10 Super Interesting Turtle Facts!

Turtles are one of the most majestic creatures to swim in our oceans! 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! 

Check out my favorite top ten totally awesome turtle facts below! :)

• Turtles belong to one of the oldest reptile groups in the world – beating snakes, crocodiles and alligators!

• Sea turtles lay their eggs in a nest they dig in the sand with their rear flippers. The group of eggs is called a clutch.

• These creatures date back to the time of the dinosaurs, over 200 million years ago – omg!
• 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.
• 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.
• Contrary to popular belief, a turtle cannot come out of its shell. The turtle’s shell grows with them, so it’s impossible for them to grow too big for it!
• Unlike other turtles, sea turtles cannot retract their flippers and head into their shells.
• What a turtle eats depends on the environment it lives in. Land-dwelling turtles will munch on beetles, fruit and grass, whereas sea dwellers will gobble everything from algae to squid and jellyfish.
• Turtles are ‘amniotes’ – they breathe air and lay their eggs on land, although many species live in or around water.
• Sadly, many species of turtle are endangered! 129 of approximately 300 species of turtle and tortoise on Earth today are either vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered, according to the IUCN. Threats include loss of habitat, pollution, poaching and the illegal pet trade.

Here are some notable foundations that help to preserve turtle species:

https://www.turtle-foundation.org/en/

https://saveturtles.org/

https://www.seeturtles.org/

Cited:

https://www.natgeokids.com/uk/discover/animals/sea-life/turtle-facts/ 

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/10-tremendous-turtle-facts