large predators hunt the adult or 'big' baby turtles. Now, for the most endangering type of issue for the turtle. Can //you// guess it? That's right, it's //you.// Humans, or poachers, hunt turtles, run them over, of just kill them all for their amusement. Sometimes it is an accident, but there are people who like killing animals.
 * //__The Dangerous Life of a Turtle__//**

__//**A Letter to Mother Nature**//__ Dear, whoever finds this May 29th, 2009 __If you have found this you are speaking to Tom the Turtle, and I am thanking you for providing things for us to eat, things for us to live in, and most importantly, things to have fun. For living, you provide shelter, a tree or perhaps a pond or bush. To eat, you give us our prey and other natural leaves and plants. Just to have fun, basking on the logs and playing hide and go seek in the weeds, catching fish and providing humans to take us in. Once again, thank you... Sincerely, Tom the Turtle__

Revised Writing** ||