Turtles existed long before the dinosaurs walked the Earth. These resilient reptiles adapted to life in deserts, forests, and the open ocean. Furthermore, they possess one of the most unique skeletal structures in the animal kingdom. Consequently, they appear in the myths and legends of almost every culture. Explore these fascinating details about the shelled survivors.
Turtles
Turtles can technically breathe through their bottoms. Specifically, some aquatic species pump water in and out of their cloaca to absorb oxygen during hibernation.
Their shell is actually a part of their skeleton. Unlike hermit crabs, they cannot leave their shell because their ribs and spine are fused directly to it.
The temperature of the sand determines the sex of the babies. Surprisingly, warmer nests produce female hatchlings, while cooler nests produce mostly males.
Sea turtles cry salty tears to survive in the ocean. They possess special glands behind their eyes that filter excess salt from the water they drink.
A tortoise named Jonathan holds the record as the oldest living land animal. Remarkably, he lives on the island of St. Helena and is estimated to be over 190 years old.
Leatherback turtles swim faster than any other reptile. In fact, they can reach speeds of up to 22 miles per hour (35 kilometers per hour) in the water.
They feel pressure and pain through their shells. Contrary to popular belief, the shell contains nerve endings, so they can feel it when you scratch their back.
Green sea turtles become vegetarians as they grow older. While the babies eat everything, the adults strictly graze on seagrass and algae.
Hatchlings communicate with each other while still inside their eggs. They make clicking sounds to coordinate their hatching time so they can rush to the ocean together.
Turtles possess an internal GPS that uses the Earth’s magnetic field. Therefore, they return to the exact same beach where they were born to lay their own eggs.
They lack a diaphragm to help them breathe. Instead, they must use muscles in their neck and limbs to pump air in and out of their lungs.
Leatherbacks mistake plastic bags for jellyfish. Sadly, this confusion often proves fatal because floating plastic looks exactly like their favorite food.
Softshell turtles can run surprisingly fast on land. Despite their goofy appearance, they sprint back to the water at incredible speeds if they feel threatened.
Some species can live for months without food. Consequently, their slow metabolism allows them to survive long periods of drought or famine.
Finally, they existed alongside the dinosaurs and survived the mass extinction. Thus, these ancient reptiles proved to be one of the most successful designs in evolution.
