Mon Prof Augmenté
Warm Sand and Sea Turtle Eggs
Age 12 · Biology
Sea turtle eggs do not get their sex only from genes. The temperature of the sand around each egg decides whether the hatchling becomes male or female.
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In the picture
- Central egg in the warm nest core.
- Orange-red sand beneath the central eggs.
- Outer egg near the cooler nest edge.
- Blue-tinted sand at the nest edge.
Examples
- A sunny spot on a beach blanket feels warmer than a shaded spot under a parasol.
- A tray of soil near a window stays warmer than a tray in a cool corner.
Key takeaways
- In sea turtles, warmer sand around an egg usually produces a female hatchling, and cooler sand produces a male.
- The temperature matters during incubation, so the sand around the egg is like a thermostat for sex.
Quiz: Warm Sand and Sea Turtle Eggs (Age 12)
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What mainly decides whether a sea turtle hatchling becomes male or female?
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What do genes do in sea turtles when it comes to deciding sex?
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Why can eggs in the same sea turtle nest hatch as both males and females?
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