If your new, hang out with these guys until you have a shelter. I did that when I was starting out and it saved me and my dodo from a scorpion.

When fighting any beach predators, run twoards the earest turtle. The turtle will save you.

These friendly turtles are passive, but be warned, if other turtles are nearby and you attack one you will have a lot of turtles chasing you

When in need of large amounts of keratin most tribes will hunt turtles. Just remember to aim for weak points such as the legs and exposed neck to maximize damage.