SCIENCE FAIR PROJECT - TURTLES - By Amaya Valdés



Male and female turtles

The turtle is a reptile characterised by having a wide, short trunk, and a shell that protects the internal organs of the body. Coming out of the shell are: the head and front legs, and behind, the hind legs and the tail.
The most important characteristic of the skeleton of turtles is that a large part of the spinal column is welded to the back side of the shell.

 The skeleton makes breathing impossible by movement of the rib cage si it is performed primarily by the contraction of the modified abdominal muscles. The skull has great features of primitivism.
Although lacking teeth, they have a beak covering its mandible, like the beak of the birds.
 Like all reptiles, turtles are ectothermic, which means that their metabolic activity depends on the external or temperature of the environment.
Turtles shed their skin, but unlike lizards and snakes, they do it gradually. They also molt the shields of the carapace, individually and apparently in no particular order.

Amaya Valdés working on her model of a turtle

Model of the internal organs of a turtle 

Model of a turtle with its carapace

Preparing the terrarium for the turtles

Stand ready for the Science Fair

Amaya Valdés at the Science Fair 2013