TURTLES

"As you can see from the examples in front of you, turtles are among the most improbable looking creatures, with their two broad shells enclosing a hidden body. But this protection has served them well and they have occupied terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems for hundreds of millions of years. Turtles live mostly in freshwater, but a number of species can be found in marine habitats. Some species, especially the tortoises, have largely abandoned aquatic environments, and inhabit a wide variety of terrestrial habitats. For hundreds of years turtles have been persecuted for food, oil, for their shells, and as pets. Consequently, some species, mostly island forms, have become extinct and others teeter on the brink of extinction. "