Terrific Turtles
What does a turtle’s shell do besides provide protection? At Arcadia’s Turtle Time, children ages 5–12 can explore this question while observing live turtles and learning about their behavior, habitat needs, and anatomy. Turtles have one of the most unusual skeletons in the animal kingdom; their ribcage and spine are fused into their shell, placing their hips and shoulders inside. Paired with a short video on turtle biology, this event supports curiosity in herpetology and encourages learning about animal physiology and adaptive strategies through the lens of turtles.
How might a turtle’s unusual anatomy help it survive in environments where oxygen is scarce, and what can that teach us about adaptation in other species?
