Turtles

Turtles are reptilian animals that are very slow-moving and do not really pose a threat to anyone or anything - not even lettuce. They are distinguished from other reptiles by a shell that grows from their ribcage and extends over their back to act as a shield against predators. This is advantageous, since most turtles are not really adept at defending themselves.

A notable species of turtle is the sea turtle or marine turtle, which are amphibious and are distinguished from other turtles because they have flippers rather than feet. Four species of sea turtles are on the endangered species list and are often vulnerable to various dangers such as being chopped up or injured from prop motors on boats. Classically, there are seven different species of sea turtle, but it could be argued that there is also a more elusive eighth species, which are known to speak and have developed a Southern California surfer dialect. Like humans, turtles are also subject to dramatic physiological alterations and increased intellect as a result of chemical mutation. In at least one notable instance, a mysterious "ooze", increased the size, speed and mental prowess of four common turtles. As they grew into teenagers, they developed certain martial arts skills and donned masks to defend the city as a team of ninjas.

In film

 * Finding Nemo: In the 2003 Disney computer animated film Finding Nemo, there is a sea turtle named Crush, who speaks as if he were a surfer and perpetually overuses phrases such as "Whoa!" and "Dude!" Crush has a son named Squirt. Crush and Squirt helped a clownfish named Marlin and another fish named Dory get to Sydney Harbor to rescue Marlin's lost son, Nemo.


 * Rocky: In the 1976 sports drama film Rocky, the main character Rocky Balboa owned two pet turtles that lived in a terrarium in his apartment in Philadelphia. He named them Cuff and Link and was particularly affectionate towards them, even to the point of talking to them when he fed them.


 * Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: In the original 1990 superhero comedy film Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the four main protagonists were, appropriately enough, sentient turtles with a gift for gab, and a penchant for eating pizza and kicking ass. Their mentor, Splinter (who was himself a mutated rat), named them after famous European artists: Leonardo, who was the leader of the group and wielded a katana, Michelangelo, who was the goofball and considered himself quite the "chucker" with his Nunchaku, Donatello, who was the friendly one and the resident computer whiz. His preferred weapon was a Bō staff. Lastly there was Raphael, who was short-tempered, had a sharp Brooklyn accent and liked to use twin Sais as his weapons.