Surprising Facts About Turtles: Did You Know They Can Breathe Through Their Butts?

   ​Have you ever been fascinated by turtles? These little creatures have a rich and interesting history, and as it turns out, they are capable of some amazing things. Here are some truly surprising facts about turtles that will have you looking at them in a whole new light.

​   1. Turtles can breathe through their butts! It's true - turtles have a special organ called the cloaca that is used for both excretion and respiration. The air enters the cloaca, which has tiny respirator passages linked to small sacs in the turtle’s body cavities, allowing them to "breathe" through their butts!
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    2. Turtles can live for over 200 years! Some species of turtles are believed to be able to reach ages of more than 200 years old, making them one of the longest-living animals on earth. The oldest known tortoise was named Adwaita and he lived from 1750 to 2006 – an impressive total lifespan of 256 years!

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   3. Turtles don't have ears like humans do - but they can hear just fine! Instead of external ears like we humans have, turtles rely on special bones in their heads to identify sound vibrations through the water or air around them – similar to how whales use sonar. They also have sensitive tongues that help them detect prey items moving nearby.
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   4. Baby turtles start swimming as soon as they hatch out of their eggs! Baby sea turtles use their yolk sack as a buoyancy aid while they learn how to swim, giving them enough time and energy to make it into open waters where they will begin their lives as adult sea turtles.

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   5. Turtles aren't always slow – some species can run at speeds up 23 mph (37 km/h)! Certain species such as the Australian Fitzroy River Turtle are actually pretty speedy when chasing down prey or escaping predators – enabling them to move much faster than other aquatic creatures like fish or crabs.
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   6. ​Sea turtles migrate across entire oceans! Every year, sea turtles travel vast distances between feeding grounds and nesting sites while going through migrations lasting several months (or even years). Some leatherback sea turtles have traveled more than 10 thousand miles (16 thousand kilometers) during annual migrations – one of nature’s greatest feats!
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   Turtles may look slow and boring from afar, but these creatures sure know how to surprise us with their capabilities every once in a while. From breathing through their butts to running fast across land and swimming across entire oceans - there's no telling what these amazing animals can do next – so stay tuned for more turtle surprises ahead!
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