Turtle (Books)

Turtles are reptiles mentioned very briefly in the How to Train Your Dragon Book series.

Description
Turtles - widely known for their bony carapace shells that are fused to their spines and ribs - have been found in the fossil record as far back as 157 million years ago. This predates even crocodilian reptiles and snakes. Turtles can range from a few inches long to over 6 feet in length. They inhabit a wide range of habitats from desert to nearly fully marine. Turtle diets also vary widely depending on species, ranging from plants and Algae, to various invertebrates, carcasses, and fish.

Many terms can be applied to turtles or different types of turtles, including tortoises and terrapins and chelonian. 'Chelonian' is based on the Greek word for turtle and applies to any member of Order Testudines. The term terrapin is derived from the Native American (Algonquian) word for turtle. 'Terrapin' was taken back to Europe from early American settlers and is used extensively in Great Britain. 'Terrapin' also refers to members of the Families Geoemydidae and Emydidae. 'Tortoise' typically refers to larger, land-based species adapted to terrestrial life.

Function
In the Book series, turtles are mentioned only for name-calling purposes.

In reality, turtles are eaten for food in many cultures. Turtle eggs are often eaten as well. Their shells may be used for decorative purposes. Some smaller turtle species have also been kept as pets.

How to Train Your Dragon
Turtles are mentioned very briefly in Book 1, when Snotlout called Toothless - "Hiccup's terrifying, toothless terrapin".