New Delhi: Turtles are extraordinary creatures. A tortoise is often mistaken for a turtle. While tortoises live on land, turtles prefer to spend their time in the water. Turtles are quite unique organisms. The difference between a turtle and a tortoise is sometimes overlooked. A tortoise lives on land, while a turtle lives in the sea. They are among the world’s earliest reptiles, dating back before snakes and crocodiles evolved. Scientists have identified more than 350 distinct turtle species. Approximately 6.5 million turtles inhabit the planet today. World Turtle Day is celebrated annually on May 23 to pay tribute to these hardy reptiles. Let us commemorate the occasion by learning interesting facts about turtles.
Interesting facts
Unlike other turtle species, green sea turtles are herbivores that survive mostly on seagrasses and algae. Their greenish coloration (in their fat and cartilage, not their shells) is a result of their nutrition.
The brood temperature determines the sex of sea turtles. Male newborns are produced by cooler incubation temperatures, while female hatchlings are produced by milder incubation temperatures.
Leatherback sea turtles migrate more than 10,000 miles annually between their nesting and feeding territories. They are also adept divers, with the deepest recorded dive reaching nearly 4,000 feet — deeper than the majority of marine mammals.
One of the oldest families of reptiles, turtles predate even snakes, crocodiles, and alligators.
🚨CONTEST ALERT 🚨 We want to #shellebrate your creativity! Tweet @worldturtleday your best artwork, song, or poem (or whatever art form you can think of) w/ #ILoveTurtles & #WTDart to be entered to win turtley cool prizes + fame. Winners will be announced on #WorldTurtleDay! pic.twitter.com/C8jwwThrPH
— World Turtle Day® (@WorldTurtleDay) May 15, 2023
When threatened, turtles can retract their heads and necks into their shells.
Turtles can grow to a maximum length of 2–7 feet and a maximum weight of 70–1,500 pounds.
In contrast to certain other reptiles, turtles do not have gills and breathe in oxygen the same way humans do.
Princess just learned #WorldTurtleDay is coming up, and since she is a tortoise, thinks she cannot be part of the shellebration. After she ate all her food (of course), she started her own protest! pic.twitter.com/z9HKsZUjuv
— World Turtle Day® (@WorldTurtleDay) May 21, 2023
