Question 1: What species of tortoise is seen in today’s image?
- Indian star
- Hermann’s
- Texas
Correct Answer: Indian star
Fact: Indian star tortoises are native to Pakistan and Sri Lanka, as well as to India. They favor scrub forests and dry environments. Due to poaching and habitat loss, this species is listed as ‘vulnerable’ on the IUCN Red List.
Question 2: What is the main difference between turtles and tortoises?
- Absolutely nothing
- They live on different continents
- Tortoises live exclusively on land
Correct Answer: Tortoises live exclusively on land
Fact: Tortoises are a type of turtle. However, unlike other turtles, tortoises are land animals, inhabiting a variety of climates around the world, from deserts to wet tropical forests.
Question 3: What is the largest living species of turtle?
- Alligator snapping turtle
- Leatherback sea turtle
- Galápagos giant tortoise
Correct Answer: Leatherback sea turtle
Fact: This species of sea turtle is the largest turtle and one of the heaviest reptiles, weighing up to 1,100 pounds. While other sea turtles have hard, bony shells, the leatherback is named after its slightly more flexible shell, made up of small bones covered in a rubbery tissue. This shell can withstand extreme pressure deep in the ocean.