Do Turtles Have Teeth?

There is a little confusion over the use of the word ‘turtle’. In some places, especially North America, turtle is used to describe all types of animals within the order of reptiles known as Testudines. However, in other English-speaking regions, turtle generally refers to marine turtles only. In these areas, freshwater turtles are known as terrapins and land turtles are known as tortoises.

For our purposes, we will refer to them all as ‘turtles’, but we will still look at them as separate groups. To start, we look at whether aquatic turtles have teeth. Some species of sea turtle include:

• Green sea turtle (Chelonia Mydas)
• Hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)
• Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta)
• Leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)
• Kemp's ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys kempii)

As for some types of freshwater or semi-aquatic turtles, we find:

• Pond slider (Trachemys scripta)
• Pig-nosed turtle (Carettochelys insculpta)
• Spotted turtle (Clemmys guttata)
• Razor-backed musk turtle (Sternotherus carinatus)

Although turtles have certain common physical characteristics, each group also has their own particular features. The shape of the head and mouth can vary considerably between species. Some will have a hooked beak structure, reminiscent of various bird species. Others will have a much more rounded mouth and some, like pig-nosed turtles, have protuberances which are unlike any other.

In regards to whether sea turtles have teeth, the answer is no. In fact, no turtle species has teeth. The reason is that they do not require them to eat their food. Unlike many predators which have canines to kill prey and eat their flesh, turtles do not need to attack in the same way.

Not having teeth doesn't mean a turtle's mouth is soft. Turtles have a keratin edge lining their jaws which is very hard and, sometimes, serrated. These edges can be very sharp and appear as a serrated ridge, making them look a little like a row of teeth. However, they are not dental structures as are real teeth.

In the below image, we see inside the mouth of a sea turtle, specifically the aforementioned leatherback turtle. You can see the serrated ridges which have the appearance of small teeth.

Image: ohmirevista.com

The diet of a turtle will depend on the individual species. Some are completely herbivorous, while others may be carnivorous or omnivorous. In fact, some turtles which have previously thought to be herbivorous have been seen stalking and eating living prey^[1].

Check out our related article to learn more about types and characteristics of herbivorous animals.

What the turtle eats will be reflected in their anatomy as some will need sharper mouths to consume certain food. In general, we can see that carnivorous turtles have the strongest bite, especially durophagus turtles. Durophagus turtles are those which eat hard-shelled animals, requiring stronger bites to break through to the flesh.

Other turtles may only eat relatively soft foliage which means they do not have the need for a very strong bite. Although they do not have teeth, they will use the ridges of their keratin mouths to chew their food for digestion. This is often a slow process which helps break down the food before swallowing and is another reason why many people think turtles have teeth.

Here we look at some examples of how different turtle species eat:

• Green sea turtles (Chelonia Mydas): when young, green sea turtles eat both animals and plant matter. However, as they get older they focus on a mainly herbivorous diet. To uproot vegetation or algae, they use their mouth, which is strong and has a short, hookless beak. In addition, although they do not have teeth, the edge of the jaw is serrated, making it easier to dislodge food for consumption.
• Leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea): this turtle species does not have the capacity for a strong bite, but is a carnivorous animal that feeds mainly on jellyfish. To do this, they use their ridged beaks to trap animals in their jaws.

As they are a turtle species, snapping turtles do not have teeth. However, they are particularly known for their bite. There are various species of snapping turtle, but they all belong to the family Chelydridae. The most well known is the common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina). They are a type of freshwater turtle and are omnivorous in their diet.

Common snapping turtles have a very forceful bite which can be used to eat a range of prey and other food. Although their eggs are vulnerable to scavenging by birds and other animals, adult snapping turtles are often the highest animal in their food chain. Generally, they are masters of their domain and have little reason for fear. It is for this reason they are not usually scared of humans.

Many people wonder whether turtles bite humans, especially snapping turtles. However, even snapping turtles will not usually attack unprovoked. When humans come by, they will often try to evade them or will cautiously approach to see what they are doing. When you see videos online of turtles attacking humans, it is usually when they are being provoked or feel threatened.

To find out more about turtles and their abilities, take a look at our related article on whether turtles can hear sound.

If you want to read similar articles to Do Turtles Have Teeth?, we recommend you visit our Facts about the animal kingdom category.