One of the oldest reptiles; dating from 215 million years ago, is the turtle.  There are about 300 species of the turtle living today, some of the species being highly endangered.  Just a few examples of species of the turtle include the Terrapin, the Tortoise, and the Sea Turtle.  (Pictures of these species are shown below).  The Tortoise is commonly known as a land turtle, since they spend most of their lives on land, and not in water.

The most popular characteristic of the turtle is their shell.  This is a very important asset to the turtle, keeping them safe from predators.  Turtles cannot come out of these shells.  Their shells are a combination of bone and skin.  Some turtles have softer shells than others, being called "soft-shelled" turtles.  The color of the shell varies; depending upon the species of the turtle, but many colors have been seen including:  black, brown or olive green.  In few species, shells may have yellow, red, grey, or orange markings on the shell -- (not being the main colors).  The Painted Turtle is one of the most colorful species of the turtle -- (picture shown below).

Turtles can make great pets when given the proper care.  The word "expensive" may not come to mind when thinking about having a turtle as a pet, but they are.  Turtles can get to be rather large, so they require a pretty nice-sized glass aquarium, they need special lighting, and a good water filter system as well.  Even if you buy a small turtle, they still require a bigger aquarium, since in the wild they are used to swimming in an endless amount of water.  You will spend the most amount of money in the beginning, but you also should keep in mind, that something in the aquarium or the aquarium accessories could break over time.  You should also take your turtle to a special reptile vet.

Fun Fact:  The largest turtle is the Great Leatherback Sea Turtle, which can reach a weight of over 2,000 pounds!

Here are some YouTube videos about turtles that I enjoyed watching: