Facts About Land Turtles

Turtles that are strictly terrestrial--living completely on land--belong to the Testudinidae family. These reptiles are most often referred to as tortoises, though the labels "turtle" and "tortoise" are in some cases used interchangeably. Aquatic turtles and land turtles are closely related to one another and belong to the same order of Testudines.

  1. Features

    • All tortoises have certain similar features in common that distinguish them from aquatic turtles. Tortoises all lack the webbed feet of aquatic turtles and have high, domed shells. Some land turtles have hinged plastrons--the bottom shell--which allow them to draw their heads and limbs into their shells. The limbs of land turtles are covered in proportionately large scales. Tortoises can be further distinguished by the presence of four toes on their hind feet.

    Size

    • This group of turtles contains between 40 and 50 different species, ranging from the giant Galapagos tortoise that can easily reach lengths of 4 feet and weights of 700 pounds, to the tiny Egyptian tortoise that rarely exceeds lengths of 4 to 5 inches. Even though they are perhaps the most famous of the land turtles, giant tortoises evolved independently in isolated populations, and are not the normal size for all tortoises, according to the J. Craig Venter Institute.

    Geography

    • Land turtles can be found on the mainlands of the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa and on the islands of the Galapagos, Madagascar and the Aldabra atoll. These turtles tend to prefer warm temperate or tropical regions. Most tortoises are adapted to arid conditions like deserts, but some can thrive in more humid areas, including rain forests.

    Diet

    • Most of the world's land turtles are generalists and herbivores, feeding on grasses, fruits, shrubs, flowers and succulents, including cacti and cactus fruit. Some tortoises are known to scavenge for carrion as well. All tortoises lack teeth, instead possessing sharp beaks that they use to tear their food.

    Reproduction

    • All tortoise species lay eggs, which are normally buried beneath a layer of earth, sand or plant matter. Tortoises typically lay around 10 to 12--or fewer--eggs in a single clutch, though many will lay more than one clutch per season, according to the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. The incubation period for tortoise eggs varies among species from 20 days to 9 months. Young land turtles are not cared for by the female after they have hatched. Tortoises are especially vulnerable to predation at this age.