Turtle is a popular name for various species of freshwater and marine reptiles related to the tortoises and belonging to the order Chelonia. Marine turtles are generally herbivores, feeding mainly on sea grasses, however freshwater species eat a range of animals including worms, frogs, and fish. They are all excellent swimmers, having legs that are modified to oar like flippers but which make them awkward on land. The shell is more streamlined and lighter than that of the tortoise. Species include the green turtle Chelonia mydas; the loggerhead Caretta caretta; the giant leathery or leatherback turtle Dermochelys coriacea, which can weigh half a tonne; and the hawksbill Eretmochelys imbricata, which is hunted for its shell which provides the tortoiseshell, used in jewellery and ornaments, and is now an endangered species. Other turtles suffer because their eggs are taken by collectors and their breeding sites are regularly destroyed, often for tourist developments. Research Turtle More pictures of Turtle
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