Congratulations!!!!! You have decided that turtles are actually worth some of your time!!!!! And I don't care if you're writing a two-page report for punishment--it's great that you're so involved you looked up "sea turtles" on the Net!!!!!
AND IF YOU'RE A TURTLE FAN, YAHOO FOR YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
On to the scientific stuff. If you're writing a report, this is good. If not and you think it's boring, skip it, and head for the juicy stuff.
Turtles come from the following classifications. (For genus and species, please see the entries below, on the links for different types)
Kingdom--Animalia
Animalia includes all animals. It is the most basic form of classification
for SEA TURTLES.
Phylum--Chordata
Chordata includes vertebrates (chordates), which are animals with
a backbone. Should be a pretty obvious one.
Class--Reptilia
Land turtles are reptiles, so it makes sense that sea turtles
are, too! Reptiles have scaly skin, use lungs to breath air, and
possess a heart with three chambers. Most (like SEA TURTLES) lay
eggs.
Order--Testudines
This order encompasses all turtles and tortoises. Divided into
three suborders, it is sobering to realize that someday soon SEA
TURTLES will belong to Suborder Amphichelydia (includes all extinct
species) instead of
Family--Cheloniidae or Dermochelydiae
The leatherback falls under the latter because it has leathery
skin (hence the name). Family Cheloniidae houses the other seven
species, which all have shells covered with horny plates (scutes).>
SPECIFIC TYPES:
| Black turtle Chelonia aggessizi |
| Olive ridley Lepidochelys olivacea |
| Green turtle Chelonia mydas |
| Loggerhead Caretta caretta |
| Hawksbill Eretmochelys imbricita |
|
| Leatherback Dermochelys coriacea |
 | Kemp's ridley Lepidochelys kempii |
| Australian
flatback Natator depressus |
