Sea turtles are some of the oldest creatures on Earth. These amazing reptiles have been swimming in our oceans for over 100 million years, which means they shared the planet with dinosaurs! Unlike land turtles, sea turtles cannot pull their heads or flippers inside their shells. Their bodies are perfectly built for life in the water, featuring long, paddle-like flippers that help them glide gracefully through the ocean waves.
There are seven different species of sea turtles found throughout the world's oceans. Each species is unique in its own way. The Leatherback is the largest, growing up to seven feet long and weighing as much as a small car. Other species, like the Green sea turtle, are named for the color of their body fat, which comes from eating a diet of seagrass and algae. Some sea turtles, like the Loggerhead, have very strong jaws that they use to crush the hard shells of crabs and clams.
A sea turtle's life begins on a sandy beach. Even though they spend most of their lives in the water, female turtles must come onto land to lay their eggs. Remarkably, they often travel thousands of miles back to the exact same beach where they were born. After digging a hole in the sand and laying about 100 eggs, the mother turtle returns to the sea. About two months later, the tiny hatchlings break out of their shells and must quickly crawl across the sand to the ocean. This journey is dangerous because many predators, like birds and crabs, try to catch the small turtles before they reach the safety of the water.
Today, sea turtles face many challenges. They are threatened by plastic pollution, as they sometimes mistake floating plastic bags for jellyfish, one of their favorite foods. Many people and organizations are working hard to protect these gentle giants. By keeping beaches clean and reducing ocean waste, humans can help ensure that sea turtles continue to swim in our oceans for many more years to come.
