Order Testudinata

has a shell consisting of plastron and carapace composed of bony underneath and horny epidermal scales called scutes

vertebral column fused to the carapace except for the neck and tail

cryptodira: “hidden-necked” turtles which retract their necks into the shell

pleurodira: “side-necked” turtles which wrap their heads around the side of the shell

some predaceous, some herbivorous

all oviparous with no parental care

some live over 100 years and weigh over 600 lbs - Galapagos tortoise

~240 species in the world, 47 in US

Turtles