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- Sea Turtles Outlived the Dinosaurs. Sea turtles are often compared to dinosaurs due to their scaly, reptilian appearance. In fact, sea turtles were around at the same time as dinosaurs!
- You Can Tell Sea Turtles Apart by Their Shells and Scales. You can tell sea turtle species apart by the color, shape, and pattern of their shells (called scutes) and the pattern of the scales on their faces.
- Sand Temperature Determines the Sex of Sea Turtles. When a female turtle lays her eggs deep in the sand, the eggs are fertilized, but the sex of each embryo has yet to be decided.
- Only 1 in 1,000 Turtles Will Make it to Adulthood. Based on population calculations, on average, only 1 in every 1,000 sea turtle eggs will become an adult turtle.
- Green Sea Turtles Are What They Eat!
- Sand Temperature Is Very important.
- Hawksbill Turtles Use Their Beaks to Help Extract Their Favorite Prey.
- One Sea Turtle Species Nests During The Day.
- Sea Turtles Don’T Retract Into Their Shells.
- Sea Turtles Are Deep Divers and Can Stay Underwater For Long Periods of time.
Green sea turtles are unique among sea turtles in that they are primarily herbivores, eating mostly seagrasses and algae. This diet is what gives their cartilage and fat a greenish color (not their shells), which is where their name comes from. Learn more about green sea turtles
The sex of sea turtles, like many other turtles, is determined by the temperature in the nest. Cooler incubation temperatures produce male hatchlings and warmer incubation temperatures produce female hatchlings. Temperatures that fluctuate between the two extremes will produce a mix of male and female hatchlings. Watch the video below to learn abou...
Hawksbill turtles are typically found on coral reefs which are home to their preferred food—sponges. The shape and sharpness of their beak enables them to reach into small holes and crevices in coral reefs to find food. Learn more about hawksbill turtles
Most sea turtles nest at night—Kemp’s ridleys are the only sea turtles that routinely nest during the day. Learn more about Kemp’s ridley turtles
Unlike other turtles, sea turtles cannot retract their flippers and head into their shells. Their streamlined shells and large paddle-shaped flippers make them very agile and graceful swimmers. In the water, their rear flippers are used as rudders, for steering.
As reptiles, sea turtles breathe air, but they have the ability, under natural conditions, to remain submerged(link is external)for hours at a time. They even sleep underwater. Most sea turtles spend their entire life at sea, only returning to nesting beaches to lay eggs. However, in the Pacific Islands, green turtles often come ashore to bask on t...
May 23, 2024 · Indeed, increasing global temperatures have important implications for sea turtle management and survival. In this article, we take a closer look at 7 interesting and mind-blowing facts about sea turtles. — 7 Interesting Facts About Sea Turtles 1. Sea Turtles Can Live Up To 50 Years
- Turtles belong to one of the oldest reptile groups in the world – beating snakes, crocodiles and alligators!
- These creatures date back to the time of the dinosaurs, over 200 million years ago – woah!
- Turtles are easily recognised by their bony, cartilaginous shell. This super-tough casing acts like a shield to protect them from predators – some turtles can even tuck their head up inside their shell for extra protection!
- Just like your bones, a turtle’s shell is actually part of its skeleton. It’s made up of over 50 bones which include the turtle’s rib cage and spine.
- There are seven species of marine turtle. Marine turtles were around more than 100 million years ago - and lived alongside dinosaurs. These days, scientists recognise seven species of marine turtle
- Turtles don’t have teeth. They use their beak-like mouth to grasp their food. This beak is made of keratin (the same stuff your fingernails are made of).
- They’re well ‘ard. Turtle shells are made of over 50 bones fused together - so they're literally wearing their bones on the outside. They also have light, spongy bones that help them float.
- Their young lives are a mystery. The first few years of a marine turtle’s life are known as the ‘lost years’. That’s because the time between when the hatchlings emerge until they return to coastal shallow waters to forage is incredibly difficult to study.
Jun 16, 2020 · 10 fascinating facts about sea turtles. The oldest known sea turtle fossil is at least 120 million years old, making sea turtles some of the oldest creatures on the planet. That means they shared the planet with dinosaurs which became extinct around 65 million years ago.
Jun 13, 2022 · 1. In many parts of the world, hawksbills are threatened by hunting for their beautiful shell. Also known as “tortoise shell," it is used by craftspeople to create many types of jewelry and trinkets. The historical hunting and killing of hawksbills for their shell nearly drove the species to extinction.
