Today, we’re going to have some fun learning about tortoises! These amazing creatures are often confused with turtles, but they have some cool differences. Let’s dive in and discover what makes tortoises so special!
Many people think tortoises and turtles are the same, but that’s not entirely true. All tortoises are turtles, but not all turtles are tortoises. The big difference is that tortoises live mostly on land, while turtles love the water. Tortoises have strong, dome-shaped shells to protect them and sturdy legs for walking on land. Turtles, on the other hand, have webbed feet to help them swim.
Tortoises have been around for over 55 million years! They come in all sizes, from tiny ones with shells less than 5 inches long to giant ones like the Galápagos tortoise, which can have shells almost 4 feet long. Tortoises are diurnal, which means they are most active during the day. They move slowly, walking at less than 1 mile per hour. These ancient animals can live a really long time, often between 80 and 150 years, and some can even live up to 200 years!
Most tortoises are herbivores, which means they eat plants like grass, flowers, leaves, and fruit. Some tortoises are omnivores and might also eat insects, slugs, and worms. People who keep tortoises as pets often feed them yummy plants like alfalfa sprouts, dandelions, and prickly pear cactus. Turtles, which live in water, eat different things like tadpoles and snails.
Tortoises are great at adapting to their surroundings. Some have long necks to reach tall plants, while others have shorter necks for eating low-growing plants. This helps them survive in different environments.
Did you know the oldest land animal is a tortoise named Jonathan, who was 190 years old in 2023? He was alive before cell phones, computers, or airplanes! Another famous tortoise, Lonesome George, lived from 1910 to 2012. When you see a group of tortoises together, it’s called a “creep” of tortoises because they move so slowly.
Tortoises have small brains but great memories. They can remember where they found food and even recognize their owners’ faces. They can remember things for up to a year and a half!
Tortoises have both an exoskeleton and an endoskeleton. The exoskeleton is their shell, which has two parts: the carapace (top) and the plastron (bottom). These parts are connected by a bridge. The endoskeleton is made of bones inside their body.
Most animals smell with their noses, but tortoises have a special organ called the Jacobson’s organ. It’s on the roof of their mouth and helps them smell by detecting air that enters through their nose and mouth.
Tortoises help the environment by spreading seeds and spores for plants, trees, and fungi. Sadly, many tortoise species are endangered because of human activities like hunting and trading their shells. But thanks to zookeepers and conservationists, some tortoise populations are growing again.
Let’s see what you remember:
Great job, tortoise experts! If you want to learn more about other amazing animals, check out learn.org for more fun lessons. We hope you enjoyed learning with us!
Build a Tortoise Habitat: Gather some materials like a small box, soil, rocks, and leaves to create a mini tortoise habitat. Think about what a tortoise needs to be comfortable and safe. Where will it sleep? What will it eat? Once you’ve built your habitat, imagine you are a tortoise living there. What do you see, hear, and smell? Share your habitat with your family and explain why you chose each item.
Tortoise Observation Walk: Go for a walk in your neighborhood or a nearby park. Look for things that a tortoise might like to eat, such as plants, flowers, or fruits. Can you find any places where a tortoise might like to hide or rest? Take notes or draw pictures of what you find. Discuss with a friend or family member how these places are similar to or different from a tortoise’s natural habitat.
Imagine a Day in the Life of a Tortoise: Write a short story or draw a comic strip about a day in the life of a tortoise. What adventures does it have? What challenges does it face? How does it use its special features, like its shell or strong legs, to solve problems? Share your story or comic with your class and see what other creative ideas your friends have about tortoises!
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Hello, animal lovers! Today, we are going to learn about tortoises. You can read along with us by downloading this lesson plan from our website, learn.org.
What are tortoises? Many people think a tortoise and a turtle are the same animal, but that is only partially true. Technically, all tortoises are also turtles, but not all turtles are tortoises. According to the zookeepers at the Nashville Zoo, one major difference is that tortoises spend most of their time on land, while turtles are adapted for life in water. Tortoises are almost exclusively land-dwelling, whereas most turtles are aquatic, meaning they enjoy life in the water.
