The fascinating world of unusual turtles and tortoise

At a time when wildlife content regularly goes viral-- from big cat rescues to elephant migration videos-- it’s often the more dramatic animals that catch people’s attention. But there’s a quieter side to nature that’s just as fascinating. Turtles and tortoises, though often overlooked, are among the most interesting creatures in the reptile world. And some of them are far from ordinary.

Across different parts of the world, there are species of turtles and tortoises with truly unexpected features-- some have necks that stretch out longer than their shells, while others have spiked shells or unusually coloured bodies. Many of these species are not widely known but have unique characteristics that make them stand out in the animal kingdom.

Here’s a look at some rare and remarkable turtles and tortoises that prove these slow-moving reptiles have stories worth telling.

Disclaimer: The information in this article is drawn from online sources and ecological studies. Some details may vary depending on species and regions.

Images: Canva (for representative purposes only)

This turtle lives all over Sub-Saharan Africa and even parts of Yemen. It looks like it’s always smiling, but don’t let that fool you--it’s a tough one. It will eat just about anything, even dead animals, and has even been seen pulling birds underwater! Instead of pulling its head straight into its shell, it folds it to the side to stay safe.

This turtle comes from tropical parts of Australia and New Guinea. Baby turtles have a bright red belly, but as they get older, the red fades to orange or yellow. Males get brighter colours during mating season. Because of how it looks, people like to keep it as a pet in some countries, but it’s still a wild animal at heart.

This North American turtle looks different from most others. Its shell is soft and flat, with little spines near the front edge-- hence the name. You can find it from Canada all the way to Mexico. It lives a long time, and females are bigger than males. It also takes years-- up to 10-- to fully grow up.

This rare turtle only lives on Rote Island in Indonesia. Its neck is so long it’s almost the same length as its shell! Unfortunately, it’s critically endangered because of illegal pet trading. There aren’t many left in the wild, so protecting them is really important.

This turtle lives in streams and ponds across the Indian subcontinent. It has little skin flaps that cover its legs when it pulls into its shell. These help protect it and might also help it survive during dry times. It’s not a picky eater-- it eats plants and animals.

This turtle has such a big head that it can’t pull it into its shell. Instead, it defends itself with strong jaws and uses its tail to help it climb around rocks. It lives in Southeast Asia and parts of southern China, but sadly, it’s critically endangered due to hunting and illegal pet trade.

This tortoise is easy to spot when it’s young, thanks to the dark spots on its shell. It lives in the grassy areas of eastern and southern Africa and spends most of its day eating plants. Even though it’s heavy, it can move quite well and climb over rough ground with its strong feet.