Information About the Life Cycle of a Turtle

Turtles are reptiles that live in deserts, wetlands and oceans. Most of them live on land and use their lungs to breathe in air. There are many types of turtles and they can range in size from 4 inches to 1500 lbs.

  1. Reproduction

    • Turtles normally reach sexual maturity at 3 to 5 years of age. The male turtle fertilizes the female̵7;s eggs. Many females mate with different males and store the sperm. All turtles lay their eggs on land. Females lay between 50 and 200 eggs.

    Incubation

    • When in the eggs, turtles need about 2 months to incubate and their sex is determined by temperature. If the temperature is under 29 degrees F they become male, over 29 degrees F they become female.

    Babies

    • After a month or two, when the hatchling is ready to hatch, it starts breaking down the shell. Larger hatchlings are more likely to survive than smaller ones.

    Growth

    • Many types of turtles grow quickly at first, but their growth soon slows down. Some species of sea turtles do not reproduce until they are between 20 and 50 years old.

    Life Span

    • Most turtles live between 30 and 60 years, depending on the species of turtles. Some giant tortoises can live over 100 years.