Tortue

Tortue, or turtle, is a reptile of the order Testudines. Turtles are characterized by a bony shell consisting of a carapace on the back and a plastron on the belly, which shields the body. The shell is fused to the skeleton, and most species can retract their head and limbs when threatened. There are two major suborders, Cryptodira and Pleurodira, and they include both land-dwelling tortoises and aquatic sea and freshwater turtles.

Habitats vary widely: terrestrial tortoises inhabit dry, often arid regions; freshwater turtles live in rivers, lakes, and wetlands; marine turtles inhabit oceans and coastal areas, some migrating long distances between feeding and nesting sites. Turtles occur on many landmasses and in various climates, though Antarctica remains unsuitable for them.

Diet ranges from herbivorous feeding on leaves, fruit, and grasses to omnivorous and carnivorous diets that include invertebrates, fish, and carrion, depending on species and habitat. Reproduction is generally oviparous; females lay eggs on beaches or riverbanks and often exhibit multiple nesting events per season. In many species, incubation temperature influences the sex of hatchlings. Hatchlings face high mortality and receive little or no parental care after nesting.

Conservation concerns include habitat loss, hunting for meat and shells, bycatch in fisheries, pollution, and climate change. Many turtle and tortoise species are listed as threatened or endangered by the IUCN. Protection measures encompass habitat preservation, protected areas, bycatch reduction devices, captive breeding programs, and international trade controls, alongside public education to reduce demand and distortion of ecosystems.