Turtle

Turtles are reptiles of the order Chelonii or Testudines characterised by a special bony or cartilaginous shell developed from their ribs and acting as a shield. Turtle may refer to the chelonian order as a whole (American English) or to freshwater and seadwelling chelonians (British English).The order Chelonii or Testudines includes both extant (living) and extinct species. The earliest known turtles date from 220 million years ago,making turtles one of the oldest reptile groups and a more ancient group than lizards, snakes or crocodiles. Of the many species alive today, some are highly endangered.Turtles are ectotherms