Are you ready to shell-abrate the wonderful world of tortoises? These slow and steady creatures are full of surprises, from their impressive longevity to their unique defense mechanisms. Get ready to tortoise and turn with these 25 fascinating facts that will have you feeling like a true tortoise expert. Let’s dig in!
1-5 Fun Facts About Tortoise
1. The Giant Tortoise didn’t receive a scientific name for over 300 years because sailors couldn’t resist their delicious taste, even by Charles Darwin. Who needs classification when you have a tasty meal, right?
2. When it comes to protecting their eggs, female tortoises mean business. They bury them underground to keep them safe from predators.
3. Jonathan, the tortoise is the ultimate senior citizen – at 190 years old, he’s seen it all. He’s like the Yoda of the animal kingdom!
4. Tortoises have been around for over 55 million years, making them one of the oldest reptiles on the planet.
5. A group of tortoises is called a creep – and no, they’re not trying to be creepy, it’s just their official name.
6-10 Interesting Facts About Tortoise
6. The screech of the velociraptor in Jurassic Park was actually a recording of tortoises mating. Talk about a mood killer!
7. Although all tortoises are turtles, not all turtles are tortoises.
8. Turtles are any shelled reptiles belonging to the order Chelonii, while tortoises are a specific type of terrestrial turtle. You can tell them apart by their feet and shells – water turtles have flippers or webbed feet with long claws and flatter, streamlined shells, while tortoises have stubby, elephant-like feet and heavier, domed shells.
9. The Galapagos Tortoise is known to hunt birds by luring them under its shell, withdrawing its limbs, and crushing the bird with its weight.
10. A 130-year-old Tortoise named Owen adopted a baby hippo after the 2004 tsunami.
11-15 Surprising Facts About Tortoise
11. In order to preserve the tortoise population on the Galapagos islands, sharpshooters from New Zealand were brought in to eliminate 100,000 goats from helicopters.
12. Live tortoises are sold encased in souvenir keychains filled with an herbal solution in China, where they typically survive for only 1-3 months.
13. Vibrators are sometimes used to help tortoises with constipation.
Read More: 25 Shocking Facts About Turtles That Will Blow Your Mind
14. Did you know that if you remove a tortoise’s brain, it can still live for another six months? That’s one tough shell!
15. Male tortoises enjoy fighting by trying to flip each other onto their backs, with the losing tortoise often left immobilized on its back by larger males.
16-20 Insane Facts About Tortoise
16. If you see a desert tortoise, resist the urge to pick it up because it will empty its bladder, which holds over 40% of its body weight, as a defense mechanism. It needs that water to survive in the desert.
17. Tortoises have existed on Earth for over 55 million years, making them one of the most ancient creatures on the planet.
18. Healthy tortoises in the wild can live up to 150 years, with some rare individuals even surpassing 200 years of age.
19. Tortoises are like the sloths of the reptile world. They’re so slow that they make a snail look like a cheetah. They move at a speed of only 0.2 miles per hour.
20. One interesting fact about tortoises is that their shell colors change with the weather. In hot, sunny environments, they have lighter shells to reflect light, while in cooler climates, they have darker shells that absorb more heat.
21-25 Shocking Facts About Tortoise
21. Tortoises reach sexual maturity based on their size, not age.
22. They have both an inner and outer skeleton, with the shell being part of the outer skeleton. This makes them heavy and contributes to their slow movement.
23. Their shells are sensitive to touch due to nerve endings, and they can feel every rub, pet, or scratch. Sometimes they enjoy the attention!
24. And tortoises have played an important-role in history, too. The ancient Roman military used a formation called “testudo,” which means “tortoise” in Latin. Soldiers would hold their shields above and in front of them to create a protective barrier, just like a tortoise withdrawing into its shell.
25. While tortoises may not be great swimmers, they can hold their breath for a surprisingly long time.
That’s it for this post guys, I hope you had fun while reading 25 Amazing Tortoise facts.
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