Tortoise Essay: Tortoises are cold-blooded which means they like to live in a warm environment. They belong to a family of turtles and can be found in many regions. There are many species of tortoises and every species is different from one other. It is said that they can live up to many years and are known for their strong shells and slow speed. So let’s know some interesting facts about this reptile.
Long and Short Essays on Tortoise for Students and Kids in English
A long essay of 450-500 words has been provided it is useful for students in classes 7, 8, 9, and 10. For the reference of students in Classes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, a short essay of 100-150 words has been provided.
Long Essay on Tortoise 500 Words in English
Tortoise is a reptile that belongs to a family called Testudinidae. They consist of a shell that protects them from other predators. The shell is very hard to penetrate and like others in the family, they retract their head and other parts in the shell to protect themselves. Tortoises are different from one another in the matter of size and shape. There are around 49 species of tortoise that you will find all over the world like Galapagos Tortoise, Indian Star Tortoise, Red-Footed Tortoise, and many more. Tortoises are the longest living animal in the world as they can live up to 100-150 years. They are slow reptiles with an average speed of 0.2-0.5 km/h. every specie of tortoise are different in shape and size. They are known to live on the ground and when they sense any danger, they hide in their shell. Their shell is very solid and with the colour of the shell, you can tell their origin.
Talking about the diet of the tortoises, then they are herbivores in nature and their diet consists of plants, fruits, flowers and other plant-based items. They have no teeth but a beak to eat and instead of ears, they have two holes on the side of their ears to hear the surroundings. Tortoises are generally shy in nature and they tend to stay active during the day and rest at night. It is said that all tortoises are turtles but all turtles are not tortoises. The difference between them is that tortoises have round shells whereas turtles have thinner and water dynamic shells. Tortoise are believed to live longer than the turtles as tortoise can live up to 150 years.
Tortoises spend most of their time on land and turtles spend most of the time on the water. Tortoises have both an endoskeleton and exoskeleton structure. When we see the structure of the shell properly then we will notice that the shell consists of 3 parts i.e. top carapace, the bottom plastron, and the bridges which help in connecting these parts. The scales on the carapace are known as scutes which are made of keratin. Keratin is a protein of which our fingernails are made up of.
Tortoises which are found in the warm and hot regions have lighter shells. On the other hand, tortoises which are found in the colder region have heavy and darker shells. One of the interesting facts about the tortoise is that they empty their lungs while going into the shell as they are extremely tolerant of carbon dioxide. They have existed since 300 million years ago, which is the same duration as dinosaurs. You can tell the age of the tortoise by looking at the rings present at their scutes. They are cold-blooded which means they like a warm environment. The shell of the tortoise is hard but sensitive also they can feel every touch, rub, and scratch on their shells. The female tortoise can lay eggs even with the male tortoise.
Short Essay on Tortoise 150 words in English
Tortoise is considered to be a symbol of Hermes, an ancient Greek god. They are known for their shy nature and belong to a family called Testudinidae. It is believed that all tortoises are turtles but all turtles are not tortoises. The main difference between tortoise and turtle is that turtles are mostly water-based reptiles whereas tortoises spend most of their time on the ground. The diet of the tortoises includes plant-based items like leaves, flowers, and fruits. The shell of the tortoise is very hard and it is used to protect itself from other predators. The hearing ability of the tortoises is very sharp as they can hear far off and low sounds too. They like to spend their time in a warm environment as they are cold-blooded. Tortoises listen to the sounds of their surroundings through the two holes that are present on the side of their skull.
10 Lines on Tortoise Essay in English
- Tortoise belongs to a family called Testudinidae.
- They are found in many continents except Australia and Antarctica.
- There are around 49 species of tortoise with different shapes and sizes.
- The shells of tortoises were used by the ancient Chinese people as oracle bones.
- Tortoise is a symbol of Hermes, an ancient Greek god.
- The top shell of the tortoise is very hard and solid which protects them from predators.
- Tortoises have a beak and two small holes on the side of the head which helps them to hear.
- The shell of the tortoise is covered with scutes which are made of keratin.
- Tortoises are herbivores in nature.
- A tortoise can live up to 150 years.
FAQ’s on Tortoise Essay
Question 1: How many species of tortoises are there in the world?
Answer: There are around 49 species of tortoises present in the world.
Question 2: Tortoises belong to which family?
Answer: Tortoises belong to a family called Testudinidae of the order Testudines.
Question 3: What is the diet of Tortoise?
Answer: The diet of tortoises consists of fruits, leaves, and flowers.