15 Intriguing Facts About Baby Sea Turtles

Baby sea turtles are small, fast, and too cute to miss. Their small bodies and swift flippers make them incredibly adorable. Amazingly, these little creatures have been around for more than 100 million years, beating even the dinosaurs. Sea turtles encounter nature’s harsh conditions right from their first moments out of the shell. Learn more about them with these 15 surprising facts.

They are called hatchlings

Baby sea turtles start their life adventure as small eggs. They are nested safely in the sands, and their mothers lay approximately 100-125 eggs each time and nest multiple times, two weeks apart, over several months. Once they hatch, they are called hatchlings.

Their Incubation is a unique process

Baby sea turtles have an incubation period that lasts roughly 50-60 days. This timeframe can change, depending on the type of turtle and the environment. They don’t have moms to keep them warm or rotate the eggs. Their eggs are hidden under the sand, which is warmed by the sun, providing the right temperature for their growth.

The sand’s temperature determines their gender

The gender of sea turtles is determined by the temperature of the sand during incubation. Cool sands lean towards the boys’ side, while girls reign in warmer patches. Even a small shift in sand temperature can significantly alter the gender ratio in a nest. That’s why climate change is a big problem for baby sea turtles. It may cause too many females and messes up the gender balance.

Not all baby sea turtles survive

Only about 1 in every 1,000 baby sea turtles makes it to adulthood. They start to fight for survival with a dangerous run from their nests to the ocean. Their journey isn’t complete until they breach the ocean’s surface.

They face quite the predator showdown

From tiger sharks to seabirds, and from killer whales to raccoons, or even feral dogs—hatchlings encounter a lot of predators from the moment they hatch. They even need to dodge crabs and large fish eager to make them a meal. That’s why sea turtles lay hundreds of eggs to increase the chances that at least a few hatchlings will reach adulthood.

All baby sea turtles are orphans

Unlike most mammals, sea turtles are alone once they hatch. After their mother lays their eggs on the beach and bury them in the sand, sea turtle moms head back to the ocean. She leaves her unborn offspring in the sand. These baby turtles are then all on their own. They depend mostly on their natural instincts to survive their early life stages.

They depart their nest at night

Unlike humans who love a good day at the beach, baby sea turtles prefer nighttime. They usually pop out of their sandy nests when it’s dark. It’s their strategy to avoid various daytime predators. Fortunately, the nighttime departure isn’t solitary. Once the first brave little turtle makes a move, the rest of the siblings quickly follow.

Their shells are buoyancy aids

From birth, their uniquely designed shells help them in their journey from the nest to the sea. They serve a dual purpose. They provide protection and enhance buoyancy to easily swim in the ocean. These shells are very important in helping the baby turtles survive, as they save energy during the difficult hatching stage.

They can’t hide inside their shells

Baby sea turtles can’t retract their tiny flippers and heads into their shells for safety. This is unlike most of their terrestrial counterparts. Unfortunately, this makes them more vulnerable to predators and other threats as exposure leaves them susceptible to predators. 

They’ve got an in-built compass

These tiny adventurers have an incredible sense of direction from the start. Research shows that baby sea turtles can naturally find their way into the big oceans. They use Earth’s magnetic fields to help them get back to the exact beach they were born on. They are already living like adventurers from the very start!

They’re solo travelers

On the day they hatch, baby sea turtles start on a solo journey that holds no guarantees. With no elders to show them the ropes, they kick off an epic, albeit risky journey. Baby sea turtles are guided only by their natural instincts and the glow of the moon reflected on the sea.

Some of them are carnivores at first

Some baby sea turtles start their dietary journey as little carnivores, feeding mollusks, jellyfish, crustaceans, and even fish eggs. As they mature, some of them feed more on plants.

It takes 30 years for them to be an adult

Baby sea turtles take 30 years to reach adulthood. During this period, they’re spending three decades learning life under the seas. They’re learning how to swim through powerful currents, how to find the tastiest jellyfish, and how to evade different predators.

They live a long time

Some sea turtle species can live up to 150 years or more. However, their longevity depends on many factors, including their species, diet, lifestyle, and the dangers they face in the ecosystem. Threats such as predation, habitat destruction, and human interference can significantly shorten their lives. Therefore, ensuring a safe and healthy environment is essential for these creatures to reach their potential old age.

They are an endangered bunch

Of the 6.5 million estimated sea turtles left in the wild, most species are listed as endangered or critically endangered. Every effort to conserve these majestic creatures is as crucial as ever. Factors contributing to their endangerment include habitat loss due to beach development, accidental capture in fishing gear, and illegal trade of turtle products. 

The Deadliest and Most Dangerous Marine Animals

The Deadliest and Most Dangerous Marine Animals