Sea Turtles

        Six of the seven species of sea turtles in the world are found on the Great Barrier Reef. These are: Green, Leatherback, Hawksbill, Loggerhead, Flatback and Olive Ridley Turtles.

        The life cycle of sea turtles is very interesting. Sea turtles lay their eggs along a beach, in the sand. They can lay up to 100 eggs at a time. The temperature of the sand determines the sex of the young turtles. Cooler sand produces male turtles, while warmer sand produces females.

        When the baby turtles hatch, they make their way into the ocean where they spend the rest of their lives. Only 1 out of a 100 hatchlings survive to adulthood. They have to be careful of many predators such as birds and big fish. 

        Hatchlings are carried out to sea on ocean currents, and can travel thousands of miles around the ocean before they are fully grown. They become sexually mature at 30-50 years and can live for up to 100 years. When they reach breeding age, they return to the same beach where they hatched to lay their own eggs.

A leatherback sea turtle approaching the beach to lay her eggs. Leatherback sea turtles are known to be the biggest of all sea turtle species.