Turtles are known as gentle, patient, and wise creatures. Due to their long lifespan, slow movement, sturdy build, and lack of wrinkles, they are symbols of longevity and stability in many cultures around the world. Turtles are often incorporated into human culture, with artists, photographers, poets, musicians, and sculptors using them as subjects for their creations. Their long life has even earned them the folk name “elder turtle.” So, what are the prominent characteristics of turtles, and what are some Fun Facts About Sea Turtles you might not know? KnowAllAnimals will reveal them in the following article.
1. Top 11 Fun Facts About Sea Turtles That Will Amaze You
Do you know when turtles first appeared? The ancestors of turtles emerged 150 million years ago. The species in the order Testudines can be divided into three main types: sea turtles, tortoises, and terrapins. Terrapins are the smallest due to their life in ponds and lakes, while sea turtles and many tortoise species are large or very large.
Sea turtle species are generally larger than other turtle groups because they live in a marine environment and have evolved to adapt to life in the vast ocean with its rich and diverse food sources. Let’s explore some Fun Facts About Sea Turtles below.
1.1. Turtles Are One of the Four Mythical Creatures
The turtle’s function of supporting and ensuring the stability of the world connects it to the highest deity. The turtle is known as one of the four mythical creatures that guard the four directions. These four creatures are the Dragon, Kirin, Turtle, and Phoenix, which guard the east, west, north, and south, respectively.
The turtle’s image in both Eastern and Western cultures is a sacred animal that brings good luck and fortune. Furthermore, all turtle species can live for over 100 years, and some can live for several hundred years.
1.2. The Oldest Living Tortoise Is 190 Years Old
A giant tortoise named Jonathan became the world’s longest-living land animal on its 190th birthday in December 2022. Jonathan, who is 122 cm long, has maintained his size since he arrived on the island. He belongs to the Seychelles giant tortoise species, which reaches full maturity at 50 years of age.
Estimated to have been born in 1832, Jonathan has lived most of his life on the governor’s plantation on the island of Saint Helena in the South Atlantic—an island owned by the UK.
1.3. A Turtle’s Shell Is Made of 50 Different Bones
Like other animals, turtles have bones, but these bones are concentrated in their massive shells. From the outside, a turtle’s shell looks like a solid shield, but in reality, it is made up of about 50 different bones, including the ribs, shoulder blades, and vertebrae, which are fused together to form a tough outer layer.
This shell is essentially like a turtle’s rib cage, but it is on the outside instead of being hidden under the skin.
1.4. Turtles Have a Unique Respiratory System
It sounds strange, right? But this is a fact that biologist Maria Wojakowski has meticulously researched for a long time. Turtles are also among the rare animals on the planet that can breathe with their… anus, through a highly specialized respiratory system.
A turtle’s lungs are located at the top of its shell. In fact, most land animals breathe by expanding and contracting their ribs, which forces air in and out of the lungs. But turtles cannot do this because their ribs are fixed to their shell. To compensate, turtles rely on the muscles inside their shells to inhale and exhale oxygen through their mouths.
However, they don’t always breathe this way. At times, turtles exhale through a small cloaca, which is also the part they use for personal hygiene and laying eggs. In some cases, the cloaca also acts like a gill, drawing in water and absorbing oxygen from it.
1.5. Turtles Can Also Be Dangerous Predators
One of the most aggressive turtle species is the alligator snapping turtle. An adult alligator snapping turtle can grow up to 76 cm long and weigh 90 kg. It has an extremely strong jaw, a sharp, hooked beak, bear-like claws, and a muscular, powerful tail.
It often lures its prey, which can sometimes be other turtle species, by wiggling its tail like a worm to draw them into a trap.
1.6. A Turtle’s Journey to the Sea Is a Fight for Survival
Sea turtles can migrate hundreds or even thousands of kilometers from their feeding grounds to their nesting beaches and then return to the ocean. Female sea turtles swim through the waves to lay their eggs on the shore. They typically lay between 70 and 190 eggs.
