Turtles are animals belonging to the reptile family. They don't have external ears, and their skin is covered with scales so as to protect them and regulate their temperature. Some turtles are able to breath through their skin. They don't have teeth, and have a beak instead. The life expectancy of a turtle is around 50 years old but some of them live until 100 years old. The longevity record was reached by a giant turtle from the Seychelles that lived during 255 years.

At the birth of a turtle, the gender of the animal can not be distinguished yet. They have to be dissected to know if they are male or female. Once adult, the male's shell is concave at the level of the stomach whereas it is convex for the females. Sometimes, the claws are curved and long for the males and straight and short for the females. Most of the time, the male's tail is much bigger than the female's one.

The diet of turtles mainly depends on its specie. Some of them are herbivorous, while others are omnivorous or carnivorous. Female turtles usually dig a hole with their bottom paws so as to put their eggs until they hatch. They usually lay eggs once a year, but they can sometimes lay twice.