Cape May County

Turtles and Tortoises

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Chelonia

All turtles and tortoises live out their entire lives inside their shells. The top of a shell is called a Carapace, while the bottom is referred to as the Plastron. Turtle are actually very different from tortoises. Turtles live in or near the water, they tend to have claws and webbed feet for swimming, they shells are compressed flat for swimming and they are carnivores. While tortoises live on land, have toes for walking, their shells are high and domed shaped and are herbivores.

Suborder: Cryptodirans
Family: Testudinidae
African Spur Thigh Tortoise
African Spurred Tortoise (Geochelone sulcata) is the largest mainland living tortoise in the world. As the Galapagos and Aldabra tortoise both live on islands.

The Pancake Tortoise (Malacochersus tornieri) can be found at elevations of 100 feet above sea level in rocky terrain in West Africa. Their flattened shell and strong fore arms allow this animal to wedge itself into a tight rocky area, making itself almost irremovable.

Family: Geoemydidae

The Yellow Marginated Box Turtle (Cuora flavomarginata) is as Endangered Species. We are working with the Turtle Survival Alliance studying group ability of this species. Look under the Conservation effort on The Reptile and Amphibian Page for more information.

Suborder: Pleurodirans
Family: Chelidae

Australian Snake Neck Turtles (Chlodina longicollis) fold their neck in sideways instead of pulling them straight back into their shell for protection. All Snake Necks are either right handed or left, meaning they fold their neck up in one direction but not both.

To see a complete list of all
turtles and tortoises located at our zoo,
please visit the Animal Fact Page.