Turtle

Turtles are reptiles of the order Testudines, most well-known for the nifty bony or cartilaginous shells, developed from their ribs, that they wear at all times, serving as a natural shield. They also appear as generic enemies in a few Crash games, because it is a primarily platformer series.

Physiology
Turtles in the first Crash Bandicoot game have smoother shells and brightly colored backs, being red with symmetrical green design, however, in Crash Bandicoot 2, there is no sign of the red-backed turtles. Instead, the game is filled with mechanised turtles, all of which have half of their head replaced with a metal coating and a red eye, which could be used for infrared scanning. There are two varieties of these turtles, one with two buzzsaws sticking out of its green shell, and one with spikes protruding from the side of its brown shell in several directions. These turtles seem to have the same characteristics as the red-backed turtles, walking only front and back. Both shells, however, are composed of the same material. When Crash jumps on the red-backed turtle and the spiked turtle, they both make the same hollow sound, indicating very similar materials. The turtles in Mystery Caves are slightly larger than the turtles in the first two platformer games. They seem to be very similiar to the spiked turtles by having the same type of shell.

Habitat
Turtles in the Crash Bandicoot series have a variety of homes, and can easily adapt to changes in climate, altitude, and temperature. Normally, a turtle will associated with the jungles, rivers, and forests of the three islands. But some walk around beaches, and even live as high as The High Road. The turtles have no apparent fear of people, as they are found around the gates of the Native Villages. Even mechanised turtles tend to live in habitats that normal turtles can be found in. Some mechanised turtles can even be found hidden underground in one of Crash Bandicoot 2's secret levels. Other places turtles can be found are in the Mystery Caves of Crash Team Racing. This shows that the turtles can withstand very hot temperatures. And they too can be found on a Volcanic Island of some sort.

Crash Bandicoot
Turtles are a relatively common enemy during Crash's maiden voyage. He first encounters them on N. Sanity Beach, where they serve as basic enemies to help Crash learn the mechanics of his movement. They later appear patrolling the borders of Papu Papu's village (in The Great Gate and Native Fortress). Finally, The High Road contains extensive puzzle solving involving turtle shells, in what appears to be a sky-high bridge-based turtle city, complete with depressing graveyard.

Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back
In Crash Bandicoot 2, N. Gin's handiwork on animals is evident throughout the game. One of the first animals bearing the "Terminator eye" is the Turtle. Appearing only in the forest levels (with one - Turtle Woods - specifically named after them), turtles come in two spiffy new varieties. The first has spikes on its side, eliminating the possibility of using spin or slide attacks; the other has a running buzzsaw on its shell, rendering jumping on the creature out of the question. It is never explained in-game how the buzzsaw is powered, as most real-world turtles are not electric creatures. It is also never explained how these buzzsaw turtles would mate.

Crash Team Racing
Turtle shells reprise their roles as trampolines on the track Mystery Caves, always appearing in pairs of two, side-by-side.

Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex
A Turtle makes an appearance in Crash and Burn carrying a platform that aids Crash in getting over a Segment of water at the beginning of the level, where it dons a Snorkle, Goggles, and a circular platform strapped to its back with an N mark on it.

Crash Twinsanity
The only Turtle appearing in the Game is seen in the Game's demo in Jungle Bungle, walking infront of the Nitro pack before the Cortex Boss Fight, replacing the complaining Skunk. It has Gray spikes on its Shell, and can only be slid.

Trivia

 * It seems that turtles were originally intended to appear in Crash Bandicoot: Evolution, as seen in concept art, which depicted them as gray, with red eyes. Some fans think that these turtles might have been of an entirely different species of turtles.


 * Curiously, none of the pre-CTR turtles are ever encountered in the water, despite being turtles.