posted by Tree Frog Treks! on Sep 18
Dear Mr. Science,
Why do turtles hide? Ivan is nice when he is not hiding.
Max, age 6
Hi Max,
That’s a great question! Turtles and tortoises hide in their shells to keep safe. They hide to protect themselves from predators or other animals that may hurt them. Sulcata Tortoises, like Ivan, have SUPER armored scales on their front legs and when they are scared they hide in their strong shells, pull in their front legs across their face for protection. This makes them hard to attack or get hurt. Aquatic turtles also hide in their shells to stop themselves from drying out in the sun. Turtles and tortoises sometimes sleep inside their shells but not on a regular basis.The image above is of Ivan taken at Summer Camp this year. Ivan is one of the nicest animals we have at Tree Frog Treks if not the nicest. He loves wandering around the office and at the park, and enjoys eating his leafy greens. He is about 20 years old and can live to be 100 years in age!!!
Keep those questions coming!
GET OUT and GET DIRTY!
Mr. Science (aka Chris)
Do you or your child have a science or reptile related question for Mr. Science? If so, please leave it in comments.
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