How Do Turtles Communicate?

About Turtles

There are many different kinds of turtles, over 250 species in fact. You can find them almost anywhere. Many people confuse turtles and tortoises. What you call these shelled creatures of the order Chelonia, may just depend on where you live. In Australia, only sea turtles are considered turtles; everything else is a tortoise. However, there are no land turtles in Australia. In the United States, chelonians that spend most of the time in water are called turtles. Ones that spend most of their time on land are called tortoises. There is also a third type of chelonian: the terrapin. In North America, terrapins spend their time in water and on land. They often dwell in swampy, brackish water. All turtles are cold-blooded and have an outer protective shell. Some turtles are omnivores and will eat a variety of plant food, as well as small fish, insects and other small bugs and animals. Some turtles are herbivores and only eat plant food.

Behavior of Turtles

Turtles brumate (a name for reptilian hibernation) during the winter. Some turtles, such as the box turtles, burrow into the ground to brumate. Water turtles will bury themselves under leaves or mud. When it is time to lay eggs, females will dig a nest in the ground for their eggs. After the female lays her eggs, she buries them with sand or vegetation. Most turtle species will not stay to take care of the eggs. A few species will guard the eggs from snakes or other predators for a short time. When a baby turtle hatches, it is on its own from birth.

How Turtles Communicate

Turtles are mostly solitary creatures, so not much is known about how they communicate with each other. They do seem to use some type of communication when it is time to mate. Some species will travel together to nesting grounds to mate. Some turtles will use a variety of methods to try and attract a mate, including head bobbing, biting the female's legs, or use different leg movements while facing the female. Some turtle species can detect an enemy by sensing the vibrations in water. They also have excellent sight and sense of smell.