Life Cycle Of A Sea Turtle Infographic

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The infographic details the life cycle of a sea turtle and additional information about different species of sea turtles:

1. Mating: Sea turtles mate infrequently, approximately every 1-3 years. Mating and nesting are crucial due to their low survival rates. They migrate to their birthplace to mate.
2. Eggs: Female turtles lay eggs several times each season, with nests containing 80 to 200 eggs depending on the species.
3. Hatching: Hatchlings usually emerge in the summer, using a temporary egg tooth (carbuncle) to break the shell. It takes 3 to 7 days for them to reach the surface, and they typically emerge at night to avoid predators.
4. Juveniles: After hatchlings leave the nest, they may not be seen again until they return to coastal waters years later as juveniles. The natural survival rate for juvenile sea turtles is about 10 in 1000.
5. Adult: Mature sea turtles migrate long distances to breeding areas where they mate and begin their reproductive stage. Females mate with multiple males and store sperm to fertilize multiple egg clutches over several months.

The infographic also compares the size, weight, and maturity age range of four popular sea turtle species:

• Leatherbacks: The largest of all sea turtles, averaging 1.5-2 meters (4-6 feet) in length and 300-500 kg in weight, reaching maturity between 10 to 15 years.
• Greens: Average 75-134 cm (2.5-4 feet) in size, 45-25 kg in weight, with a maturity age range of 25 to 50 years.
• Ridleys: Small sea turtles, around 70 cm (just over 2 feet) in size, weighing up to 45 kg, with a maturity age range from 10 to 15 years.
• Loggerhead: Size ranges from 65 to 115 cm and weight from 40 to 160 kg, with maturity ages from 25 to 35 years.