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Can Sea Turtles Hide In Their Shells?

For more than 100 million years, sea turtles are living in the open waters as well as on the land – the most majestic marine reptile turtle families. Living for so long, sea turtles have undergone several evolutionary changes which allow them to live in changing environmental conditions. They are active swimmers, divers, and snorkelers that glide effortlessly in the extended oceans. Despite all, like all other turtles, do they adopt the same pattern to hide in the shell? Scroll down to open the mystery box and get your answer.

Can Sea Turtles Hide In Their Shells?

No! Like all other species of tortoises and land turtles, sea turtles cannot have the ability to hide in their shell because their body is well adapted for swimming as they have flippers instead of limbs that permanently remain outside the shell and have a slightly flat shell which does not provide enough space to hide completely in the shell.

Do Sea Turtles Face Any Survival Threats?

Yes, they do. Though, sea turtles have a hard but flattened shell which is purposely meant for swimming with speed and agility by reducing the dragging force. However, the streamlined shell doesn’t provide enough space to hide, which makes them vulnerable to predatory animals.

How Do Sea Turtles Escape From Predatory Threats?

Well, sea turtles adapt remarkable strategies to protect themselves from predatory threats.

  • As they have large flippers which are meant for swimming, when a predator approaches them, they swim with agility and swiftly so that the predators cannot catch them.
  • They have an excellent vision which allows the sea turtles to spot the danger before the attack.
  • They are exceptional divers – when they spot a predator, they quickly escape to safety by diving deep into the ocean.

What Threats Do Sea Turtles Face On Land?

Sea turtles feel more threatened on land than under the water. Sea turtles visit land when they have to lay eggs. If a predator approaches them then it would be impossible for sea turtles to escape as their flippers are modified for swimming and it doesn’t provide enough speed on land.

Moreover, human is another great threat to sea turtles on land as they hunt them for meat, shell, and eggs. People contaminate their habitat by throwing plastic which they mistakenly engulf and cause the death of the sea turtles. 

To Whom Are Sea Turtles Vulnerable?

Sea turtles have many predators, such as

  • Killer whales
  • Birds
  • Snakes
  • Crabs
  • Dogs
  • Boars
  • Coyotes
  • Cats
  • Raccoons
  • Humans

Conclusion

Sea turtles are majestic creatures that are adapted to survive in water as well as on land. The body of sea turtles has been well adapted to swim with a remarkable speed which allows them to escape danger. Like other turtles, they are not capable of hiding completely inside the shell because the shell is made up of bones and cartilage which do not provide enough space for them. They have large flippers instead of limbs which permanently outside the shell, making them more vulnerable to predators. 

About the author

Zubaria

I am a Scholar and a dedicated content writer. I am on a mission to stamp out the importance of one of the ocean's most fascinating and remarkable creatures, the sharks, and to let people know about their role in keeping the ecosystem in equilibrium.