How do turtles survive winter?

Question

How do turtles survive winter?

Answer 1

Turtles are reptiles and their surroundings determine their body temperature. At a body temperature of about 40 to 50°F, most reptiles become sluggish, stop eating, and seek hiding places to get safely through the winter.

In order to maintain an acceptable body temperature the majority of Turtles have to move to warmer waters when the temperature of their surroundings drops. If the water temperature drops too quickly, they become cold stunned and are unable to function. To avoid this turtles have adapted a keen sense which they have evolved through evolution. They are able to sense when the winters are arriving and migrate to warmer waters before they risk being cold stunned.

Most turtles are comfortable in waters of a temperature of 65 to 75 degrees. They can tolerate 50 degrees but below 60 degrees their immune system begins to shutdown and they become lethargic.

Baby turtles have a different strategy all together. Before they have hatched they will remain inside their shell until the winters pass and only emerge when the surrounding environments are at a constant temperature which suits them. When in the shell they go into a state of paralization and will not appear until its alrite.

As hatchling turtles are to small to migrate large distances they have a different strategy. Hatchling painted turtles for example, when they are exposed to subfreezing temperatures, they produce significantly higher levels of glucose in the blood than a turtle in normal temperatures. The glucose creates a form of antifreeze compound which protects their internal organs and helps them to pass through the winter through hibernation.

Leatherback Sea Turtles have two amazing talents; they can dive to greater depths than any other sea turtle, and they can regulate their body temperature, allowing them to be active in cold waters. Scientists have measured leatherback sea turtle dives of over 1,000 meters (3,300 ft). The water at this depth is colder than 6 degrees centigrade (43 degrees F). Their oily skin and large, leathery shell help them conserve heat, so their body temperature stays higher than their surroundings. They also have a heat-exchange mechanism in their shoulder area, where cool blood from the flippers is warmed before it reaches the internal organs and shoulder muscles. a Leather back turtle would not need to hibernate or migrate as they are the only turtle species know that can regulate their body temperature.

hope i helped.

Answer 2

They hibernate underground

Answer 3

They hibernate! (see first link)

Turtles and tortoises that live in extremely hot and/or dry climates estivate during the hottest and driest months. (see second link)

Answer 4

turtles burrow under ground where it is naturally warmer from lava flow.  then they come out of hibernation in the spring, completely refreshed and ready to go :3