Sea Turtle

The sea turtle is a marine reptile that has lived in the oceans for millions of years. Its body is adapted to life in the water, with a streamlined shell and strong front flippers that allow it to swim over long distances. Unlike land turtles, sea turtles cannot pull their heads and limbs completely inside their shells.

Different species have different diets: some mainly eat seagrass and algae, while others feed on jellyfish, crustaceans, or other marine organisms. They must regularly return to the surface to breathe because, like other reptiles, they use lungs instead of gills.

Sea turtles are found in many oceans around the world and often travel thousands of kilometers between feeding areas and nesting beaches. Females usually return to sandy shores to lay their eggs, sometimes on the same beaches where they were born. After hatching, young turtles face many dangers before reaching the sea, and only a small number survive to adulthood.

Sea turtles help maintain healthy marine environments by supporting food chains and, in some species, contributing to the balance of seagrass and coral reef ecosystems. They are threatened by plastic pollution, accidental capture in fishing gear, habitat destruction, and climate change, which can affect their survival and reproduction.