5 Things You Didn't Know About Turtles

Whether you're thinking of getting a turtle as a pet or have had one for years, you may not have heard these 5 interesting facts about this beloved reptile.

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Fact 1

Turtles don’t have ears, but they’re not deaf. Thin flaps of skin cover internal ear bones, which receive vibrations and low-frequency sounds.

Fact 2

Water turtles generally live 30-40 years. But box turtles and tortoises can live between 50-100 years.

Fact 3

Most turtle shells are made up of 60 different bones that are all fused together.

Fact 4

To make room inside their shells, turtles sometimes exhale air out of their lungs, making a hissing sound.

Fact 5

Most turtles are omnivore, meaning they eat a mixture of prey and vegetables. Meat options include crickets, mealworms or comet goldfish. Veggie choices include dark leafy greens like kale, collard greens or mustard greens.