Life Cycle of Turtles
A turtle is a shelled reptile that can live in or out of water, in habitats in oceans, rivers, forests, grasslands and deserts. Turtles first appeared in the Triassic Period, about 240 to 250 million years ago. They are omnivores or carnivores, and they eat plants, fruits and/or small animals such as insects, snails or worms.
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Reproduction
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A baby turtle is created through sexual reproduction, when a male turtle's sperm fertilizes eggs found in a female's ovaries. Many female sea turtles mate with several males and store the sperm, so it can be fertilized later. Females lay between 1 and 200 eggs in a nest on land and bury them. After they have buried their eggs, females have no further contact with their eggs.
Incubation Period
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It generally takes between two and three months for turtle eggs to hatch. The temperature of the sand can determine what sex the turtle will be, as warmer temperatures result in females and cooler climates in males. During this incubation period, eggs are in danger of being eaten by predators, such as raccoons and foxes. Turtle eggs generally have tough shells and are able to survive without protection.
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Hatchlings
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Once baby sea turtles, known as hatchlings, are born, they generally move to the ocean to live, depending on the type of turtles they are. During most of their lives, sea turtles live in coastal feeding areas. Land turtles usually find a hiding spot on land or underground, if they are born in cold climates. Turtles in hotter, drier places hide out in their shells as protection from the sun.
Muturation
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Many types of turtles grow quickly at first, but their growth soon slows. It can be anywhere from 5 to 20 years before turtles are mature enough to reproduce. Some species of water-based turtles, such as sea turtles, do not reproduce until they are between 20 and 50 years old. Many species of land turtles or tortoises, such as the desert tortoise, tend to reproduce when they are between 15 and 20 years old.
Death
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Turtles generally live between 30 and 60 years, depending on what type of turtles they are. Some giant tortoises have been found to live over 100 years.
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