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A female common snapping turtle depositing her eggs in a hole she dug. Turtles, including sea turtles, lay their eggs on land, although some lay eggs near water that rises and falls in level, submerging the eggs. While most species build nests and lay eggs where they forage, some travel miles.
These eggs have a leathery, flexible shell and they typically measure only 26-28 mm in diameter. [24] Incubation time is temperature-dependent, ranging from 9 to 18 weeks. One study on the incubation period of the common snapping turtle incubated the eggs at two temperatures: 20 °C (68 °F) and 30 °C (86 °F).
Sea turtle eggs sold in a market of Malaysia. Another major threat to sea turtles is the black-market trade in eggs and meat. This is a problem throughout the world, but especially a concern in China, the Philippines, India, Indonesia and the coastal nations of Latin America.
Demand for the bog turtle is high in the black market pet trade, partly because of its small size and unique characteristics. Various private projects have been undertaken in an attempt to reverse the decline in the turtle's population. The bog turtle has a low reproduction rate; females lay one clutch per year, with an average of three eggs ...
In Mexico, turtle eggs are a common meal; locals claim the egg is an aphrodisiac. [87] Eating turtle eggs or meat can cause serious illness due to harmful bacteria, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Serratia marcescens, and high levels of toxic metals that build up through bioaccumulation. [86] [88]
About 50% of female sea turtles complete "false crawls," which occur when they crawl onto the beach but return to the water without laying eggs.
Nest with eggs. Most freshwater turtles lay their eggs on land, typically near a water source, but some species of Emys have been found to lay their eggs no less than 150 m (490 ft) from water. [3] The search for nesting areas, by adult females, can last several hours to several days.
Sea turtles are largely solitary animals, though some do form large, though often loosely connected groups during nesting season. Although only seven turtle species are truly marine, many more dwell in brackish waters. [1] [6] Sea snakes: the most abundant of the marine reptiles, there are over 60 different species of sea snakes.