Time for Reflection

Happy New Year Everyone!

Misty Swamp Creatures

Like an Underwater Orchestra

Two-Headed African Spurred Turtle

Leaping Lizard Catches a Ride

Or finds a comfortable place for a snooze

Elongated Tortoise

And from Southeast Asia, we have the Elongated Tortoise, in trouble for extinction

A Pensive Sulcata Tortoise

Green Sea Turtle in Bora Bora

A very friend sea turtle, me thinks.

Loggerhead Sharing his World

Meet Freddie, the African Tortoise

Enjoying an afternoon snack

Meet Chappy, the Black-Breasted Leaf Turtle.

This small Black-Breasted Leaf Turtle is native to the mountainous regions of northern Vietnam and southern China as well as Laos. It is currently on the endangered species list.

This turtle is easily recognized by its flattened carapace that is distinctively serrated at the front and back, and by the yellow-edged, dark-brown to black plastron for which it earns its common name. There are also three prominent keels protruding down the length of the carapace, which varies considerably in colour from orange-yellow or tan to a rich chestnut or mahogany brown, to a rather drab olive. The olive to dark brown head is characterised by faint yellow markings near the eye and along the neck, and additional pale-coloured speckling may appear on the sides of the head and jaws. The rest of the skin is greyish brown, often dappled with tan, olive or orange coloring.

Perhaps one of the most striking and conspicuous features of this unusual turtle, however, are the large and protuberant eyes with white irises, that give an alert expression.

Pumpkin Play Time - Happy Halloween!

Courtesy of the California Academy of Science, San Francisco

Hold On Just a Minute, Buddy!

Giant land tortoise has something to say!

Black Soft Shell Turtle

These beauties are nearly extinct in their homeland of India

Leatherback Laying Eggs

Big 'Ol Galapagos Buddies

With Age Comes Wisdom

you can see it in his eyes. wisdom, it's there.

Is There No Place Private?

Baby Giant Tortoise Hangout

Baby BFFs

National Geographic's 2015 Tortoise Documentary

Turtle Gonna Get Ya

The Size of Things

Baby Slowsky's First Word

Can't Get Enough Berry

YUMMY!

Baby Atlantic Loggerhead

Meet George

The friendliest 193 year old giant land tortoise you'll ever meet!

Announcement: World’s Ugliest Dog!

Mama's fond of this parade of beauty held every June in Petaluma, California, at the Sonoma County fairgrounds, where she grew up. In this contest, ugly means downright stunning and gorgeous. You can see cute puppies anywhere, but to be the world’s ugliest dog takes a level of uniqueness that money can’t buy! This year’s winner is Sweepee Rambo.

She weighs in at 4lbs, is 17 shivery years old, blind in both eyes, wears a diaper and has bow legs. This is the third time Sweepee entered the competition, but it’s her first win.

Congrads, SweePee!!!

Nap Time

The Grassy Knoll

It's a beautiful summer day and I'm loving it!

Watermelon Man

Enjoy one of the tastiest, most refreshing of all turtle treats...

Happy Birthday!

Shout out to Kathy in WW for a happy birthday!

Are Two Heads Better Than One?

Only this little guy/guys can tell. Hopefully they can live a full life.

I'm Ready for my Closeup, Mr. DeMille

(but first, where's the moisturizer?)

Big BFFs

Remember Bill and Carolyn Slowsky?

You should.

Time for A Dip!

Thank God I have Lin Manuel Miranda to protect me!

Assam Roofed Turtle

This beautiful species is extremely endangered in Northeast India:

The Assam Roofed turtle, also known as Sylhet roofed turtle, has a triangular and elevated carapace with a promient spiked keel and strongly serrated marginal plates. The carapace is olive-brown in color, with a lighter (yellowish to beige) keel. The head is small and has a weakly hooked upper jaw; a narrow pink stripe runs from the back of each eye to the middle of the back of the head. Adults normally grow to a maximum length of 8 in. (20.5cm).

This species live in the northeastern and southeastern parts of Bangladesh, India. It is found in terrestrial and freshwater habitats in areas with upland tropical moist forest, and fast-flowing streams and perhaps also small rivers.

The species is amphibian. In the cooler months of the dry season, from December to February, it basks during most of the day; individuals living in cooler hill-streams may do so year round. The turtle is shy and never basks on river banks, but only on emergent logs or rocks. At the slightest disturbance, it will dive quickly to the middle of the river, hiding between rocks. Juveniles often flee into accumulations of dead leaves for camouflage and remain motionless.

