Your fun guide to selecting, caring, and loving your turtle or tortoise! Coexisting with a turtle or tortoise may not be a warm and fuzzy experience, but it definitely has its rewards. And with more than 250 species to choose from, you’re bound to find one that’s right for you. Looks-wise, they can range from very plain and unadorned to a brightly colored and embellished with every manner of crest, crown, spike, and dewlap. As for personality, you’d be amazed at how very different they can be, ranging from shy and withdrawn, to outgoing and friendly, to outright aggressive. And when it comes to longevity, well, let’s just say that when you commit to a turtle or tortoise, you’re in it for the long haul. For example, the standard American box turtle can live more than 125 years, a leopard tortoise has a life span of up to 100 years, and an aldabran tortoise can live to be more than 200 years old! This fun guide will help you choose the perfect turtle or tortoise for your lifestyle and give it the care it needs to thrive. Turtle and tortoise expert Liz Palika provides cl ear, step-by-step instructions on how to: Select the appropriate turtle or tortoise Provide a suitable environment for your new pal Care for a variety of chelonian (turtle and tortoise) species Supply you pet with a satisfying and healthy diet Create an indoor or outdoor home Understand your turtle’s or tortoise’s special needs Generously illustrated with line drawings and high-quality photographs, Turtles & Tortoises For Dummies covers all the bases. Topics covered include: Deciding whether a turtle or tortoise is right for you Choosing between a turtle and tortoise Who’s Who of turtles and tortoises—a complete guide to dozens of species, where they’re from, what they’re like, and how they are as pets Creating a safe and healthy environment for your pet Recognizing and treating common health problems and finding a good veterinarian to help you care for your chelonian Turtles & Tortoises For Dummies is your fun guide to selecting, caring for, and sharing your life with a chelonian. P.S. If you think this book seems familiar, you’re probably right. The Dummies team updated the cover and design to give the book a fresh feel, but the content is the same as the previous release of Turtles and Tortoises For Dummies (9780764553134). The book you see here shouldn’t be considered a new or updated product. But if you’re in the mood to learn something new, check out some of our other books. We’re always writing about new topics!

Featuring in-depth contributions from an international team of experts, the Biology of Turtles provides the first comprehensive review of the Testudinata. The book starts with the premise that the structure of turtles is particularly interesting and best understood within the context of their development, novelty, functional diversity, and e

Coexisting with a turtle or tortoise may not be a warm and fuzzy experience, but it definitely has its rewards. And with more than 250 species to choose from, you’re bound to find one that’s right for you. Looks-wise, they can range from very plain and unadorned to a brightly colored and embellished with every manner of crest, crown, spike, and dewlap. As for personality, you’d be amazed at how very different they can be, ranging from shy and withdrawn, to outgoing and friendly, to outright aggressive. And when it comes to longevity, well, let’s just say that when you commit to a turtle or tortoise, you’re in it for the long haul. For example, the standard American box turtle can live more than 125 years, a leopard tortoise has a life span of up to 100 years, and an aldabran tortoise can live to be more than 200 years old! This fun guide will help you choose the perfect turtle or tortoise for your lifestyle and give it the care it needs to thrive. Turtle and tortoise expert Liz Palika provides cl ear, step-by-step instructions on how to: Select the appropriate turtle or tortoise Provide a suitable environment for your new pal Care for a variety of chelonian (turtle and tortoise) species Supply you pet with a satisfying and healthy diet Create an indoor or outdoor home Understand your turtle’s or tortoise’s special needs Generously illustrated with line drawings and high-quality photographs, Turtles & Tortoises For Dummies covers all the bases. Topics covered include: Deciding whether a turtle or tortoise is right for you Choosing between a turtle and tortoise Who’s Who of turtles and tortoises—a complete guide to dozens of species, where they’re from, what they’re like, and how they are as pets Creating a safe and healthy environment for your pet Recognizing and treating common health problems and finding a good veterinarian to help you care for your chelonian Turtles & Tortoises For Dummies is your fun guide to selecting, caring for, and sharing your life with a chelonian.

A fascinating introduction to the biology, life cycle, and behavior of turtles Land turtles, aquatic turtles, snappers, tortoises, and softshells Features an identification guide to 22 North American species Turtles are thought to be the oldest and most primitive of all living reptiles. This Wild Guide goes beyond the cursory knowledge that many people have about turtles, explaining the physical adaptations that allow a creature to live inside a hard protective shell. It explores the astonishing range of habitats occupied by different species of turtles in North America and examines feeding, reproduction, and hibernation in turtles. It gives tips on how to observe turtles and suggests ways in which people can help turtles survive and thrive in the wild.

An introduction for young readers on the basics of how to care for a pet turtle. Bright photos and clear, simple text lay the foundation for children to take greater responsibility and a more active role in their pets' lives. Additional features include a table of contents, a glossary of key words and phrases, a fun-facts section, a list of needs and dangers to the pet, and sources for further research.

Offers advice and information on the care of turtles, including the various types of turtles, nutrition, exercise, grooming, and training.

Seventy-five percent of the turtle species in the United States can be found in the Southeast. In fact, the region is second only to parts of Asia in its number of native turtles. Filled with more than two hundred color photographs and written with a special focus on conservation, this guide covers forty-five species of this nonthreatening, ancient lineage of long-lived reptiles. Heavily illustrated, fact-filled descriptions of each species and its habitat comprise the heart of the book. Species accounts cover such information as descriptions of adults and hatchlings; key identifiers including size, distinctive characters and markings; land, river, pond, and wetland habitats; behaviors and activities; food and diet; reproduction; predators and defense; and conservation issues. Also included is a wealth of general information about the importance of turtle conservation and the biology, diversity, and life history of turtles. Discussed are distinguishing turtle characteristics; differences among turtles, tortoises, and terrapins; shell structure and architecture; reproduction and longevity; turtle predators and defense mechanisms; and turtle activities such as basking, hibernation, aestivation, and seasonal movement. Useful information about the interactions of humans and turtles is also covered: species that are likely to be commonly encountered, turtles as pets, and more. Clearly written, cleanly designed, and fun to use, the guide will promote a better understanding of the habitat needs of, and environmental challenges to, this fascinating group of animals. Features: In-depth descriptions of the forty-two native species Conservation-oriented approach More than two hundred color photographs Nearly forty distribution maps Clear descriptions of each species, including differences in the appearance of young and mature turtles “Did You Know?” sidebars of interesting turtle facts Size charts; key identifiers; and information about habitat, behavior and activity, food and feeding, reproduction, predators and defense, and conservation

With a friendly mix of scientific analysis and basic encyclopedic coverage, Gibbons and Greene discuss a broad range of turtle topics, including behavior, ecology, reproduction and development, turtle-human relationships, and the appearance of turtles in popular literature.

Titles in this series present basic information on reptiles plus specific instructions for their care. Each book opens with a description of the animal as it exists in its natural habitat, then continues with information on its life cycle and distribution in nature. Readers then get advice on selecting a good specimen, determining sex, and providing proper housing, feeding, and health care. Books are heavily illustrated with instructive color photos.