THE ARTICLE! https://www.redbookmag.com/about/g32449339/sea-turtle-and-tortoise-facts/?source=nl&utm_source=nl_rbk&utm_medium=email&date=080821&utm_campaign=nl24506150
TURTLE TIME'S WEBSITE: https://turtletime.org/
Turtles are an important part of our ecosystem and should be protected just like any other precious animal. We're bringing you some of the most interesting facts about them. Did you know that some aquatic turtles breathe through their butt when hibernating? Or that sea turtles can hold their breath underwater for up to seven hours? We should focus on the conservation of our favorite slow pokes and support programs like Costa Rica's non-profit CIRENAS who partnered with eco-tourism resort Florblanca devoting time and effort into protecting turtle nests on Costa Rica's Pacific coast. Some turtles species are still at-risk
MALE SEA TURTLES NEVER LEAVE THE OCEAN.
A representative from the Georgia Aquarium explains, "They spend their entire lives in the ocean; after hatching from nests on the beach, young sea turtles make a mad dash to the ocean, where they will live. Only breeding females will in time return to the beach to build nests of their own."
IF IT'S HOT, MORE FEMALE SEA TURTLES ARE BORN AND IF COLD, MORE MALES.
"The temperature determines the sex of the hatchling, with a warmer nest producing more females, and cooler nests producing more males." A representative from the Georgia Aquarium says.
SEA TURTLES CRY SALTY TEARS TO GET RID OF EXCESS SALT IN THEIR BELLY.
Like some animals, drinking straight up salt water is no bueno. Various animals that live in the ocean have coping mechanisms and sea turtles have a special gland that empties excess salt near the eyes. If you see a sea turtle crying, it's probably just expelling salt from the water it just drank.
SEA TURTLES ABSORB ALL TYPES OF CHEMICALS FROM THE SEA.
From WWF-Australia: "A research project led by WWF-Australia found a large number of human-sourced chemicals, including heart and gout medication, in green turtles foraging near towns on the Great Barrier Reef."
WWF-Australia’s Christine Madden Hof adds, "Be careful what you put down your sink, wash from your driveways, spray on your lawns, everything ends up in the ocean and turtles are ingesting not only plastics but accumulating the chemicals as well. We know for some populations of turtles, these chemicals are having a negative impact on their health."
NOT ALL TURTLES HAVE THE SAME LIMBS.
A representative from the Georgia Aquarium adds, "Sea turtles have flippers instead of feet. Unlike other turtles, they cannot retract their limbs into their shells for protection."
TURTLES EVERYWHERE ARE STILL HUNTED FOR THEIR SHELLS.
WWF-Australia mentions "Hawksbill turtles are still hunted for their beautiful shells. Tourists, particularly cruise ship passengers, may be offered tortoiseshell jewellery and other hawksbill products when they visit local markets."
WWF-Australia’s Christine Madden Hof adds "Think Before you buy – when traveling be careful what products you buy, tortoiseshell products are made from real, live hawksbill sea turtle shells. These species of turtles are critically endangered globally and the tortoiseshell trade is one of the biggest threats it faces. Choose other locally made products instead."
TORTOISES AREN'T ACTUALLY MAD AT YOU WHEN YOU PICK THEM UP.
"While it is true that the sound a turtle makes sounds like it's hissing, it's not. When a turtle is afraid or picked up quickly, it pulls its head in really quickly and this action forces the air out. It's biological, not deliberate. " Says the American Tortoise Rescue.
SOME TURTLES BREATHE THROUGH THEIR BUTTS.
The American Tortoise Rescue explains "When water turtles hibernate under water for months, they breathe through their butts."
TURTLES SEE IN COLOR AND HAVE GREAT MEMORY.
A study from the James Cook University’s Turtle Health Research facility found "Turtles have color vision. (Their favorite color – not surprisingly – is blue.) They also have good memories. Trials have shown that turtles which have mastered a trick to obtain a food reward, at a young age, will immediately remember how to achieve the same result, when the puzzle is re-introduced to them eight months later. There is also evidence that turtles have individual personalities."
"I didn’t think that reptiles had personalities, but they do," observed Professor Ariel from the research facility. "Some turtles are shy and will avoid a new device in the tank, whereas others are bold and will swim up to nudge or bite it. They have vastly different behavioral traits."
EMY RODRIGUEZ FLORESE is a journalist and Florida native covering everything from lifestyle, travel, fashion, beauty and more.