[Robert A Cook PE]

Turtles are dry skinned?

Neigh, neigh moose breath!

We had to keep cleaning the algea of off the back of our red-earred slider every week. He couldn't swallow unless he was underwater....

(Perhaps you're thinking of the dry-land, grass-eating tortoises?)

[pabianice]

Turtles are dry skinned? Neigh, neigh moose breath! We had to keep cleaning the algea of off the back of our red-earred slider every week. He couldn't swallow unless he was underwater.... (Perhaps you're thinking of the dry-land, grass-eating tortoises?)

No. All reptiles are dry-skinned. Pond turtles -- in the water most of the time -- typically get a covering of algae on their skins and shells which can be slimy-feeling. You see pond turtles sunning themselves to dry their shells and help control the algae growth. And yes, most fresh water turtles must be submerged to be able to swallow. Tortoises -- turtles that cannot swim and are purely land animals -- are a different story.