5.13.2009

Tortoise


This is another photo by Jennifer Catron - my cousin's wife. She took some great shots at The San Diego zoo. I'll be sharing a few of these photos over the next few days. The zoo in itself is worth a trip to San Diego. It's world famous! Please visit the link to the zoo, especially if you have kids as there is a lot of interesting interactive activities for them to learn by.

Turtle, tortoise, and terrapin: what’s the difference?

Turtle— Spends most of its life in the water. Turtles tend to have webbed feet for swimming. Sea turtles (Cheloniidae family) are especially adapted for an aquatic life, with long feet that form flippers and a streamlined body shape. They rarely leave the ocean, except when the females come ashore to lay their eggs. Other turtles live in fresh water, like ponds and lakes. They swim, but they also climb out onto banks, logs, or rocks to bask in the sun. In cold weather, they may burrow into the mud, where they go into torpor until spring brings warm weather again.

Tortoise— A land-dweller that eats low-growing shrubs, grasses, and even cactus. Tortoises do not have webbed feet. Their feet are round and stumpy for walking on land. Tortoises that live in hot, dry habitats use their strong legs to dig burrows. Then, when it’s too hot in the sun, they slip underground.

Terrapin— Spends its time both on land and in water, but it always lives near water, along rivers, ponds, and lakes. Terrapins are often found in brackish, swampy areas. The word terrapin comes from an Indian word meaning "a little turtle.”

16 comments:

Lois said...

That is a beautiful animal! Thanks for all the interesting information too.

Lowell said...

Great tortoise. Re: the zoo! Been there, done that, want to do it again and again. 'Tis a superb zoo!

Cezar and Léia said...

wow Dear Nancy!
Many thanks for this wonderful post and for the clue about the Zoo! FAbulous!
When I was a kid, I had a "Terrapin".In fact I was not sure about it but know seen you post and all interested information I'm sure "he was a terrapin".Anyway I love turtles, tortoise and terrapins! They are beautiful and lovely! My terrapin died and in that time mommy said he run away... :-( but now I know he died in fact.
I would love to visit this Zoo and my daughter Marina had never visit a Zoo, I'm sure she should be fascinated with this Zoo there! Who knows...some day !!!!!
Now I must run to take Marina at school.It's just time!Bye....
Kind regards
Léia

Rob said...

Well, now I know, thanks! Plenty of turtles up here.

Marie-Noyale said...

Thanks for the explanation!
A little camera shy..
Look at those feet!

Bergson said...

great shot : I love the framing

Janet said...

Looks like a giant!

Unknown said...

Thank you for letting me know the differences regarding the names of these fantastic animals.
Great shot!

Becky said...

I LOVE the San Diego Zoo! I used to live down in that area (as a kid), and that was one of my favourite places to go. Of course, I also loved Sea World and the Wild Animal Park, as well. I'm looking forward to more photos. I hope to get down there to visit the park myself again one of these days. Perhaps with my own kids.

Unknown said...

It's great to see all these animal photos and the great photo opt you can have in the Zoo.

AB said...

That is a very majestic looking tortoise.

nanak said...

thanks for the information.
this is an interesting post.
You've been tagged here

airplane5312 said...

A rather reserved fella.

Barb said...

wow,great shot and as always great info.Hope you are doing well....Barb

~Cheryl said...

Wow. That is one big dude!

Drawn to The Sea said...

Oh goodness.
I read "This is another photo OF Jennifer Catron - my cousin's wife"... result of a long day, I guess.

Great photos!