There are seven species of sea turtles that live in the ocean. They travel thousands of miles to reach their nesting and foraging grounds. These seven species are all endangered and marine conservation groups have imposed strict rules for selling, hunting, and keeping them as pets.
Can you keep a sea turtle? You cannot keep a sea turtle pet. Their natural habitat is the sea, which has brackish water. Their natural reproduction method requires them to swim thousands of miles. This is impossible if they are kept in tanks, especially in a home.
Sea turtles are not the same size as other freshwater turtles. They can grow up to 1500 pounds faster than aquatic turtles. Only marine museums and aquariums with walk-in tanks have the ability to keep a turtle’s head under control at 1500 pounds.
Why Are Sea Turtles Endangered?
Humans have killed sea turtles over the past 200 years to get their skins, shells and meat. These poachings have been influenced by different cultural beliefs.
The sea turtles were fine dining for English aristocrats back in the 1700s.
People in Japan and China poach the shells of these birds to make ornaments.
Sea turtle eggs are harvested from beaches in West Africa and used as a source for protein.
These cultural beliefs and ways of life along the coast are what have led to the decline in sea turtle population.
Humans have taken over everything in modern times. The nesting and basking areas of turtles were once converted to beaches for humans. Their eggs are now at risk due to the presence of humans on these beaches. Humans have a curious nature to interfere in other’s affairs.
Climate change is another of our failings. It has a significant impact on sea turtle nesting sites. Growing temperatures affect the sand temperature, which then alters the sexual activity of hatchlings.
With the emergence of COVID-19, turtles have returned to beaches to nest and bask. The lockdown in Thailand saw the largest number of turtles being landed on the beaches of Thailand in 2020.
How Many Species Of Sea Turtles Are There?
Seven species of sea turtles are total. These include the Green Sea Turtles (Loggerhead Sea Turtles), Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtles; Olive Ridley Sea Turtles; Hawksbill Sea Turtles; Flatback Sea Turtles; and Leatherback Sea Turtles.
Nearly all sea turtle species are now considered endangered. Three out of seven species are critically endangered.
All 7 sea turtles have been listed by the IUCN (International Union For Conservation Of Nature).
| Sea Turtle Species | ICUN Red List |
|---|---|
| Leatherback Sea Turtle | Vulnerable |
| Green Sea Turtle | Endangered |
| Loggerhead Sea Turtle | Vulnerable |
| Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle | Critically Endangered |
| Olive Ridley Sea Turtle | Vulnerable |
| Flatback Sea Turtle | Critically Endangered |
| Hawksbill Sea Turtle | Critically Endangered |
Where Do Sea Turtles Lay Their Eggs?
Sea turtles can mate in the ocean, but they must come to the shore to lay their eggs. One female sea turtle can lay around 100 eggs per day.
After laying eggs, they dig a hole in the sand that is approximately 15-18 inches deep. They are often ripped up by predators such as foxes and raccoons before they hatch.
They do make it to sea, but they are immediately preyed on by seabirds and other sea turtle species. The mortality rate for a baby sea turtle can be very high. Only 1 of 100 turtles survive to adulthood.
What Is The Difference Between A Sea Turtle And Other Turtles?
There are many differences between sea turtles and freshwater turtles, depending on their feet, habitat, size, shells, and body. Sea turtles are able to live their entire lives in blue water, while semi-aquatic and aquatic species would not be able to survive in salty, deep waters.
Feet
Sea turtles have flipper-like or paddle-like feet that allow them to swim faster than freshwater turtles. They cannot have webbed feet so they must crawl along the beaches to nest. The webbed feet of freshwater turtles allow them to swim and walk on the water, unlike their terrestrial counterparts.
Shell
Sea turtles are not like tortoises and freshwater turtles. They cannot hide their bodies inside the shell to protect themselves. It is because of their evolutionary patterns. Their bodies don’t have enough room to store their large flat shells. These same shells, however, help them swim faster than freshwater turtles thanks to their ability to streamline their bodies.
Habitat
Sea turtles live in the ocean, as their name suggests. For them to thrive, they need brackish water. Freshwater turtles can’t thrive in salty waters. They live in rivers, streams, lakes, rivers and streams. They also spend a lot of time on the ground to forage and bask.
Size
Sea turtles can grow up to three times the size of freshwater turtles. Yangtze Giant Softshell turtles are the largest freshwater turtle species and can grow to 3.25 feet in length. They weigh approximately 220 pounds. The leatherback sea turtle, on the other hand grows to more than 7 feet and weighs in at 1500 pounds.
Migration
Sea turtles are distinguished from other freshwater turtles by their unique ability to migrate. They can travel thousands upon thousands of miles to nest and forage.
These are some interesting facts about a sea turtle’s migration.
- Did you know that leatherback sea turtles, the largest species of their kind, can travel over 10000 miles in search for jellyfish?
- If they can’t find a nesting spot, the female sea turtles will travel thousands of miles back to their birthplace. Their brains contain tiny magnetic particles that help them navigate to the right place.
- Researchers tracked a turtle called Yoshi on its trip from Australia to Angola, Africa. Its record crossing distance was over 22000 miles.
Can Sea Turtles Breathe On Land?
The breathing patterns of sea turtles are similar to those of other aquatic and land turtles. They also come to the surface to breathe air through their nares. They need to breathe even though they spend most their time at sea.
How Long Can Sea Turtles Hold Their Breath Underwater?
When sea turtles are foraging for food, they can hold their breath for up to 10-40 minutes before coming to the surface for breathing. A sea turtle can stay underwater for 6-8 hours before they need to breathe again.
We have a detailed article about their underwater breathing techniques.
How Big Can A Sea Turtle Get?
A leatherback sea turtle is the largest species. It can grow up to 6.0 to 7.7 ft long and weigh as much as 1500 pounds. Olive Ridley sea turtle is the smallest species and can grow to 31 inches in length with an average weight of 78.7 lbs.
How Long Do Sea Turtles Live?
Although sea turtles are larger than their aquatic and semi-aquatic cousins, they live a similar life expectancy to humans, which is 50 years. They reach adulthood at ages between 20 and 30 years. They will continue to reproduce for another 10 years.
What Do Sea Turtles Eat?
The green sea turtle is a herbivore and will eat zooplankton, as well as other sea algae. Other sea turtles such as the loggerhead or leatherback, however, are carnivores that eat jellyfish, squids and barnacles, sponges and anemones.
Final Words On Can You Keep A Pet Sea Turtle
If you are an activist, scientist or an activist trying to save these turtles from extinction, keeping sea turtles as pets in any country is illegal. All 7 species of sea turtles are endangered. These marine animals deserve a better environment.