Mon Prof Augmenté
Sand Temperature in a Turtle Nest
Age 12 · Animals
In a sea turtle nest, the temperature of the sand decides whether eggs become female or male. Eggs in the warm centre usually become female, while eggs in the cooler edges usually become male.
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In the picture
- A central egg in warm sand: it develops as female.
- An outer egg in cooler sand: it develops as male.
- The sunlit sand above the nest: it keeps the central eggs warmer.
- A hatchling sea turtle emerging from the sand: it has finished incubation and leaves the nest.
Examples
- A garden bed: soil in the sun is warmer than soil under a tree.
- A beach on a hot day: sand in the sun is warmer than sand in the shade.
Key takeaways
- Sand temperature during incubation determines a sea turtle’s sex.
- Warmer nests tend to produce more females; cooler nests tend to produce more males.
Quiz: Sand Temperature in a Turtle Nest (Age 12)
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In a sea turtle nest, what usually decides whether an egg develops as female or male?
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In a sea turtle nest, which eggs usually develop as female?
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Why are the central eggs in a sea turtle nest usually warmer?
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