Turtles’ anatomy is very unique, there are very few similar animals out there. The most unique and studied thing about them is without question the shell. But what got me really fascinated about them is their legs and the way they bend as it’s very different from the way other animals bend their knees. But do turtles even have knees? Or is it something else?
Turtles’ legs have non-bony kneecaps, which means that they don’t have the skeletal structure of what we would normally call a knee, but they can perform similar functions.
So if turtles have knees or not is more about what you would consider a knee, if you are talking about the bones, like the kneecap, then turtles don’t have knees. But if you are just referring to a mechanism that can perform the motion then yes turtles have knees.
How Turtles Use Their Knees
So whether they are considered knees or not, the fact is tha turtles have something that works as a knee. And they can use it for a lot of surprising things like jumping.
If you never heard that turtles can jump, here is a video to prove it:
How Turtles Jump
When turtles jump they will bend their back legs and slightly extend their front legs while still keeping them bent a little. After the turtle gets into this position, the turtle will push with all four legs and propel itself forward.
This is how most quadrupedal animals will do when they want to jump. What makes it different for the turtle is that they don’t have a flexible bodies, so they can’t bend their body to increase the jumping distance. The fact that turtles don’t have a flexible bodies is what makes it the hardest for them to jump. But they are still able to do it.
How far can turtles jump
Most medium-sized turtles will be able to jump anywhere from 3 to 4 inches ( 7 to 10 centimeters ). But for smaller turtles, like the box turtle, the distance will be smaller, usually around 2 inches ( 5 cm ).
I know it doesn’t seem too much like a jump, but when turtles jump their entire body won’t be making contact with any surface, and that is what a jump is. A jump is not defined by the height that you reach, or the distance, if you use your body to propel yourself in the air, and you are not making contact with any surface, then you are jumping.
But under certain circumstances, turtles are able to jump farther. If the turtle is running, before it jumps the distance will be a lot bigger, than it would be if the turtle was standing before the jump.
It’s just like when you throw a ball with your hand. If your hand moves fast when you throw it, the ball will go very far, but if you throw it while your hand is moving slowly it will travel a smaller distance.
Now let’s look at some examples of turtles jumping.
Why Don’t Turtles Jump More Often?
Even if turtles are able to jump, they are not very good at it. So it won’t have any benefit for them to do so.
For most animals jumping is useful, cats use it to reach inaccessible places, lions use it to catch prey, frogs use it to run from danger, monkeys use it to jump from tree to tree, dogs use it to catch frisbees, and we use it to jump over puddles of water so we don’t get our feet wet. No matter how trivial some animals use the ability to jump, it still offers them some benefits in that situation. But turtles won’t get any benefit in most situations.
Snapping turtles are usually known to jump when they are disturbed. They do this because the jump allows them to move a little faster in that situation, and offers them an element of surprise. Other turtles probably do this as well, but at the moment there aren’t too many videos of turtles doing so.
Other than to defend themselves, turtles don’t have any reason to jump. It has no benefit for them.
Final Thoughts
So if turtles have knees or not it’s up for debate. But the fact is that they have something similar that works almost the same to our knees.
In my personal opinion, if somebody asked me if turtles have knees, and I had to answer with yes or no, I would say yes.
Related Questions
Can turtles run? Yes, turtles are able to run. They usually only run when they are in danger.
Can all turtles swim? No. Not all turtles are able to swim. Tortoises are a type of turtle that lives on land. Most aquatic turtles have feet that are somewhat similar to flippers, which allows them to swim properly. Tortoises on the other hand have feet that are more similar to the ones of an elephant, and they are not good for swimming.
Can turtles turn over? Yes, some of them can. It usually depends on the shape of the carapace, if the turtle will be able to turn or not. Turtles with rounder carapaces will find it easier to turn over if they have to. But turtles with a flatter carapace will have a harder time turning over. But it’s possible to turn over no matter what kind of carapace they have.
Are turtles dangerous? No, in general turtles are very peaceful, they only attack if they are provoked.
Can turtles recognize their owners? Turtles can recognize you and they will understand that you play an important part in their lives, but they will not feel any familiarity towards you like dogs or cats would. Overall turtles recognize their owners but not in the way you would expect. You can always read more about this in my article: Can Turtles Recognize Their Owners?
Do all turtles need a heat lamp? Not all turtle species bask, so not all of them will need a heat lamp, but most turtle species will need one, and all turtle species will need a UVB light.
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