I'm not sure what the deal is but, a lot of people like turtles. And by "turtles" they may mean turtles or tortoises... So I try to carve both in order to satisfy the most customers.
This first critter is my rendition of the African Sulcata. This large creature is a popular pet which is so well cared for that their carapace {upper shell} becomes distorted from eating too much protein. No. Those cool pyramids are not the sign of a healthy Sulcata but they do attract a lot of oooohs and aaahs.
The Green Sea Turtle is a species I carve very often. The simple design is recognized as a generic turtle which attracts many would be buyers. More buyers, in fact, than the tortoise. I suppose it's easier to get excited over a turtle which appears to fly through water than over the tortoise who skids about on his stomach.
In the near future, I plan to add other turtle species to my carving repertoire starting with the Leather Back. Perhaps a snapper or a stylized design will catch people's attention?