Turtles and Tortoises

Fülszöveg

People everywhere marvel at the complex life process contained beneath the shell of the turtle. In Turtles and Tortoises, you w^ill observe, through beautiful photographs and lively, easy-to-understand text, the anatomy and attributes of the Chelonian order.
Turtles and Tortoises will take you on a photographic journey, observing many of the most popular and unusual turtles in the world, from the giant Galapagos tortoise to side-necked turtles to the arrau turtle, now on the endangered species list.
Finally, Turtles and Tortoises will tell you the perilous state of many turtles all over the world, and inform you how you can help in the fight to save them.
Turtles Tortoises
The turtle is a remarkable creature, unique in containing its entire physiology within its shell. Thriving in habitats as diverse as the open sea and the arid desert, the turtle's solitary disposition and its variation in coloration and shell texture has intrigued mankind for thousands of years.
Now, you... Tovább

Fülszöveg

People everywhere marvel at the complex life process contained beneath the shell of the turtle. In Turtles and Tortoises, you w^ill observe, through beautiful photographs and lively, easy-to-understand text, the anatomy and attributes of the Chelonian order.
Turtles and Tortoises will take you on a photographic journey, observing many of the most popular and unusual turtles in the world, from the giant Galapagos tortoise to side-necked turtles to the arrau turtle, now on the endangered species list.
Finally, Turtles and Tortoises will tell you the perilous state of many turtles all over the world, and inform you how you can help in the fight to save them.
Turtles Tortoises
The turtle is a remarkable creature, unique in containing its entire physiology within its shell. Thriving in habitats as diverse as the open sea and the arid desert, the turtle's solitary disposition and its variation in coloration and shell texture has intrigued mankind for thousands of years.
Now, you can observe turtle and tortoise species firsthand in this photographic survey of their world. Author John Lehrer first takes an in-depth look at the physiology of the turtle— its shell, neck, skull, and skin—in easy-to-understand language. He also examines the fundamentals of turtle anatomy, including the differences between males and females; their courtship and mating practices; nest-building, egg-laying, and hatching; feeding habits, and other processes necessary for the turtle to live. Included are sections on the evolution of the reptile family and the Chelonian order, which contains all turtles and tortoises.
The individual attributes of the many different families, genuses, and species of turtles are explored in a section entitled "Turtles of the World." Containing photographs of many of the most popular and unusual turtles and tortoises—from the large, aggressive snapping turtles to the slow-moving, mostly docile mud turtles, from soft-shell turtles to the semi-aquatic painted turtles, this comprehensive survey enables you to clearly see the differences between the species. Also included in this section are the most remarkable of the turtle species—the Leatherback, which can grow as long as eight feet (2.4 meters) and weigh as much as 1,500 pounds (560 kilograms); the Galapagos tortoise, the largest land turtles; and terrapins, box turtles, and cooters.
Finally, John Lehrer delves into the relationship between turtles and man, a relationship that is becoming more strained as time goes on. The turtle has been a part of the cultural
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history of people the world over for centuries. In ancient myths and legends the turtle was revered as a symbol of strength, benevolence, and wisdom. Today, many species are being destroyed through greed, abuse, overdevelopment of nesting sites, and pollution. As we enter the twenty-first century, we must begin to reverse this trend, or many of the turtle species we know today will be gone. Presented here are ways everyone can get involved in helping to save these beautiful, revered reptiles. Included are the names and addresses of organizations and conservation groups to contact for information on vanishing turtle species.
The absorbing appeal of these creatures is undeniable. If you are a nature lover or an admirer of beautiful photography, then Turtles and Tortoises is the book for you. Beautifully illustrated, truly enlightening, this book will fascinate you time and time again.
About the Author
John Lehrer is an editor and freelance writer living in Southern California. He has written The Complete Guide to Choosing a Performance Bicycle (Running Press, 1988), plus numerous articles on health and fitness for national magazines. This is his first book on natural sciences.
Jacket design by S.E. Livingston Vissza