Why Turtles Produce almost All Female Hatchlings Recently? - Part 1

When I was walking with my dad in remote beaches in the tropical country along long time ago, we found turtle eggs in the beaches sometimes.

Off course eggs are hiding in the nests within the sands.

Fig 01- A turtle crossed a little garden, illustration

Number of sea turtle eggs could reach about 200 eggs at one time, but, the number depend very much on species.

As examples, number of eggs at one time from 3 different species:

- Flatback turtle, about 50 eggs

- Leatherback sea turtle, about 110 eggs

- Hawkbill turtle, about 200 eggs

After incubation of 60 days, we did not know the natural sex ratio of male and female turtle hatch-lings.

Fig 02- Just for illustration

Fig 03 – Eggs of sea turtle (credit to Plumlee Gulf Beach Realty)

Fig 04- A shy turtle in the garden

We just guessed equally the same with little bit higher for females as other animals on the earth.

It is stunning to know that scientists found new hatch-lings to have almost all females sex identity in the Great Barrier Reef, Australia.

Why?

Naturally, temperature decide sex ratio of turtles, higher temperature means female more.

On the contrary, lower temperature will cause plenty of males than females turtles.

# To be continued to Part 2

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