TURTLES
My Poem	by Bobby R.

Turtles have lived on Earth for more than 200 million years. Even before there were dinosaurs, there were turtles. Dinosaurs became extinct, but turtles survived. Now there are about 250 species of turtles, grouped into 9 families. Some turtles live on land, some in fresh water, and a few kinds of turtles live in the sea. All turtles live in temperate or tropical climates.

Turtles are reptiles. Reptiles are animals that are cold-blooded, have skin and/or scales, have lungs to breathe, and hatch from eggs. Turtles have a hard upper shell, called a carapace. Usually, turtles can pull their head and legs inside the carapace for protection. Turtles also have a lower shell called a plastron.

Turtles range in size from small freshwater box turtles that are no more that six inches long to large seagoing leatherback turtles that reach a length of eight feet. Turtles are omnivores. That means that they eat both plant and animal matter. Turtles can live a long time. Some turtles live as long as 50 years.

Turtles do not take care of their babies. They dig a hole in the sand, lay their eggs in the hole, and cover them with sand. Then the turtle goes away and leaves her eggs to hatch on their own. When the babies hatch, they make their way to the water all by themselves. Turtles are born able to take care of themselves.

The biggest danger to turtles is from people. More than 30 different kinds of turtles are considered endangered species. People have hunted turtles for their meat and to make jewelry from their shells. Turtle eggs have been gathered for food, and some kinds of turtles have been captured to be exotic pets. The worst problem is destruction of turtle habitat. People are doing things that damage the places where turtles live, so that the turtles can't live there anymore. When that happens the turtles die, because they can't learn how to live somewhere else.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. YOUR BIG BACKYARD, February, 1995.

2. Grolier Electronic Publishing, Inc., 1995

3. INFOPEDIA, 1995

4. Random House Children's Encyclopedia, 1991

5. Encyclopedia International, 1969