Japanese scientists have learned that a turtle starts developing its shell while it is still an embryo in what they describe as the folding of its upper body wall on itself.

The team of scientists from the Riken Center for Developmental Biology in Kobe, Japan said in their report appearing in the journal Science that a turtle embryo looks like that of a chick and mice with the muscles and skeleton in similar position until the change in its body plan occurs.

Officials in Maryland are saving turtles and money while reducing greenhouse gas emissions by using goats instead of gas-powered lawnmowers to keep grass trimmed.

The pilot program has 40 bearded goats munching away in an enclosed area in Carroll County that contains endangered turtle habitat and invasive plant species.

A 7-year-old boy broke into an Australia zoo, killed 13 animals and fed them to a large crocodile.

According to reports, the boy broke into the Alice Springs Reptile Center Wednesday, apparently undetected by sensors because of his small size. The boy, whose name is not being released, was seen on security video killing three different lizards by bashing them with rocks. He then fed the dead animals to an 11-foot 440-pound saltwater crocodile named Terry.

A 7-year-old boy broke into an Australia zoo, killed 13 animals and fed them to a large crocodile.

According to reports, the boy broke into the Alice Springs Reptile Center Wednesday, apparently undetected by sensors because of his small size. The boy, whose name is not being released, was seen on security video killing three different lizards by bashing them with rocks. He then fed the dead animals to an 11-foot 440-pound saltwater crocodile named Terry.

A female Eastern box turtle called Turtle No. 72 has led Washington police to a well-tended marijuana garden in Rock Creek Park.

The turtle is one of 135 wired animals with a small radio transmitter on its shell to provide scientists data on turtle movements. The six-inch turtle wanders through 50 acres near the District-Maryland boundary.