There is so little difference between turtles and tortoises that they should probably all have the same name. But in general, those living along ocean beaches or close to other water are called turtles, and those with homes in deserts or on land elsewhere are known as tortoises. None have teeth but very effectively use their sharp-hooked beaks and sharp edges of their mouths as good substitutes.
All lay eggs in nests dug in sand or soft earth by females using their hind feet. They lay from a handful to 100 eggs or more, covering them carefully and leaving them to incubate in the warmth of the sun. Hatching, the babies dig their little bodies out of the nest and are "on their own," for the mother has forgotten all about them. Those that survive such enemies as skunks, raccoons, snakes, large birds, etc., may live for 50 years or longer.
One called the wood turtle should perhaps be called a tortoise, for it wanders far into forest lands during summer but hibernates under water in winter. This is one of the larger turtles and carries a large olive-green shell with spiderweb-like patterns all over it.
Another, known as the spotted turtle, likes to stay near wet areas in searching for food and making its home. It got its name from the bright yellow spots that appear all over its coal-black shell.
One from Mexico, protected from hunting by the government, is the Bolson tortoise, weighing up to 30 pounds. It has an unusually heavy, wrinkly looking, yellow shell and armor-like plates on its forelegs. It digs a 20-foot-long burrow with the spade-like feet and sharp claws of its front legs, going right through hard soil without difficulty. The long burrow is a nice retreat from both the heat and cold of Mexico's climate. It gets along fine in its waterless surroundings, never needing a drink, for the Creator has arranged for it to get all the moisture it needs from the plants and vegetation it eats.
The more we study God's creation, the more our attention is drawn to the great variety in His handiwork.
Different species of bees, ants, bears, deer, turtles and many others tell us of His pleasure in creating them—alike, but different! Let us always remember that no creature ever appeared by chance -all were created in the Lord God's infinite wisdom and for His pleasure. "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created." Rev. 4:1111Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. (Revelation 4:11).
Turtles and Tortoises
In the rivers of the Mississippi Valley, the alligator snapping turtle makes its home. Measuring about four feet from its snout to the end of its tail and weighing about 150 pounds, it is considered the ugliest and most dangerous of all turtles. Three rows of rough bony ridges run from front to back on its yellowish top shell. In the water it makes its meals of frogs, fish, worms and even small turtles and is swift as a rattlesnake in capturing them. It does not attack humans unless annoyed, but its immense jaws could bite a man's arm or foot off.
It has an interesting way of catching fish. Lying in a quiet spot at the bottom of a stream or pond, its wide-open mouth exposes a tongue on which a piece of pink flesh, looking like an angle-worm, wriggles back and forth. This makes an effective bait, attracting small fish which hope to make a meal of the "worm." So right into the turtle's mouth one swims, and you guessed it—instead of getting a meal, it becomes a meal.
Another interesting one is the gopher tortoise, named for the extra-long tunnel it digs with a roomy den at the end. It sometimes shares this den with a gopher, frog, an owl, snake or raccoon, getting along very peacefully with them while in the den. This tortoise's black shell gives the appearance of lumps of coal glued together.
One unusual turtle is the Matamata of South America. Its rather flat shell has hard spikes over the top to discourage predators. It has a long neck and pointed head Turtles and Tortoises and paralyzes its prey by dousing it with a mouthful of poisonous spray.
A book could be written about these strange animals, but we have space for just one more, the eastern box turtle. Its high brown shell is decorated with tan figures, some of which look like letters of the alphabet. This shell provides an unusual amount of security, for the turtle can completely draw its head, tail and legs under it, with further protection from a flexible seal all around where the top shell meets the under shell. The underside hinges in the middle so it can box itself in tightly.
The Creator has given each turtle and tortoise just the right equipment for the conditions under which it lives, and the opening Bible verse expresses that this wisdom and power, beyond our ability to fully understand, comes from Him. Each of us should often thank Him for His love and goodness to us in so many ways. But we should particularly thank Him for the death of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, on Calvary's cross that has provided salvation to all who put their trust in Him and know Him as their Lord and Savior.