Show us your Turtles and Tortoises (terrapins too!)

Ah, Turtles, Tortoises and Terrapins.

Turtles like swimming, Tortoises prefer sunbathing, and Terrapins prefer mud and marshes, but are essentially accepted as a subgroup of tortoises who not-so-secretly wish to be turtles.

All turtles, tortoises, and terrapins are reptiles belonging to the order Chelonian. They share similar characteristics, such as a hard carapace with a lower plastron connected via  a bridge.  Tortoises tend to have thicker, more domed shells. Turtles have thinner, flatter shells, the better for swimming with.  Tortoise feet are short and sturdy and turtles feet are webbed.  Both chelonians lay their eggs in nests on land. And have been known to eat vegetation or creatures, giving the different families "omnivore" status. Though preference varies according to species.

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Safarit Ltd Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle baby, Safari Ltd Sea Turtle, Schleich 14695 Sea Turtle, (2nd row): Safari Ltd Green Sea Turtle, Disney/Pixar Bandai "Crush", Safari Ltd, Safari Ltd mini

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Schleich Tortoise, US Yowies tortoise, Safari Ltd painted turtle

Note: The term turtle may also be a colloquialism (local or regional phrasing) for tortoise, especially in North America.

The turtle/tortoise is most commonly accepted as a positive symbol of things like wisdom and patience, longevity and prosperity. And it has found its way into stories, the most common one being the tale of the tortoise and the hare, where the tortoise, through persistence wins the race.  Another well-known tales is the story of how the earth rests on the back of four elephants who are on the back of a giant turtle (Terry Pratchet incorporated this into his DiscWorld series).


Sorry, I didn't have 4 mini elephants:
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Slow and steady...
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Kaiyodo (007 - Reeve's turtle?)


On the other side of the equation, there have been tales of how turtles are evil.  So, I think it's up to you to decide.

- What's your favorite turtle or tortoise story?



(Note: If you thought you ruled the world of turtle and tortoise collectables, you’re probably mistaken .  Since June 2005 The Live Turtle and Tortoise Museum, of Singapore, owned by Connie and Danny Tan, has held the Guinness World record. They have 3,456+ individual specimens, including 1000+ LIVE specimens according to Guinness.)

Will probably edit more later, just wanted to get something up so others can add their own pictures and stories.

Here are mine:

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Oh wow! So many! Nice!
I only have two: CollectA's Leatherback and Papo's Sea Turtle.
And Donatello offered me to give a hand to make sure no-one's slacking.

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Great collection Anne! Fun display, Bloodrayne!

Soon :)

We have quite a lot because it is my son's favorite animal. This summer he got to hold this little cutie and he was completely in love!

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I only have extinct turtles:

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Dinosaur Train (Tomy) Adocus

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Favorite Co Archelon

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Dinosaur Train (Tomy) Proganochelys

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Kaiyodo Dinotales 1.2 Sinemys gamera

Gosh ! I missed this topic

Thankyou for starting this wonderful topic in such an expert and charming way, - and explaining the names, Laura !
In Denmark they are all "skilpadder" meaning "Amphibians-with-shield" , so it is quite confusing to me that the group has three names in English , and I hope it is ok to call them all just turtles ?

But never mind the names ! I love them all, and it is wonderful to see such great collections

Halichoeres , how great to see prehistoric turtles !
Anne, your son is the most charming little boy ! He almost over-shines your great collection
Simone, - that picture with Donnatello as thurtleherd is absolutely wonderful

I love turtles, and would like to show you some also  
The small turtle from Schleich to shows the size, - if you do not have that one, perhaps his tag helps ?

Models of composition material can be quite expensive, but I have succeeded to make a little collection, - first my copies  
The sizes give a good indication of their brand.

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From left, the first two are from Danish Neo-Form.
Then Danish Danolin .
And a hollow, fuzzy one which is not composition, but he wanted to be in the picture also  
The one to the right is made by Durolin


Let's look at the underside :
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Danolin: Typically the material of Danolin shrunk quite a lot during manufacturing. Also they sometimes have a bit of a messy finish, - and this one does not even have a brand mark.

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Typical for Durolin copies, the brand mark has just been erased. - I am almost sure the mould originally said GERMANY and showed it was from Lineol  


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One of the Neo-Form models has no less than THREE marks : Two times DENMARK, and one N.F.
The other Neo-Form turtle has no mark at all  


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This beauty is made by Elastolin after WW2. Yvette helped me get it, I like both her and the model very much
It also came with a baby on the back .

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Last for now my three leatherbacks...Safari, CollectA,  and Papo

Great figurines Susanne :)

Some small tortoises    
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Back row : Safari Incredible Creatures Tortoise babie set, Nayab.
Front row : EIKOH, Reisler, Bullyland mini, Schleich turtle baby .

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The two turtoise siblings were launched in 1998, - I don't know when they were retired, but it is several years ago. Aren't they cute ?

Yes, that are nice tortoises Susanne :). Safari incredible creatures? Are they not huge figurines??

widukind wrote:

Yes, that are nice tortoises Susanne :).  Safari incredible creatures? Are they not huge figurines??

Thanks, Andreas
Yes, most are very large, but these are not ...there was also a small sea turtle baby back then

SUSANNE wrote:

widukind wrote:

Yes, that are nice tortoises Susanne :).  Safari incredible creatures? Are they not huge figurines??

Thanks, Andreas
Yes, most are very large, but these are not ...there was also a small sea turtle baby back then

Thank you, i dont know it. Are there more?

Congratulation to see all your turtles!          
I have the comparison of leatherback turtles Susanne.  
Here are mine aerial view

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A very impressive and diverse series of Takara tommy      
Version & pile Version face

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as beautiful from above as below

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sea turtles of the same series

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The names

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It was already time to see one of these great SUY topics back! STS is again in good shape and I hope to have the chance of grouping my few turtles to contribute also to this thread. So nice to see so many different ones, from prehistoric, composition, modern, small and large. ... and a super happy boy from Norway!

What a huge and interesting and beautyful set of turtles, Luc

Thankyou for the amazing and informative pictures and the scan ! You did a great job there, - as always
There are many species that I never heard of before

Beautiful turtles, tortoises, and terrapins everyone! It's so nice to see them

Here are my:

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Bandai Tortoise, Kaiyodo Alligator Snapping turtle, Kaiyodo tortoise, Schleich young tortoise, 3 Takara Tomy figures, and Papo Galapagos Tortoise.

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Safari Ltd Leatherback Turtle and Papo Sea Turtle

I LOVE THIS TOPIC!
So many wonderful pictures.
Thank you everyone.

Lucky Luke!
I love your collection.
Upside AND down!

Wonderful collection of turtles Anna! I think Mrs Papo Galapagos is the Mother of them all.

Safari leatherback is wonderful.

Wonderful colletion, Anna

Very beautieful Anna :)

anna beautiful collection, and remarkable background of your images!
I fell papo leatherback turtle