How do turtles reproduce

Turtles, sea or terrestrial, generate a lot of curiosity in certain aspects of their lives; one of the greatest curiosities is that which refers to reproduction, which will have particularities according to each species

How turtles reproduce is a complex issue, as there are species with different habitats, morphologies and reproductive behaviors. Next, we will try to explain how aquatic and terrestrial turtles reproduce; for this we will consider the key aspects of the mating of these species.

An unattractive courtship ritual

If we consider the ritual of courtship and mating of turtles, we must say that females are unfortunate. Usually, males usually bite their paws with their powerful jaws to capture their attention.

In some aquatic species the male can submerge the female and make it difficult for her to breathe; these situations occur in case she does not cooperate at the time of mating.

During copulation, males hit their shell hard and insistently against the female. This friction is usually even more violent in terrestrial species, taking into account the environment in which they reproduce.

It should be remembered that the shell of turtles is one of their most characteristic and well-known features, and that is that it is a very hard and resistant structure.

Perhaps the difficulty of the sexual act and the adversities of its habitat explain why females have developed the ability to keep the semen of the male active for almost three years. Thus, fertile eggs can be laid during this period without the need for mating.

How do sea turtles reproduce?

Sea turtles are considered an emblem of their family, either for their attractive appearance or for their privileged life expectancy. Remember that some species of saltwater turtles can live up to 100 years; therefore, they are considered one of the longest-lived animals in nature.

Sea turtles usually reach sexual maturity between their first six and eight years of life. During the breeding season, males and females go out to deeper waters to mate.

After mating, females carry the fertilized eggs for 2-3 weeks. Most of the species perform the posture during the night; for this they travel long distances in the sand to protect their eggs from the waves and the high tide. Some females may return to the beach where they were born to lay their eggs.

The time of egg laying

When they find the ideal site, the turtles dig the sand making holes about 50 centimeters deep. They can then deposit up to 100 eggs in this hole, to cover it immediately after the end of laying.

The eggs spend 40 to 70 days in the beach hole before the birth of the small turtles. Often, the first individuals to be born wait until all their 'siblings' have hatched from the eggs to head to the sea during the night.

Interestingly, the temperature of the environment and the sand is what determines the sex of the turtles that hatch from the eggs. In very warm regions only females are usually born, while in colder temperatures a balance or the prevalence of males is observed.

How do domestic land turtles reproduce?

Males of domestic land turtles usually reach sexual maturity from their seven years of age, while females do so after their nine years. Sexually active males and females come together to mate during the breeding season.

In addition, after mating, the female carries the eggs inside her for several days. Then they resort to a safe place to dig their holes and perform the posture. Usually, each female lays between five and seven eggs for each fertile period.

The unusual thing is that there is no fixed incubation time. Soil temperature and solar incidence will define how many weeks it will take for new turtles to hatch.

When getting rid of the thick shell of the eggs, each small turtle must strive to reach the surface of the land. This implies an important exercise of strength and flexibility, since the offspring hardly measure more than four centimeters at birth.

How do freshwater turtles reproduce?

The most striking feature of freshwater turtle mating rituals is the mating dance. To attract their attention, the male begins to make synchronized movements in front of the female, who also tries to touch her face with her paws. However, their reaction can be violent in case the female rejects their attempts at 'conquest'.

These freshwater or amphibious species usually become sexually active from the age of five. The female carries the eggs for about two months during fertilization. Laying always occurs in dry soil, preferably in sandy regions where they can dig their holes.

After each 'pregnancy', the female can lay up to 20 eggs which she will then cover with abundant sand or soil. After about 90 days, the little turtles will be ready to discover the world with their own legs.

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