Turtles have always been considered the longest-living animals in people's perception.

Some find them cute and endearing, while others think turtles are cool. How about your preference for turtles?

One species of turtle in North America is called the Alligator Snapping Turtle. As the name suggests, this giant is quite fierce. The Alligator Snapping Turtle is massive, with an adult turtle's shell reaching 80 centimeters in length and weighing up to a terrifying 200 pounds. They prefer to dwell in lakes and typically hunt fish for food. Despite being carnivorous, they aren't picky eaters and consume whatever they catch.

The most famous feature of the Alligator Snapping Turtle is its powerful jaws, comparable to those of crocodiles. A bite from them can break bones, so if you ever encounter one, it's advised not to provoke them with your fingers.

The "Hawksbill Turtle" is a giant sea turtle with a maximum length of 1.1 meters and a weight that surpasses the Alligator Snapping Turtle, reaching up to 230 pounds. Hawksbill Turtles are one of the few sea turtles that carry toxins because they prefer to eat cnidarians.

Since cnidarians often contain toxins, the meat of Hawksbill Turtles is toxic. This toxicity protects them from many predators in the water. However, human development along coastlines has severely affected their nesting habits, making reproduction difficult for Hawksbill Turtles.

Speaking of giant turtles, the Elephant Tortoise must be mentioned. Members of the tortoise family are the giants of the turtle world, such as the Aldabra Giant Tortoise. One of the largest land turtles globally, the Aldabra Giant Tortoise, has a length of at least 1.2 meters and a weight more than twice that of the Hawksbill Turtle, reaching up to 500 pounds. Despite their immense size, they move very slowly and have little attack capability, relying mainly on high defense.

Fortunately, they inhabit the protected Aldabra Atoll, where they face no natural predators. They can rest when tired and eat when hungry, leading to a population of over 100,000 Aldabra Giant Tortoises.

Leatherback turtles are the most giant turtles in the ocean, mainly found in the deep waters of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. They reside in tropical areas and can occasionally be seen in nearshore and harbor zones. Leatherback Turtles were listed as endangered in the IUCN Red List 2013. The recorded maximum length is 2.6 meters, and the heaviest recorded weight is 916 kilograms, much larger than the Galápagos Giant Tortoise.

They are excellent swimmers and divers, holding the record for diving to depths of 1280 meters in cold darkness. However, they typically prefer staying in water layers up to 200 meters.

Leatherback Turtles have a gentle temperament and primarily feed on jellyfish. Newly hatched leatherback turtles measure only 7.6 centimeters, and after consuming a significant amount of jellyfish, their average length can reach 1.5 meters. They must consume food equivalent to 73% of their body weight daily, including jellyfish, soft tunicates, sponges, and cephalopods.

Unfortunately, plastic waste floating in the sea is sometimes mistaken for jellyfish by leatherback turtles, leading to ingestion. Turtles that ingest plastic often die due to esophageal blockage.

In the wondrous realm of nature, turtles, alligator snapping turtles, hawksbill turtles, elephant tortoises, and leatherback turtles each showcase astonishing traits. Their survival strategies, unique features, and challenges in the face of human impact paint a vibrant picture of biodiversity.

Protecting these marvelous creatures and respecting their ecosystems is a shared responsibility. May we, in harmony with these fascinating beings, cherish our planet's precious resources and collectively safeguard nature's wonders.