Why do turtles hide in their shells?

Sixty-five years ago, at the height of the Cold War, the U.S. government released a short animated film about what Americans should do in the event of a nuclear attack. The film ... When danger strikes, turtles use their flexible necks to retract their heads safely inside their shield-like shells. read more

Many turtles as well as tortoises are indeed able to pull in all four legs and their heads to hide in their shell. Their shells protect them from predators and also help them feel safe if they were feeling threatened or in danger before retreating into their shell. When a turtle pulls its head into its shell for protection its neck either folds to the side or into a vertical S shape, and the skin of the neck also bunches up. Which is where the term turtleneck came from. read more

Some turtles are not only able to hide in their shells, but also able to close their shell, which provides them with additional protection against predators. There is a hinge across the bottom of these particular species of turtle’s shell known as the plastron. read more