Life in water

                     AQUATIC REPTILES

Crocodiles are not the only reptiles that live in oceans, rivers and lakes. Aquatic turtles spend most of their lives in water, coming to land to lay eggs. Their bodies are protected by a hard, bony shell. They cannot breathe in water, so must come to the surface for air.

* HOW DO TURTLES SWIM ?

The Hawksbill turtles is one of the few creatures that feeds mostly on sea sponges.
GIANT FLIPPERS- The female hawksbill uses its flippers for swimming
and for digging nests.

Turtles 'FLY' through the water with the help of their strong, paddle-shaped flippers.
     

Leatherback 

* WHICH IS THE BIGGEST TURTLE ?

The leatherback is the largest of all the turtles. It grows up to 1.6 meters long and weighs up to 360 kilograms. Leatherback turtles can usually be seen far out at sea.


* WHAT DO SEA TURTLES EAT ?

Most sea turtles eats a range of underwater creatures, such as clams, some concentrate on certain foods. For example, the green turtles eats mainly sea grass.


* ARE THERE SNAKES IN THE SEA ?

Turtle-headed snake

Yes there are 50 to 60 species of snakes that spend their `whole lives in the sea. They eat fish and other sea creatures and all are extremely poisonous. One species, the beaked sea snake, is potentially lethal.


* DO TURTLES LIVE IN FRESHWATER ?

Yes, there are about 200 species of freshwater turtles living throughout the world's warmer regions.

* WHERE DO SEA TURTLES LAY THEIRS      EGGS ? 

Female sea turtles dig a pit on a sandy beach in which to lay their eggs. They then cover the eggs with sand. When the young hatches, they dig their way out and struggle to the sea