Sea Turtles
For in him we live and move and have our being. (Acts 17:28 NIV)
There are only 7 species of sea turtles in the world; They are: the Leatherback, the Green Turtle, the Loggerhead, the Hawksbill, the Olive Ridley, Kemp’s Ridley and the Flatback.
General Facts about Sea Turtles
- How far do sea turtles travel?
- In a lifetime, sea turtles can travel 1000s of miles. Scientists tracked one female Leatherback 12,000 miles across the Pacific Ocean and back.
- Are sea turtles 100% aquatic?
As soon as the baby turtles emerge from the nest, they sprint for the ocean. Female turtles crawl out of the water again decades later to lay their eggs. During breeding season both sexes migrate to the same waters to mate. But the males never come ashore.
- Do sea turtles drink?
- Yes. Sea turtles swallow sea water. then end up excreting the excess salt using specialized “salt glands” behind each eye. They “cry” salty tears.
- How long do sea turtles live?
- A sea turtle’s lifespan rivals our own; 50 years or more. These reptiles, however, don’t reach sexual maturity until 20-30 years old, with only one species being able to mate earlier, reaching adulthood in 10 or 15 years.
- Do sea turtles sleep?
- Yes. Being air breathers, many species float on the surface when sleeping, but one species, the Green Turtle, wedges itself beneath rock ledges in shallow water and sleeps beneath the waves. Turns out that sea turtles can hold their breath for several hours. It just depends on their level of activity.
- How many eggs per nest?
During a single nesting season, females may lay between 2-6 clutches of eggs, with each nest containing 65-180 eggs. Temperature determines the sex of the baby turtles; Warmer nests produce more females. Colder nests produce more males.
Each species of sea turtle is distinctive in its own way. So here are some interesting facts about 4 types of sea turtles.
The Leatherback
The Leatherback turtle live in the open ocean, feeding on jellyfish and other soft invertebrates. Their leathery, non-rigid shells allow these turtles to dive to great depths Adults can grow up to 8 feet in length (2.4 meters) and weight more than 1500 pounds (680 kg.)
The Green Turtle
The Green Turtle gets its name because of its greenish fat and cartilage. As an adult, this turtle is the only 100% plant eater, munching on sea grasses, algae and seaweed. Juveniles and baby green turtles, however, eat a wider diet, including jellyfish, crabs, shrimp, sea grass and insects.
The Loggerhead
The Loggerhead turtle’s powerful jaw easily crushes the shells of other sea creatures. Their diet consists of horseshoe crabs, mussels, clams, conchs and whelks. A shell is no protection against this predator. In fact when these turtles see a shelled sea creature they immediately think “Lunch.”
Several years ago I read about two guys out in a small boat, who decided to whack a sea turtle in the head with one of their oars. The turtle promptly bit the oar in half. Stupidly, they hit it with the second oar and lost that one too. Then a very angry sea turtle started trying to climb into the boat. They survived somehow, but my guess is these two fellas tangled with a Loggerhead sea turtle.
The Hawksbill
Lastly, the Hawksbill is a smaller turtle which lives in the tropics and feeds on sponges. These turtles swim in shallow seas, mostly around coral reefs, mangroves, lagoons and small oceanic islands. Hawksbills were once hunted almost to extinction because of their beautiful shells, which people carved into tortoiseshell trinkets. The tortoiseshell trade has now been banned. Unfortunately, there’s still a healthy black market.
Protected by His Presence
For me, the sea turtle swimming underwater perfectly illustrates the first half of Acts 17:28. Just as the seawater completely surrounds the turtle, we are completely surrounded by God’s presence. Yet He’s distinct from us, just like the ocean. As I meditated on this verse, I started to understand in a deeper way that I dwell within His protection and care.
Nothing touches my life except what my Redeemer decrees, because He surrounds me.
So will my life be easy and carefree?
No.
The Holy Spirit is molding me into a woman who reflects Jesus’ character and goodness. I used to be more selfish, greedy and thoughtless. Surprisingly the painful experiences the Lord allowed in my life has made me more compassionate and gentle toward broken people.
My God is sovereign over my life and I know from experience that I can trust Him even when life gets rough.
All images came from Pixabay.com
Resources:
Based on the shell’s beauty, this may be an image of a Hawksbill sea turtle. It looks like other images of this species.
I included an image of whelks because their shells are incredibly hard. Yet the Loggerhead turtle crushes them easily.
Here’s more information about sea turtles from the Sea Turtle Conservancy.
