Answers:

• What are the three broad classifications (groups) of turtles? Sea Turtles, Freshwater Turtles and Tortoises.
• What are the characteristics of turtles that set them apart as a family? Turtles are reptiles. They are exothermic, covered with scales, lay eggs on land, have a skeleton and they are the only reptiles to have a special bony or cartilaginous shell developed from their ribs that protects them from predators. They cannot leave their shells as is sometimes seen in cartoons. The top of the shell is called the carapace and a bottom the plastron.
  
• How can you tell which group a turtle belongs to? Sea turtles live in salt water and are able to get rid of salt through their tears. They have flippers for limbs. Freshwater turtles cannot tolerate saltwater. They live in fresh (and sometimes brackish water). They have web feet in most cases but some have flippers and a few species have tortoise-like legs). Tortoises live on land and elephant-like legs.
  
• How many species of turtles are there? Over 300. According to one site there are 356 species. There are 7 species of sea turtles, 49 species of tortoises and the rest of the them are freshwater turtles however the freshwater groups is made up of several distinct families.
• How many species are found in Ontario? Ontario is home to 8 existing native species of turtles. Common snapping turtle Painted turtle (2 subspecies: Western painted turtle & Midland painted turtle) Wood turtle Blanding's turtle Spotted turtle Northern map turtle Box turtle (2 subspecies Woodland & three-toed) Both are extirpated in Ontario although the species do exist in the US. Some pet ones may have been released back into Ontario but it is widely believed that these domestically raised turtles would not be able to survive Ontario's winters. Red-eared slider (introduced) Musk turtle (not shown in the video) Eastern spiny soft-shelled turtle
• What native turtles are found in Mississauga? Sadly only two species of turtles can be found on a regular basis in The City (both are found at Riverwood). The Midland painted turtle and the snapping turtle. Red-eared sliders can also be seen at many places in the city.
• What are the main threats to turtles? Habitat loss is number 1. Some species require very large marshes to survive (such as the Blanding’s turtle). The loss of wetlands in Ontario is well documented. Only a few large wetlands remain. Good examples of such wetlands are: Long Point (Big Creek), Point Pelee N.P., the Wye Marsh. Roads built through turtle habitat often lead to road-killed turtles. Dogs may harass turtles when they are nesting. Illegal capture of turtles for the pet trade or illegal hunting are also problems. Are turtles in Ontario are classed as at least “species at risk”.
• What can you do to help Ontario’s turtles? Become “turtle aware”. Learn about Ontario’s turtles. Let others know that turtles are important. Not just our native species but turtles around the world. Join an organization that protects nature such as Ontario Nature or your local Naturalist Club. Check out Turtle Monitoring programs and if you are old enough join one and help us learn about our turtles.
• What is the role of the turtle in our local ecosystems? Turtles are for the most part omnivores. Younger turtles eat insect larva but as they grow they will eat more and more plant material. This true even of snapping turtles. Snapping turtles are more carnivorous than most species. Large snappers will prey of fish, ducklings, snakes and other aquatic life. Forest dwelling species eat invertebrates as well as plants. Turtles are also food for many species. Raccoons, skunks, foxes are will raid turtle nests. Herons will eat baby turtles. Survival rates are very low among young turtles. Turtle waste enriches their habitat by returning nutrients to the soil and water.
• Where can you see turtles? Spring is the best time to see turtles. Being exothermic they rely on the sun to warm their bodies and after a long cold winter of hibernating they seek places to bask in the sun. In the GTA good places to look for turtles (mainly painted turtles) include Col. Samuel Smith Park, Tommy Thompson Park, High Park (Toronto),, Rattray Marsh (Mississauga) and further afield the Wye Marsh (Midland), Cootes Paradise (Hamilton), Point Pelee N. P. and any local pond and marshy area. Turtles lay eggs anytime from April to June so keep an eye out for the females that will be out looking for a sandy area to nest in.