The Assam Roofed turtle is a rare species known only from a few individuals; it is exploited for its meat and eggs for local consumption and may also enter the pet trade. Habitat destruction by logging and incidental capture in fishing gear are also thought to present threats. The species is currently classified as Endangered (EN) by the IUCN.

Lonesome George

This incredible creature was the last surviving member of the Pinta Island tortoise
sub-species when he died in 2012 at around 100 years old. You can visit him in
taxidermied form at the American Museum of Natural History in New York.

Read more about Lonesome George at Smithsonian mag

Turtle Pet Rock Fun

Get creative and paint your own turtle "pet rock" with this template! It's fun and makes a great doorstop!

Happy Chappy

Happy Independence Day, humans!

Henry's Friend Henri is Back

Jellyfish. It's Whats for Dinner.

Join ABV's Turtle Conservation Project!

Consider spending a few weeks participating in A Broader View's "Sea Turtle Conservation Volunteer Program" in spectacular Costa Rica. Experience not required and open to all age groups.  Click here for more details and to sign up!

Learn more about A Broader View's great volunteer programs here.

Our Amazing Underwater World

Sent to Nat Geo by a fan:

An amazing National Geographic image

There seems to be two separate universes on this planet, and this one lies beneath.

My Cousin: The Diamondback Terrapin

Can this guy get any more handsome? Look at his markings!

The Diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) was once almost pushed to extinction due to a fashion among some members of American society for turtle meat, a trend that thankfully died out before this terrapin did.

The Diamondback terrapin has an oblong upper shell (carapace) that is grey, light brown or black and patterned with concentric diamond-shapes. The shell on the underside of the terrapin (the plastron) can range in colour from yellowish to green or black, and may be decorated with bold, dark markings.

The grey or black skin of the limbs and head bears dark flecks and spots, the head is short and flat, and the prominent eyes are black. The large, webbed feet are adapted for swimming, but also bear strong claws that allow the terrapin to clamber up out of the water. Female diamondback terrapins are larger than the males, and have a broader head and shorter tail. Juveniles are patterned much like adults but usually brighter and have rounder shells.

The diamondback terrapin is native to the United States, where they can be found along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts from Cape Cod to Texas. The diamondback terrapin inhabits the brackish waters of coastal marshes, tidal flats, coves, estuaries and coastal lagoons.

The Diamondback terrapin is believed to be the only turtle in the world that lives exclusively in brackish water (containing some salt, but not as much as ocean water), habitats like tidal marshes, estuaries and lagoons. Most terrapins hibernate during the winter by burrowing into the mud of marshes.

Although not endangered, declines in population are a result of drowning in commercial crab pots and is the major threat to the Diamondback terrapin, while coastal development interrupts nesting beaches.

Welcome to Our World, little fella!

Look at this adorable little turtle baby! Now for a good stretch into your new world!

Tickle Me, Butterfly

Travel the Great Barrier Reef on Turtle Back!

Eleanor Shares Her Latest Beauty Secret

"You need a better moisturizer, Phyllis, one with minerals."

Sins of Summer

Humans, as you make your way to the beach this summer, please remember what your garbage left behind can do to wildlife in the area.

Please don't let this happen. Remember this image next time you encounter a plastic
6-pack beverage holder. Be sure to dispose by cutting into pieces or recycling.

Beaver Lake, Florida Turtle Hangout

Looks like a few healthy Red-Eared Sliders just chillin' in Beaver Lake

Technology Saves a Tortoise!

CHECK THIS OUT!! Brazilian tortoise Freddy lost his shell (and home) from a brushfire and the volunteer group Animal Avengers from Sao Paolo stepped in to rebuild him a new 3-D carapace! Read the amazing story here.

Freddy's new shell was completely reconstructed using 3D technology!
(Thanks to Raymond in Amsterdam for this story!)

Birthday Bob the Sulcata

Happy birthday to our friend, Joe!

Keep Your Beach Clean

Please remember to keep your local beaches and waterways free of garbage that can make its way into the water! Plastic bags are a particular threat, since sea turtles can mistake them for jellyfish — one of their main prey sources — causing them to starve or die. Additionally, turtles can choke or become entangled in fishing gear like nets and hooks, as sadly pictured here.

This sea turtle has a fishing hook lodged in its esophagus, rescued by the Sea Turtle Hospital
in Topsail Island, North Carolina. (Photo: Oceana / Cory Wilson)