The Green turtle is a big heavy sea turtle. It has a large smooth shell. It lives in the tropics and it swims in the water but they come onto the land as well. They have been around for 110 Million years which is a VERY long time. They were around during the time of the dinosaurs. This turtle species has been on this earth for ages and it has developed many adaptations to protect itself. It has three types of adaptations: behavioural, structural and physiological.
A behavioural adaptation is that Male turtles never go
on land except for when they hatch. They stay in
the water but the female turtles have to go
onto the land to lay their eggs. Once the baby
turtles have hatched they scurry along the sand
into the water. Also adult Female green sea turtles
somehow return to the place that they have hatched,
they must really know the area well. Also if a beach is
too cold the turtles have to find another beach that
is warmer and the warmer beach may be very far away.
on land except for when they hatch. They stay in
the water but the female turtles have to go
onto the land to lay their eggs. Once the baby
turtles have hatched they scurry along the sand
into the water. Also adult Female green sea turtles
somehow return to the place that they have hatched,
they must really know the area well. Also if a beach is
too cold the turtles have to find another beach that
is warmer and the warmer beach may be very far away.
These turtles have many structural adaptations such as
having flippers to swim and also they help to maintain
the speed which is something they could not live without.
The turtle's neck is non retractable and it can not move
up because of its shell. The turtle also has no teeth
because it doesn't really need them cause it has
SUCH a strong jaw. It looks kind of like a bird's beak.
They also don't need teeth for eating because they
eat crabs, sponges, clams etc. Turtles eyes face
downwards because they swim all the time and it
helps to see the bottom of the water.
having flippers to swim and also they help to maintain
the speed which is something they could not live without.
The turtle's neck is non retractable and it can not move
up because of its shell. The turtle also has no teeth
because it doesn't really need them cause it has
SUCH a strong jaw. It looks kind of like a bird's beak.
They also don't need teeth for eating because they
eat crabs, sponges, clams etc. Turtles eyes face
downwards because they swim all the time and it
helps to see the bottom of the water.
When turtle eggs are ready to hatch they need to
be in an environment with the right temperature
because if they are too hot then they can die
inside the egg before they hatch and if they
are too cold then they can incubate correctly.
be in an environment with the right temperature
because if they are too hot then they can die
inside the egg before they hatch and if they
are too cold then they can incubate correctly.
Leatherback turtles can keep their body warm
because they have a thick layer of fat that
attracts heat. Also the leatherback turtle can
lower their heart rate to save energy and oxygen.
because they have a thick layer of fat that
attracts heat. Also the leatherback turtle can
lower their heart rate to save energy and oxygen.
Turtles are very interesting creatures and we need
to help keep beaches clean and safe for the turtles
and other sea-life.
to help keep beaches clean and safe for the turtles
and other sea-life.
