The turtles are animals belonging to the Order of the Testudines that have adapted wonderfully to different media, habitats and environments, therefore, They have become popular in many countries, even being considered pets in some cases. However, after the reproduction of turtles, it is very likely that you wonder how turtles are born, whether we are talking about those that live on land, in the sea or in sweet water.
Did you know that a sea turtle can lay more than 800 eggs in a single reproductive period? In this article on our site we will talk in detail about the birth of the turtles and many other important aspects of this period, keep reading to discover everything about these fascinating animals!
Turtle information
Turtles belong to the animal kingdom, being within the family of reptiles, being of the Order of the Testudines or chelonians. They are characterized by being tetrapod vertebrate animals and with a shell that is attached to the dorsal part of their spine. This shell is made up of different bony plates that cover both the ventral part, an area called the plastron, and the dorsal part, called the carapace. They shed both their skin and the layers that make up the shields of the shell
They are animals poikilothermal or ectothermic, which means that they do not have the ability to self-regulate their own body temperature, something that will make the atmosphere. They do not have teeth, but they do have a bony beak that resembles that of some birds.
They eat turtles?
The diet of turtles varies according to the species, as well as the resources that exist in their habitat. In all cases, food digestion is extremely slow and prolonged. But they can also be herbivores, carnivores or omnivores
In general, this is what the turtles eat:
- The land tortoises are exclusively herbivorous, thus, tortoises feed on plants, leaves, fruits and grass.
- The sea turtles can be omnivorous or carnivorous, depending on the species to which they belong, and consume fish, molluscs, algae and small Marine animals.
- The freshwater turtles are also omnivorous or carnivorous, again depending on their species, in this case, feeding on the freshwater turtles includes algae, crabs, insects and other resources present in their environment.
Where do turtles live?
Turtles are reptiles that are present in many habitats and ecosystems. They inhabit seas, rivers, lakes, forests and jungles among others. Depending on the species of turtle, we find them in:
- The land turtless live in jungles, deserts and forests, adapting to arid conditions and extremely high temperatures.
- The Sea Turtles live in seas and oceans all over the planet, preferring tropical and subtropical regions. They are not present in very cold areas, much less at the poles.
- Freshwater Turtles Live in rivers, forests, jungles, and lakes where temperatures are generally warm or warm.
In the case of having them as pets, tortoises need a house or terrarium adapted to their dimensions and in which temperature and humidity conditions are well controlled. If we have aquatic turtles at home, they must remain in an aquarium in which the water is fresh or s alty depending on its type and is at a suitable temperature.
We must take care of the water conditions, ensuring that it is always clean and providing environmental enrichment. For those who have amphibian turtles, we recommend reading this article that explains step by step how to prepare an aquaterrarium.
Turtle reproduction
The reproduction of turtles, in any species, is done by means of eggs, that are deposited in the environment, where they develop and hatch. The number of eggs per clutch and the number of clutches per year varies according to the species, as we will see a little later.
In all cases there is a copulation between the male and the female after a courtship ritual occurs, in which the males They often compete with other males to copulate with females. That is why turtles are sexually reproducing animals.
The breeding season and the fertile age vary according to the species of turtle, as well as according to the environment and climate in which it is found. In the case of domestic tortoises, the average for the beginning of the fertile age is 7 years in males and 9 in females, in this case laying 5 to 8 eggs.
How are tortoises born?
Within the types of turtles we find the tortoises or tortoises, which spend most of their lives in a terrestrial medium. These species of turtles have a oviparous reproduction, laying their eggs in the middle, where they finish developing and hatch when they are ready. But, How are tortoises born?
The average clutch is between 5 and 8 eggs, laying in holes dug in the ground by the females. Hatching does not have a specific period, since it varies substantially depending on the temperature of the soil and the strength and incidence of the sun's rays.
Once the hatchlings hatch they have to be strong enough to get out of the hole where the eggs are, also at this time they are very fragile and very exposed to predators, so many of them do not survive. The size of a tortoise at birth is approximately 3-4 centimeters in total length, although it varies by species.
