Here are some things you may not know about turtles.
Turtles, big or small, are fascinating creatures. The reptilian creatures are adorable and are very interesting. Here are some fascinating things about turtles you may not be aware of.
All turtle species of turtle lay their eggs on land
There are over 300 species of turtles on the planet. All of them lay their eggs on land. Leatherback turtles migrate thousands of miles to lay their eggs. The interesting part is they go back to the beach they were born on to lay their own eggs. River turtles tend to lay their eggs on shores that are close to where they live. Box turtles and other turtles that live on land look for moist soil in marshlands or forests. Some turtles lay they eggs in water as a last resort when they do not have no other option.
Turtles outswim humans with ease
When you spot a turtle in the water, you usually find them enjoying the water at a leisurely pace. However, turtles can swim fast when they need to dash. For instance, the leatherback turtle has the ability to swim at speeds up to 22 miles an hour. Turtles only swim fast when they feel threatened underwater.
A turtle's gender is determined by temperature
One of the fascinating facts about turles is that they gender is determined differently compared to other species on the planet. For them, it depend on the temperature. The deciding factor is the temperature of the eggs in the development stage. It is known as temperature-dependent sex determination. Turtle eggs will hatch male if the eggs incubate below 81.86 degrees Fahrenheit. If they are incubated above 87.8°F, the eggs will hatch female turtles. Warmer sand can also have an influence and cause more female turtles to be hatched. Climate change could also have an impact on turtle species. It could help hatch more female than male turtles to be born.
You won't find turtles in the Antarctica
Turtles are known for being adaptive to their surrounding and can survive all kinds of conditions on Earth. However, you will not find them in the Antarctica. Sea turtles can sometimes be discovered in the European Arctic. The leatherback turtle can be found in the Arctic Circle and even landing up as far as New Zealand. Most of the species are found in southeastern America and South Asia.
