Turtles, tortoises and terrapins are all names used for hard-shelled, egg-laying reptiles. This month's River Life column tells their stories.

Turtles, tortoises and terrapins are all names used for hard-shelled, egg-laying reptiles. This month's River Life column tells their stories.

“All animals with a backbone and a shell are turtles,” says Jeffrey Lovich, Research Ecologist at the U.S. Geological Survey, so it’s an umbrella term used for turtles, tortoises, and terrapins.

Unlike turtles and terrapins, tortoises live strictly on land. They have thick, sturdy legs to support their weight, like elephants. The size and weight of tortoises can vary significantly, ...

State regulators are set to hear from petitioners seeking to require terrapin excluder devices on crab cages next week. The ...

The Diamondback terrapin, the state reptile, deserves a place on the federal endangered species list, a group of concerned scientists says. ... and it keeps 94% of the turtles out.

Turtles, tortoises and terrapins are all names used for hard-shelled, egg-laying reptiles. This month's River Life column tells their stories.