Turtles are animals that have traditionally been classified in the class Reptilia and in the order of Testudines. Their appearance is unmistakable, since the presence of the shell, from which their head and limbs come out, allows them to be easily recognized.
There are species of marine, terrestrial or freshwater habitats, however, generally, they all spawn on land. In relation to these vertebrates, there are various curious aspects and in this article on our site we want to talk to you about one in particular, which is related to teeth. So, if you've ever wondered whether turtles have teeth or not, we invite you to keep reading to find out.
Do terrapins have teeth?
There are both freshwater and marine turtles and, of the latter, we find various species with a wide distribution in different oceans. Some of the species of sea turtles that we can mention are:
- green turtle (Chelonia Mydas)
- hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricate)
- loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta)
- Leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)
- Kemp's ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys kempii)
As for some species of freshwater or semi-aquatic turtles, we find:
- Florida slider turtle (Trachemys scripta)
- pig-nosed turtle (Carettochelys insculpta)
- spotted turtle (Clemmys guttata)
- musk turtle (Sternotherus carinatus)
Although the turtles have certain common traits that make them visibly similar, on the other hand, each group has some particular characteristics, and a one of these is the shape of the head and especially the mouth or snout, which in some cases looks like a hooked beak, like that of certain birds, and in others it may be more rounded.
Now, let's answer the question, do terrapins have teeth? There is a peculiar trait that these vertebrates share, and that is that water turtles do not have teeth However, in certain species, on the palate and around the jaw there is the presence of some structures known as oral papillae that extend towards the esophagus, they are quite sharp and made of keratin. We have an example of this type in the leatherback turtle, which has these sharp shapes in its mouth. So do turtles bite? By having these structures, a species like the one mentioned does not have a powerful bite, but it overcomes this obstacle by using the papillae to bite the food, so yes, the turtles bite. In other cases, there is a toothed shape on the jaw, but it does not really correspond to dental structures.
In the following image we see the inside of a sea turtle's mouth, specifically that of the aforementioned leatherback sea turtle.
Do land turtles have teeth?
In addition to the aquatic and semi-aquatic species, we also find tortoises. Some examples of these animals are:
- Morocoy sea turtle (Chelonoidis carbonaria)
- common box turtle (Terrapene carolina)
- Mediterranean tortoise (Testudo hermanni)
- Florida slider (Gopherus polyphemus)
- Santiago giant tortoise (Chelonoidis darwini)
Land turtles also don't have teeth and to a lesser degree develop papillae or keratin structures that characterize various marine species. The bite force of tortoises varies from one species to another, but, in general, it is powerful enough to be able to take their food.
How do turtles cut food?
The type of feeding of the turtles depends mainly on the species, thus, we find both carnivorous, omnivorous and herbivorous turtles. In this sense, depending on the type of food that the animal consumes, it will bite and cut the prey or plant in a particular way. These animals have beak-like snouts, some more hook-shaped than others, but the jaws may be coated with keratin to provide a tough mouth. In certain cases there are serrated edges to facilitate cutting the food or the use of sharp papillae that help catch and process everything they consume.
Next, let's learn about certain examples about the bite and way of cutting food of some turtles:
- The green turtles (Chelonia Mydas), when young, feed on animals as well as algae and plants. However, as they grow they focus on a mainly herbivorous diet. To uproot vegetation or algae, they use their mouth, which is strong and has a short, non-hooked beak. In addition, although they do not have teeth, the edge of the jaw has a serrated characteristic, which undoubtedly makes it easier for them to grab and detach food to consume it.
- Another form of feeding in Testudines is that carried out by the leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), which does not have the capacity of a strong bite, but it is a carnivorous animal that feeds mainly on jellyfish. To do this, it uses its spiny structures made of keratin, with which it catches and processes the animal once it is inside its mouth. These also prevent the animal from escaping.
In this article we have been able to learn that turtles do not have teeth, but this does not limit them at all to be able to feed themselves in an appropriate way and, depending on the species, to eat a particular type of food. A peculiar fact is that, despite the lack of dental structures, several species of tortoises, for example, are capable of devouring a fruit quickly and precisely, which is undoubtedly surprising due to the agility that can be observed while it feeds.
Do turtles bite humans?
On the other hand, it is common for us to wonder if turtles can bite human beings. In this regard we can say that, compared to other reptiles, in general, turtles do not have the same bite force, but there are certain exceptions that may cause some injury to a person. An example to mention is the alligator turtle (Macrochelys temminckii), which has a powerful bite capable of causing damage to a human being who is not careful. Another species with a very strong bite is Mesoclemmys dahli, which even feeds on other animals with shells or shells.
