World Turtle Day
I admire those people who, out of thin air, can reel off quirky and astonishing facts about animals.
Like the Common Long-necked turtle can live up to 50 years and has a unique hunting mechanism. By bending its neck under its shell, it can get close enough to its prey and then strike out, extending its neck, similar to the action of a snake.
And other facts, like there are approximately 23 species of freshwater turtles in Australia, and that the underpart of a turtle’s shell is called a plastron.
Facts like some freshwater turtles are carnivores (feasting on small invertebrates such as worms, snails and insect larvae) while others are omnivores and prefer water plants and algae.
Detailed information like the threatened Mary River turtle was only described by scientists in 1994 and they only occur in the Mary River in Queensland.
And that 6 of the world’s 7 species of marine turtles are found in Western Australia. Also, that nest temperature, in the early stages of embryo development in marine turtles, determines the sex of hatchlings.
Learning about turtles, their habitats and breeding cycles can help us protect them. Of course, those people who know their facts aren't plucking them out of thin air. They have studied these intriguing reptiles and are committed to saving them.
Citizen science projects like TurtleSAT help us understand and map declining turtle species.
Do you know of any other great teaching and learning resources about turtles?
