Question 1: What’s this green sea turtle celebrating today?
- World Sea Turtle Day
- Donut Monday
- Insanely Cute Nature Photo Week
Answer: World Sea Turtle Day
Fact: World Sea Turtle Day, observed on June 16, emphasizes the importance of protecting sea turtles. This date honors the birthday of American conservationist Archie Carr, widely regarded as the father of sea turtle conservation. His groundbreaking work helped shape our understanding of turtle behavior and led major efforts to ensure their survival.
Question 2: How do sea turtles breathe?
- Through gills
- Through their lungs
- Through their skin
Answer: Through their lungs
Fact: Sea turtles, like other reptiles, rely on their lungs to breathe. Although they spend most of their lives in the water, they need to surface regularly to inhale air. While resting, they can hold their breath for several hours, but unlike fish, they lack gills and cannot obtain oxygen from water.
Question 3: What effect does increased beach temperatures have on turtle eggs?
- Only male turtles are born
- Mostly female turtles are born
- Eggs hatch faster
Answer: Mostly female turtles are born
Fact: The sex of sea turtles depends on the temperature of the sand where their eggs develop. Warmer sand typically results in female hatchlings, while cooler sand produces males. As global temperatures rise due to climate change, many nesting beaches are yielding mostly females, potentially threatening future breeding and disrupting population balance.