Did you Know?

These magnificent creatures come in all shapes and sizes and live in a number of different environments. They all belong to a group of reptiles called Testudines, which includes turtles, tortoises, and terrapins.

But did you know these totally awesome turtle facts about our friends of the sea.

They Have Been Around A Long Time

Turtles belong to the oldest group of reptiles in the world, beating Alligators, Snakes and Crocodiles.

They Have Aged Well

Dating back to the dinosaurs, turtles are over 200 million years old.

They Really Love To Travel

Leatherback sea turtles have been recorded travelling over 10,000 miles a year.

Home Is Where The Heart Is

Female sea turtles always return to the same nesting grounds they were born to lay their eggs.

They Can Hold Their Breath For A Very, Very, Very Long Time

Green sea turtles are capable of holding their breath for up to 5 hours, although feeding dives generally only last around 5-10minutes.

They Can Grow Super Heavy

Leatherback sea turtles have been known to tip the scales at over 2000lbs (907KG).

Table Tennis Anyone?

Turtle eggs look identical to Ping-Pong balls, but they’re not, so don’t play with them, sea turtles can lay up to 150 eggs every 2-3 years.

Survival Of The Fittest

It’s estimated only 1/1000 hatchlings will survive and make it to adulthood. Treacherous journeys from the nest to the sea and predatory dangers of the open ocean make it the hard knock life for these.

Here I Go Again On My Own

Male sea turtles spend their lives at sea, since they don’t return to land lay eggs males almost never leave the ocean.

Together We Cry

Sometimes turtles cry, but not because they are sad. Sea turtles have glands that help them empty the excess salt from their eyes. It may appear as though they are crying but fear not they are just housekeeping.

Male or Female

The sex of sea turtles is determined during the incubation phase. It largely depends on how hot or cold their environment was while they were in the eggs. Cooler temperatures produce males whereas warmer temperatures result in females.

In Deep Water

There are seven species of sea turtle, six are endangered. They are in big trouble and its our fault, humans pose the biggest threat to sea turtle survival through are actions. Plastic pollution, entanglement, habitat loss and consumption for their eggs, meat and shells are the main threats.

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