Turtles (Testudines) have captivated evolutionary biologists for decades due to their distinct morphology and ancient origins. Recent studies have elucidated the evolutionary transformations that led ...

Family ties The turtle is a closer relative of crocodiles and birds than of lizards and snakes, according to researchers who claim to have solved an age-old riddle in animal evolution. The ancestry of ...

A new study from the School of Neurobiology, Biochemistry, and Biophysics reveals a surprising insight into the operation of the ancestral brain: the visual cortex of turtles is capable of detecting ...

Scientists have discovered that turtles possess advanced visual processing abilities once thought to be unique to mammals.

The turtle neck retraction requires distinctive cervical features. Turtles are classified into two main categories, depending on whether they retract their heads by pulling them straight backwards, ...

In vertebrates, the formation of feathers, hair, and scales is typically governed by molecular genetic factors. However, crocodile head scales are an exception, as they form through a purely ...

A study shows that turtles use both genetic signals and mechanical forces to form the scales on their heads, revealing a shared heritage with crocodiles and dinosaurs. In vertebrates, the formation of ...

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.

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 ...