Slow and Steady
Learn about these ancient reptiles
Slow and Steady Wins the Race
Turtles are one of the oldest reptile groups, having been around for over 200 million years.
Unlike most reptiles, turtles have no teeth, but their beak-like mouths are strong enough to crush food.
Turtles are found on every continent except Antarctica, living in various habitats like oceans, rivers, and deserts.
Sea turtles can hold their breath for several hours while sleeping or resting underwater.
Some turtles can live for over 100 years, making them some of the longest-living animals on the planet.
Turtles don’t leave their shells—the shell is part of their skeleton, including their ribcage and spine.
Box turtles can close their shell completely to protect themselves from predators.
The box turtle is known for its homing instinct, often traveling miles to return to the same territory.
Many turtles are excellent swimmers, though some species, like box turtles, prefer to live on land.
The gender of the hatchlings is determined by the temperature in the nest. Warmer temperatures produce females and cooler ones producing males.
Meet Bing, the Turtle
Bing spent his whole life in the swamp following the same daily routine. When he meets a worldly swan, Bing thirsts for adventure. On a cool spring morning, he leaves the swamp and marches to the lake on the opposite end of the forest. Will he survive the crafty fox, the treacherous river, and the vast lake? This entertaining tale teaches children to seek new experiences and to be resourceful. Bing uses wits and bravery to reach his destination.
Bing is an eastern box turtle. These amazing little creatures have special shells that help keep them safe! Their shell works like a "hinge" that can close tightly, like a box, to protect them from danger. Eastern box turtles can live a long time, sometimes over 50 years. They are slow walkers, which is okay because they carry their strong shell house. Even though they do not travel often, they have a great memory and can find their way around easily. If you move them, they will usually find their way back home.
Get an free e-copy of this book (the print copy is forthcoming)
A Shell Game
Turtles grow inside their shells, which are a part of their body, and protect them like a strong, bony shield. As a turtle grows, its shell grows with it. Shells have two parts: the top (called the carapace) and the bottom (called the plastron). The shell is covered with hard plates called scutes, made of the same material as your fingernails. These scutes form rings as the turtle gets older, and just like the rings on a tree, you can sometimes count them to get an idea of how old the turtle is. Turtles can’t take off their shells like a backpack because their shells are connected to their ribs.
Box turtles are special because they have a cool trick to stay safe from predators. They can lock themselves completely inside their shell! When a box turtle feels threatened, it pulls in its head, legs, and tail, and a hinge on the bottom part of its shell allows it to close up tightly like a box—hence the name "box turtle." This makes it very hard for predators to get to the soft parts of their bodies. Some turtles have even developed brightly colored shells to help them blend in with their surroundings or warn predators that they might taste bad!
