More Than 200 Million Years of History

Turtles are among the oldest reptile groups still living on Earth. Their evolutionary history stretches back more than 200 million years, making them remarkable survivors of enormous changes in the planet’s environments.

During their long history, turtles lived alongside many prehistoric animals, including dinosaurs. While many ancient species disappeared during major changes in Earth’s history, turtle lineages continued to survive and evolve.

Their ability to live in different environments has helped turtles persist through changing climates, habitats, and ecosystems. Different turtle species have adapted to freshwater, marine, and terrestrial environments.

Studying how living organisms respond to their surroundings can also help us understand the importance of sensing and adapting to an environment. For a related engineering perspective, explore Sensors Used in Mobile Robots .

The survival of turtles across hundreds of millions of years provides a fascinating example of how successful adaptations can help organisms persist through dramatic environmental changes.