When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The broad-shelled river turtle (Chelodina expansa) falls into a group known as side-neck turtles.

When we picture sea turtles in the wild, it's easy to envision them as armored warriors—their hard, resilient shells serving as near-impenetrable shields against oceanic threats like sharks. These ...

Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X Here’s something you might not know about tortoises: They have nerve endings in their shells, ...

Dr. Universe: Why can’t sea turtles pull back into their shell? I was at the St. Louis Zoo, and they said tortoises and other turtles can pull back into their shells. – Tyler, 7, Missouri There are ...

Travel back in time to 260 million years ago, just before the dawn of the dinosaur era. Journey to what is now South Africa, and make your way to a river bank. Then, wait. If you’re lucky, you might ...

It's a long-held idea that turtles can tuck their heads into their shells when threatened. But is it true? And is this protective trick why turtles the world over have shells today? The answer is that ...