Tortoises are land turtles that live in a variety of habitats, ranging from deserts to rain forests, in parts of Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Madagascar and islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
Scientific Name:Testudinidae
Characteristics: Tortoises have thick, short legs and a heavy carapace, or shell. Their coloring ranges from dull grays and browns to brighter shades of yellow and green. Tortoises come in a wide range of sizes, depending on the species.
Size: 8.5" L x 4.5" W
History
Tortoises have been around for millions of years. In fact, the oldest tortoise fossils date back to the Eocene Period, which was 34 to 56 million years ago. Over the years, some species have experienced widespread habitation loss, leading to significant population declines.