It takes 6 to 10 weeks for the hatchlings to emerge, and depending on natural conditions (temperature, humidity), they will be male or female. The first journey every baby sea turtle must make after breaking out of its shell is to orient itself and swim toward the sea.
The turtles that successfully reach the sea officially begin a new survival journey in the ocean. Although many eggs are laid, a large number of hatchlings face numerous risks and pitfalls on their way to the sea. They easily become food for sharks, bears, raccoons, foxes, and seabirds, and especially for humans. Other reptiles and marine predators are the natural enemies of turtles when they are young.
1.7. Turtles Don’t Have Vocal Cords, But They Can Still Make Sounds
Most of the sounds produced by turtles are hisses, but the calls of a turtle can be classified into about six different types, each corresponding to a specific behavior. They can make sounds by pushing their heads out to force air out of their lungs.
1.8. Turtles Aren’t as Slow as People Think
According to the website Doctor Science, “They are herbivores, so they don’t need to chase prey. Turtles have thick shells, so most predators don’t bother them. Therefore, they don’t need to hunt or run from other predators, so there’s no reason to force them to be fast.” However, you’d be surprised at how fast they can be when they are in danger.
1.9. Sea Turtles Do Not Have Teeth
Sea turtles do not have teeth, but their jaws have adapted to their specific diet. They do not have visible ears but have eardrums covered by skin. Their hearing is best at low frequencies, and their sense of smell is excellent.
Turtles have slender bodies and large flippers, which make them remarkably adapted to life in the sea. However, sea turtles still maintain a close relationship with land. In the egg-laying season, females must come ashore to lay eggs in the sand. Therefore, all sea turtles begin their lives as small hatchlings on land.
1.10. The Only Pair of Turtles to Fly into Space
In 1968, a pair of Russian land tortoises became the first animals to fly into space.
“The test on the turtles proved that living organisms could travel to the moon without harm, except for a slight loss of weight. The journey of these two turtles paved the way for future lunar expeditions,” reported The Calvert Journal.
1.11. The Unique Genitals and Anus of Turtles
The female turtle’s genitals are hidden inside the cloaca, which is both the place for reproduction and where the female turtle excretes waste.
In some turtle species, the cloaca is covered by a thin membrane. Gas exchange can occur through this membrane when the turtle dives, allowing oxygen to reach the blood while it is underwater.
2. FAQs
1. What is a turtle’s shell made of?
A turtle’s shell is actually a collection of about 50 different bones, including its ribs and spine, that are fused together and located on the outside of its body, unlike a normal “rib cage.”
2. Can a turtle’s shell feel pain and bleed?
Yes. A turtle’s shell contains nerves and blood vessels, so if the shell is injured, the turtle can feel pain and even bleed.
3. What turtle species has been to space?
In 1968, a pair of Russian land tortoises became the first living creatures to fly into space, proving that living beings could survive the journey without major risks, only a slight weight loss.
4. What turtle species is a formidable “predator”?
The alligator snapping turtle is one of the most aggressive turtle species. With a body up to 76 cm long and weighing about 90 kg, it has a powerful jaw, a sharp, hooked beak, bear-like claws, and a muscular tail. It even lures prey by wiggling its tail like a worm to get its food within striking distance before attacking.
5. How can turtles make sounds without vocal cords?
Turtles make sounds by forcing air out of their lungs, creating a “hissing” sound. These sounds can be classified into at least six different types, each corresponding to a specific behavior.
3. Conclusion
Above are the Top 11 Fun Facts About Sea Turtles that KnowAllAnimals wanted to share with you. Many people love turtles and keep them as pets because, unlike aquatic animals such as fish or ornamental shrimp, a turtle is a pet you can take with you to “show off” to your friends. Even so, be sure to understand their characteristics to care for them properly.
References: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turtle
