Testudines

Also known as turtles, tortoises, Chelonia, chelonians, chelonian

Turtles (order Testudines) are reptiles characterized by a special shell developed mainly from their ribs. Modern turtles are divided into two major groups, the Pleurodira (side necked turtles) and Cryptodira (hidden necked turtles), which differ in the way the head retracts. There are 360 living and recently extinct species of turtles, including land-dwelling tortoises and freshwater terrapins. They are found on most continents, some islands and, in the case of sea turtles, much of the ocean. Like other amniotes (reptiles, birds, and mammals) they breathe air and do not lay eggs underwater, a

AI overview

Testudines is the scientific order that includes all turtles, a group of reptiles with a distinctive shell made mostly from their ribs that they use to protect their bodies. With about 360 species found across most continents, oceans, and islands, turtles are an important and diverse part of Earth's reptile populations, ranging from land-dwelling tortoises to ocean-dwelling sea turtles.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Species

turtles

Testudines

CLASS

KingdomAnimalia
PhylumChordata
ClassTestudines
OrderTestudines

Habitatmarine, brackish, freshwater

Observations recorded2,081,178

Kura-kura dan penyu adalah hewan bersisik berkaki empat yang termasuk golongan reptil. Bangsa hewan yang disebut (ordo) Testudinata (atau Chelonians) ini khas dan mudah dikenali dengan adanya ‘rumah’ atau batok (bony shell) yang keras dan kaku. Batok kura-kura ini terdiri dari dua bagian. Bagian atas yang menutupi punggung disebut karapas (carapace) dan bagian bawah (ventral, perut) disebut plastron. Kemudian setiap bagiannya ini terdiri dari dua lapis. Lapis luar umumnya berupa sisik-sisik besar dan keras, dan tersusun seperti genting; sementara lapis bagian dalam berupa lempeng-lempeng tulang yang tersusun rapat seperti tempurung. Perkecualian terdapat pada kelompok labi-labi (Trionychoidea) dan jenis penyu belimbing, yang lapis luarnya tiada bersisik dan digantikan lapisan kulit di bagian luar tempurung tulangnya. Dalam bahasa Indonesia, kita mengenal tiga kelompok hewan yang termasuk bangsa ini, yalah penyu (bahasa Inggris: sea turtles), labi-labi atau bulus (freshwater turtles), dan kura-kura (tortoises). Dalam bahasa Inggris, dibedakan lagi antara kura-kura darat (land tortoises) dan kura-kura air tawar (freshwater tortoises atau terrapins).

via GBIF

Research

640 papers

Freshwater aquatic reptiles (Testudines and Crocodylia) as biomonitor models in assessing environmental contamination by inorganic elements and the main analytical techniques used: a review.ReviewEnvironmental monitoring and assessment · 2021Dos Santos RL, de Sousa Correia JM, Dos Santos EMDOI: 10.1007/s10661-021-09212-w
Comparison of the Single-Cell Immune Landscape of Testudines from Different Habitats.Cells · 2022Guo R, Ma G, Zhai X et al.DOI: 10.3390/cells11244023
Slow and negligible senescence among testudines challenges evolutionary theories of senescence.Science (New York, N.Y.) · 2022da Silva R, Conde DA, Baudisch A et al.DOI: 10.1126/science.abl7811
Chondrocranial anatomy of Testudo hermanni (Testudinidae, Testudines) with a comparison to other turtles.Journal of morphology · 2024Mauel C, Leicht L, Broshko Y et al.DOI: 10.1002/jmor.21747
Gastrointestinal parasites of Peltocephalus dumerilianus (Testudines: Podocnemididae) from Jaú National Park, Brazilian Amazon.Revista brasileira de parasitologia veterinaria = Brazilian journal of veterinary parasitology : Orgao Oficial do Colegio Brasileiro de Parasitologia Veterinaria · 2024Menegaldo LR, Arias-Pacheco CA, Perin PP et al.DOI: 10.1590/S1984-29612024013
Growth and life history of freshwater chelydrid turtles (Testudines: Cryptodira): A bone histological approach.Journal of anatomy · 2025Bhat MS, Cullen TMDOI: 10.1111/joa.14130
The hooked element in the pes of turtles (Testudines): a global approach to exploring primary and secondary homology.ReviewJournal of anatomy · 2013Joyce WG, Werneburg I, Lyson TRDOI: 10.1111/joa.12103
Heart morphology during the embryonic development of Podocnemis unifilis Trosquel 1948 (Testudines: Podocnemididae).Anatomical record (Hoboken, N.J. : 2007) · 2023Rocha LIQ, Oliveira MFDS, Dias LC et al.DOI: 10.1002/ar.25041

via PubMed

Wikidata facts

Image: Hawaii turtle 2.JPG

Show 5 more facts

Commons category: Testudines
taxon name: Testudines
taxon common name: فكرون
hashtag: turtle
Commons gallery: Turtle

Sources (5)

via Wikidata · CC0

~52 min read

Article

37 sections

Contents

Naming and etymology
Anatomy and physiology
Size
Shell
Head and neck
Limbs and locomotion
Senses
Breathing
Circulation
Osmoregulation
Thermoregulation
Behavior
Diet and feeding
Communication and intelligence
Defense
Migration
Reproduction and life cycle
Courtship and mounting
Eggs and hatchlings
Lifespan
Systematics and evolution
Fossil history
External relationships
Internal relationships
Differences between the two suborders
Distribution and habitat
Conservation
Human uses
On space flights
In culture
As pets
As food and other uses
See also
References
Citations
Cited sources
External links

Turtle shells are made mostly of bone; the upper part is the domed carapace, while the underside is the flatter plastron or belly-plate. Its outer surface is covered in scales made of keratin, the material of hair, horns, and claws. The carapace bones develop from ribs that grow sideways and develop into broad flat plates that join up to cover the body. Turtles are ectotherms or "cold-blooded", meaning that their internal temperature varies with their direct environment. They are generally opportunistic omnivores and mainly feed on plants and animals with limited movement. Many turtles migrate short distances seasonally. Sea turtles are the only reptiles that migrate long distances to lay their eggs on a favored beach.