In the following video of Reptile's Story you will be able to observe the spawning, birth and development of Morocoy turtles (Chelonoidis carbonaria), an endemic species from Latin America:
How are sea turtles born?
The sea turtles are ready to reproduce after 6 months of life in some species and 8 years in others, varying considerably the beginning of the fertile age When they are fertile, these turtles mate during the reproductive season, which will be determined by the habitat and its consequent weather.
The eggs are deposited after about 2-3 weeks, in which the females carry them until they find an appropriate place to lay them. This is usually done in the beach sand, quite far from the shore, to protect the eggs from the waves and tides, being about 50 centimeters deep. Spawning is usually done during the night
After a while the eggs begin to hatch, and these turtles are also very prolific, laying between 50 and 150 eggs. This is also added to the fact that they can carry out more than one spawning in the same reproductive season.
However, many of these eggs do not even hatch, while others do, but the hatchlings, trying to reach the water, are attacked by various predators, and there is ahigh mortality rate among hatchlings. Specifically, of all those that are born, it is estimated that only 10% reach adulthood.
In the following video we will observe the spawning and birth of Leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea), the largest species of sea turtle. It is critically endangered:
How are freshwater turtles born?
The birth of freshwater turtles is similar to that of sea turtles, although in this case the eggs remain inside the inside the womblonger, approximately 2 months.
After this gestation period, the female performs the spawning in sandy areas, where she digs holes in order to lay her eggs, covering them with sand and making sure they get plenty of sunlight. This clutch consists of a total of 20 eggs on average, which hatch in approximately 80-90 days
In this video, also from Reptile's Story, we will observe the spawning and birth of red-eared slider turtles (Trachemys scripta elegans) a species from the United States that became especially popular as a companion animal, consequently, today it is one of the most worrying invasive species in the world:
More on turtle hatching
When the moment of birth arrives, the eggs hatch, and the little turtles have to break the shell. To do this they use the horny beak they have, thus managing to get outside.
Once they get out of the eggs, they have to out of the hole where they have been spawned, something that is especially complicated in species of sea turtles, where they reach half a meter deep.
These turtles are extremely exposed to predators, both before they are born, because they eat the eggs, and when they are young or neonates. For this reason many of them perish before reaching adulthood.
How often do turtles lay eggs?
Frequency of spawning is determined by factors such as turtle habitat, species and typeIn this way, while sea turtles can lay more than 8 times in each reproductive period, land turtles normally only lay one time per season. In general, greater numbers of clutches are observed in aquatic turtles, especially in warmer climates.
Can turtle eggs be hatched?
If our own turtle has laid eggs, what do we have to do? Can we hatch them ourselves? The answer is YES, if we have turtle eggs and we want to try to get them out we can resort to artificial incubation of them. To do this we have to buy or make an incubator, the most important thing being that it allows us to maintain adequate temperature and humidity.
The gestation time and incubation success rate depends, first of all, on the conditions in which the eggs are found, because when we find them they may be damaged or no longer fertileIt is usually recommended to check if the egg is fertile, using the trick of seeing it against the light. It will also depend on the species, because in some it is easier, while in other cases it is almost impossible to succeed if you do not have extensive experience and enough knowledge.
Once incubation has started, you have to be patient, as this can take more than 90 days, at which point the eggs. Birth is slow, taking between 8 and 24 hours. When the egg hatches it is essential that we do not help the turtle to get out of it, it has to do it alone, since also at this moment it is still absorbing nutrients from the yolk sac of the egg.
It is essential to point out that, if we have found eggs buried on the beach or in a wild environment, we should not pick them up and take them home, as we may be facing a protected species for being one of the endangered turtles. In this case, we would be committing an action of poaching, facing administrative sanctions that in Spain range between 2 and €60,000[2]
If we suspect that some wild eggs may be in danger, we will directly call the Forest Agents of our Community or the number of Emergencies so that they refer us. We will report the situation and, only then, will we proceed to follow the instructions of the agents. You can ask us for help and to move the eggs to a wildlife recovery center or to a specific veterinary clinic.
