What real-world species of turtle do the Ninja Turtles most resemble?

[Nintendophile]

I brought this up in response to a comment made by shezcrafti in another thread, but I thought it'd be a good topic for a new thread; What real-world species of turtle do you think the Ninja Turtles most resemble?

It'd been mentioned that they're supposed to be "red eared sliders", but you'd figure that if they're supposed to be that particular species, they'd still maintain the same skin coloring, or at least the red "ear" markings, even after a bath in highly mutanagenic ooze.

Thoughts?

[shezcrafti]

I think they resemble wood turtles.

[Slade]

I can kind of see wood turtles, but not red-eared sliders. They just don't have the red. In my honest opinion though, they aren't supposed to be any real species, just some random turtles that happen to be mutated.

[Roseangelo]

They're red-eared sliders. This is canon.

[Lampy]

Originally Posted by Kaleltheking

I can kind of see wood turtles, but not red-eared sliders. They just don't have the red. In my honest opinion though, they aren't supposed to be any real species, just some random turtles that happen to be mutated.

I thought they where red-eared sliders... and the red ears are supposed to be the red bandannas.

[Nintendophile]

Originally Posted by Roseangelo

They're red-eared sliders. This is canon.

I mentioned that in the original post. But, like I also mentioned in the original post, they don't seem to have any of the colorations or markings of red-eared sliders. I was asking what other people's opinions were about what other real-world species they DO resemble.

I was wondering if people thought there was a real-world species of turtle that more closely resembles what the Ninja Turtles look like, at least more so than a red-eared slider. Red-eared sliders have light and dark green stripes on their heads and neck, red "ear" markings, and the plastron and carapace have patterns that the TMNT don't have.

Sorry if my original post wasn't too clear about the question I was asking. My thoughts can get muddled sometimes. ^_^

[Nintendophile]

Originally Posted by shezcrafti

I think they resemble wood turtles.

Wood turtles are definitely closer in appearance than red-eared sliders. The head is all one color, and the carapace ranges from dark green to brown and is a more solid coloration than red-eared sliders. Good suggestion!

[Candy Kappa]

of there is a turtle species with soft beaks more akin to lips and three digits on the front paws and two digits on the back paws. I guess that would be it

Think box turtle have been mentioned in this forum, but I haven't given much thoughts on what they look more like. The mutation gave them a humanoid body, a skin change isn't that far out

[Mr._Mutant_Man]

I thought it was generally accepted that they were red eared sliders, since those are the species you'll typically find in a pet store.

If they don't have the markings...it's an effect of the mutation?

[gobo]

Originally Posted by Roseangelo

They're red-eared sliders. This is canon.

Originally Posted by Mr._Mutant_Man

I thought it was generally accepted that they were red eared sliders, since those are the species you'll typically find in a pet store.

If they don't have the markings...it's an effect of the mutation?

Reading comprehension must be going out of style.

[Mr._Mutant_Man]

Originally Posted by gobo

Reading comprehension must be going out of style.

Well I did give more of an explanation. Those are the type you typically find in pet stores, correct?

[Jester]

Yes, but it's more a "What do they look like?" as opposed to what they are. Canon says they're RES, but the character design speaks otherwise. I know IDWs baby Turtles had flippers and not toes, so I have no clue what they were.

[Mr._Mutant_Man]

I found the sea turtle resemblance to be a little odd, but once again, I guess the mutation thing can explain that away.

Mutagen ooze, "a wizard created it".

[Jester]

"It's magic, we don't have to explain it..."

[Nintendophile]

Originally Posted by Jester

Yes, but it's more a "What do they look like?" as opposed to what they are. Canon says they're RES, but the character design speaks otherwise. I know IDWs baby Turtles had flippers and not toes, so I have no clue what they were.

Jester hit the nail on the head. Yes, it's canon that they are supposed to be red-eared sliders. But, of course, they don't resemble them at all. So it's more a "what do they look like" question, rather than "what are the supposed to be". We already know what they're supposed to be.

I guess I must have worded it strangely in the original post. Sorry about the confusion, guys.

[shezcrafti]

Originally Posted by Nintendophile

I guess I must have worded it strangely in the original post. Sorry about the confusion, guys.

You worded it fine, imo.

Another reason I think the Wood Turtle is a more fitting species is because they're indigenous to New England whereas Red-eared Sliders are indigenous to wamer, southern states. However, Red-eared Sliders are much more likely to be found in a pet shop.

[Jester]

That was one of the great thing about visiting the Toltec Mounds State Park again after all these years (went when I was in elementary school): The lake by the mounds is home to hundreds of rather large wild sliders.

[zkarlette]

I was thinking about this the other day..on the Movie TMNT I when Raph was knocked out at the farm ,they kept him in a tub with water or at least it seems like it ,That got me thinking why would he need to be in water if they never are and so on.. One of those things that come to mind..

[shezcrafti]

Originally Posted by zkarlette

I was thinking about this the other day..on the Movie TMNT I when Raph was knocked out at the farm ,they kept him in a tub with water or at least it seems like it ,That got me thinking why would he need to be in water if they never are and so on.. One of those things that come to mind..

I've always wondered that too. I was hoping Steve Barron would have commented on that in the director's commentary, but no. I think it was probably just done for dramatic effect.

[Candy Kappa]

Originally Posted by zkarlette

I was thinking about this the other day..on the Movie TMNT I when Raph was knocked out at the farm ,they kept him in a tub with water or at least it seems like it ,That got me thinking why would he need to be in water if they never are and so on.. One of those things that come to mind..

in the sewers the turtles will always have a certain moistness all-around, while in the farm Raph would need to be soaked while being out cold.

RES can only stay so and so out of water before they'll get dry.