Tortoises have a high domed shell on their back to protect them from predators as they roam the land. Additionally, they have column-like hind legs to help them walk on land, while turtles have webbing that helps them swim. Tortoises have existed for over 55 million years and vary in size depending on the species. Some are very small, with shells less than 5 inches long, while others, like the Galápagos giant tortoise, can have shells almost 4 feet long.
Tortoises are diurnal, which means they are most active during the day. Some may be active around twilight but will fall asleep at night. Most of the time, they behave very leisurely. How slow are tortoises? They average a walking speed of less than 1 mph. These ancient animals can live for a very long time. If you get a tortoise as a pet, it will most likely live longer than you. Most species have a lifespan of 80 to 150 years, but some tortoises can live for up to 200 years.
What do they eat? Most tortoises are herbivores, eating grass, flowers, leaves, and fruit. However, some are omnivores and may snack on insects, slugs, and worms. Many people keep tortoises as pets and feed them delicious plants and fruits. Some of their favorite plants include alfalfa sprouts, dandelion, and prickly pear cactus. In comparison, aquatic turtles are also omnivores and mostly eat other animals that live in the water, like tadpoles and snails.
Tortoises are very adaptable. Over time, they change their diets to include different types of plants. Biologists have noticed that some species have different types of necks. Those living on islands with tall plants have longer necks and their shells are pointed upward to allow them to reach higher places. In contrast, those living on islands with low-growing plants do not have long necks or an upturned section of shell.
Other interesting facts: The longest-living land animal in the world is a tortoise named Jonathan, who was 190 years old in 2023. He was around before cell phones, computers, or even airplanes. Another tortoise named Lonesome George was born in 1910 and did not pass away until 2012. If you ever see a group of tortoises all hanging out together, you have seen a “creep” of tortoises. This term comes from the fact that tortoises move so slowly.
While tortoises have small brains compared to their size, they have excellent memories. Tortoises can remember where they have found food and recognize their owners’ faces. New research shows that tortoises can remember the location of their favorite food sources or places where they have hidden food for up to a year and a half. Just like humans, tortoises remember information better when taught in a group.
One fascinating aspect of tortoises is that they have both an exoskeleton and an endoskeleton. Their external skeleton supports and protects their body, while the endoskeleton contains internal bones. The exoskeleton comprises two parts: the carapace (the top part of the shell) and the plastron (the bottom part). Part of the exoskeleton acts like a bridge that fuses the two parts together.
Most animals smell with their noses, but not tortoises. Like snakes, tortoises have a unique organ called the vomeronasal or Jacobson’s organ. This organ is found on the roof of the mouth and helps them detect smells as the air enters their nose and mouth.
Why are tortoises important for the environment? Tortoises play a crucial role in the ecosystem because they spread seeds and disperse spores for many plants, trees, and fungi. Unfortunately, many tortoise species are endangered due to human activities. In many cultures, tortoises have been considered a delicacy, leading to hunting for food. Additionally, humans have collected and traded tortoise shells.
To help save these precious animals, many zookeepers have made their zoos the tortoises’ homes, and thanks to conservationists, giant tortoises have increased in numbers.
We just learned a lot of terrific tortoise information! Let’s review to see what you remember.
True or false: Most tortoises are herbivores. If you said true, you’re correct!
Fill in the blank: Tortoises are ______, which means they are most active during the day. The correct answer is “diurnal.”
Choose the word the author would say best describes the tortoise: A) colorful B) quick C) common D) leisurely. The correct answer is D) leisurely.
Excellent work, tortoise experts! If you are interested in learning cool facts about other creatures, make sure to check out learn.org for more lesson plans. We hope you had fun learning with us! Visit us at learn.org for thousands of free resources and turnkey solutions for teachers and homeschoolers.
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