The spotted turtle's alluring features — its diminutive size, smooth black shell and dainty yellow speckles — have unfortunately contributed to its decline, since its charisma has made it a favorite ...

The spotted turtle's alluring features — its diminutive size, smooth black shell and dainty yellow speckles — have unfortunately contributed to its decline, since its charisma has made it a favorite ...

The shell is also part of a turtle’s skeleton ... Here’s a wild fun fact: in the Amazon, butterflies drink the tears of yellow-spotted turtles to get enough sodium in their diet.

Beneath their shell, their skin is often light yellow or white, contrasting with the greenish fat layer that gives them their name. Juvenile green turtles are smaller and have more vibrant shell ...