Sea Turtles: Fun Interesting Facts and Resources

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Fun Facts about Sea Turtles

Sea turtles are one of the oldest and mysterious creatures on the planet. They have been in existence since the time when dinosaurs called this planet their home. Only now, because of humans and our ‘advances’ such as the invention of plastic, electricity and coastal development, are the sea turtles at risk of extinction. The following interesting facts outline some of the basic habits, characteristics and traits of the seven species of sea turtles in existence.

1. Six out of the total seven species of sea turtles are endangered, and protected under the Endangered Species Act.

Of these six, three are critically endangered, two are endangered and one is vulnerable. Many people devote time and effort to ensuring that sea turtles are able to feed and breed, so that future generations of sea turtles can continue to increase the population of the species. Volunteers supervise egg-laying and hatching to make sure that newly hatched baby sea turtles make it to the sea without being eaten by beach-circling prey. Beaches where turtles are commonly hatched are closed to the public for further protection.

2. The temperature of the sand that eggs are buried in helps to determine the sex of the baby turtles.

When a female sea turtle is pregnant, she seeks out a spot on a sandy beach at which to bury her eggs. This is one of the only times a sea turtle leaves the water. The female digs a hole for the eggs to incubate in, covers the hole, and returns to the sea. Depending on the temperature of the sand surrounding the eggs, the resulting babies will be predominantly male or female. Sand that measures less than 85 degrees Fahrenheit yields mostly male turtles, while sand above 85 degrees Fahrenheit yields mostly female turtles.

3. Sea turtle species vary in size and weight

The smallest species of sea turtle is called the Kemp’s ridley. Measuring only 30 inches long at full size, the turtle will typically weight between 80 and 100 pounds. On the opposite end of the scale chart, the Leatherback sea turtle species can grow as long as 78”. These monsters can weigh in at over 2,000 pounds, as much as a small car! Their shell is not visible, but is embedded within their leathery skin, providing as much protection as the exterior shell found on most other turtles.

4. The lifespan of a sea turtle is estimated to be about 80 years

The true life expectancy is difficult to gauge because sea turtles have never been continuously tracked in the wild throughout an entire lifespan. Scientists know that after reaching maturity, turtles have an average reproductive life that lasts about 30 years. With this information, they are able to determine life expectancies that range from 60 to 80 years, depending on the species.

5. There are seven varieties of sea turtles.

Sea turtles fall into two Family categories according to the Biological classification system. The two categories are Cheloniidae and Dermochelyidae. The leatherback sea turtle is the only species that falls into the Dermochelyidae Family. The Cheloniidae Family includes the hawksbill, green flatback, loggerhead, Kemp’s ridley and olive ridley turtle species.

6. To reduce the endangerment of sea turtles, the turtle excluder device was invented.

In 1987, the United States passed a law requiring all fishermen to use turtle excluder devices (TEDs) in their shrimp nets. This device is a simple installation of a metal grate, located halfway down the long tube-shaped shrimp nets. The shrimp easily pass through the grate, but larger fish and turtles are kept from continuing down to the closed end of the new by this grate. Just above the grate is an escape cover in the net, a sort of flap that allows the large sea creatures to escape.

Other countries have not yet mandated the use of these devices, which is concerning to many who know how dangerous these nets can be for turtles. The United States attempted to pass a law two years after the TED law that required all countries exporting shrimp to the US to use these TED devices, but the law is hard to regulate in some countries.

7. Each species of sea turtle has a different diet

Green turtles typically east sea grasses and other green vegetation, using their serrated beak like a saw to cup the grasses and eat algae off of rocks. Leatherback sea turtles feed on larger jellyfish and soft-bodied sea animals using their sharp tooth like formations to grab and hold onto struggling prey. Their size allows them to eat larger, meatier species in the ocean. Leatherbacks also have papillae in their mouths and throats. These sharp, curved spines work in conjunction with each other to push the food down the throat and into the stomach. Loggerheads eat crabs, conchs, whelks and clams, digesting the meat as well as the shells. This species of turtle has a very strong and large jaw that crushes the shells before digesting them. Hawksbill turtles feed on sponges and invertebrates.

8. Sea turtles have been on Earth for 100 million years, longer than dinosaurs, which became extinct 65 million years ago.

However, after 100 million years, humans have managed to be responsible for the endangerment of the species. These threats come from fishing gears, especially nets and longlines. Humans are developing the coast like never before, which is ruining many longtime nest sites for the turtles. When hatchlings are born, they no longer know how to get to the ocean because of distractions such as artificial lights from houses and streetlights. Leatherbacks in particular feed on jellyfish, and all too often mistake a floating plastic bag for food. The consumption of this plastic bag results in intestinal blockage and ultimately, death.

9. Sea turtles have specific mating practices

Both male and female sea turtles travel up to 1500 miles to reach breeding grounds. In a yet-unexplained phenomenon, the turtles find the same beaches where they hatched decades before and lay their eggs in the same spot.

Female turtles mate with many males before nesting. They store the males’ sperm so that over a period of months, multiple eggs can be fertilized. Males remain in the sea, while females venture to the shore to dig holes in which to lay their eggs. This process usually takes place at night. The female can lay between 50 and 100 eggs at one time. The eggs are recovered with sand, and the female returns to the water. Six to eight weeks later, the hatchlings emerge from their shells and dig their way up to fresh air. Instinctively, they head towards the water, and begin their lives in the sea.

10. The age of sexual maturity of a sea turtle depends on the species

Kemp’s ridleys and olive ridleys sea turtles mature when they reach about 10 years of age. Leatherback turtles, although they are the largest, are the third fastest species to reach maturity, and do so after about 15 years. Loggerheads, hawksbills, flatbacks and greens all mature anywhere between 20 and 50 years of age.

After reaching this sexual maturity, the sea turtles know that it is time to return to the coastal waters to breed.

Resources about Sea Turtles

See Turtles Organization
website

Sea Turtle Restoration Project
website

NOAA Fisheries Office of Protected Resources
website

Defenders of Wildlife Organization
website

Sea Turtle Organization – Volunteer and Support Opportunities
website

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Information and Resources

Resource by Amy

I am an architect, editor, writer and math nerd. I love to run, bike, camp, bake, grill and be outside. Right now, I am moving across the country to change my career and teach elementary school children.

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