Turtles live aquatic lives, but there are varieties that live in freshwater and other that live

in salt water. With the exception of the marine leatherback turtle all turtles have hard shells which are considered among the most typical of the characteristics. They are adapted to aquatic life. They lack toes and have paddlelike feet that enable them to swim at speeds of approximately twenty miles per hour. Nearly all varieties of aquatic turtles are considered endangered at this time. The largest have been measured weighing as much as eleven hundred pounds. Tortoises are adapted for living on land. They have large boxlike shells that extend upward further than the aquatic turtles more streamlined shape. They also have toes, though their toes are reduced compared to the pronounced fingers of other animals. Turtles in general have long lives, but tortoises have extraordinary life spans compared to humans. There have been instances of tortoises living as long as one hundred and fifty years. They have been recorded with she lls larger than four feet.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ALLIGATORS AND CROCODILES The two are often confused, but visually crocs and alligators are quite different. Alligators have a very broad, wide snout, and crocodiles have a narrower snout and jaw. Also crocodiles often have a lower tooth that juts out noticeably, while an alligator's fourth tooth is hidden. WHERE THEY LIVE Crocodilians are a cold-blooded species, and require an average temperature of approximately 80 degrees Fahrenheit to survive. This being the case, they are found on warmer continents that have swampy or humid conditions for at least part of the season. The American alligator lives almost exclusively in the lower southeast regions of North America, from the Carolinas to Texas. The caiman, a smaller species of crocodiles, populate a large section of southern Mexico, Central and South America. The Chinese alligator lives in the lower Yangtze valley in China. The American crocodile is scattered throughout the Everglades and Florida Keys, and in Mexico and Central America. The African Nile crocodile is one of the most notorious, often growing as large as 16 to 20 feet in length. Southeast Asia has the Indo-Pacific crocodile, which lives in Indonesia, to the Philippines, and Australia. .

APPEARANCE & TRAITS All crocodilians have webbed feet, which are a defined mark to their life in water. They also have very tough, or armored skin, which is actually an overlapped set of scales. These scales help to protect the salt-water croc and alligators from the harsh salinity of the sea. The eyes and nostrils are set up high on the head and snout to allow it to keep its main body submerged while still being able to breathe and view their surroundings with ease. Crocodiles have a vertical pupil that allows them to hunt effectively at night. Crocodilians have an excellent sense of smell and hearing. Their jaws are enormously powerful, but only on the downward bite, which give the croc that infamous snap, like a spring-loaded hinge. Their teeth continue to grow their entire life. If they lose or break one off, another will soon grow to replace it. They also shed their teeth periodically, whether or not theres been damage. Their broad, heavily muscled tail assists them in swimming smoothly and quickly. Even though they have short legs, they can move surprisingly fast on dry land. Alligators and crocodiles can live up to fifty years of age on average. Like snakes, crocodilians lay eggs. Some species build nests of debris and earth, while others excavate holes for their offspring. All species lay their eggs on land, near water but well above the water line. The eggs hatch anywhere from two to three months after being layed. Although the mother may lay as may as fifty eggs, few of the baby crocodilian will survive to adult hood. They are prey for many other animals, from birds to fish.