What Do Turtles Do In The Winter? How Do Turtles Hibernate?
If you were buried in a pool of water with a temperature just above the freezing point of water and the surface of the water was sealed with a lid of ice for 100 days, what would happen to you?
This should be a rhetorical question because it is quite apparent what would become of you. You would die.
This reason for this is you do not have the same abilities that turtles have. Turtles are cold and can breathe through their butts. This ability is one reason a lot of people consider turtles to be amazing creatures.
Cold Weather Slow Down
Turtles are ectotherms. They rely on external heat sources. This means the body temperature of a turtle’s body closely monitors the temperature of its environment. So, if a turtle is kept in a pool of water that has a temperature of 1 degree Celsius, you can be confident that the body temperature of the turtle will be just about that.
Turtles breathe through their lungs. This, raises the question “how are they able to survive in such an uncomfortable condition without coming to the surface of the water to get some air?” The answer to this question can be gotten by having an understanding of metabolism and body relationship.
When in a cold pool of water, the metabolism of a turtle is slow. As the water gets even colder, the metabolism of the turtle becomes even slower. This leads to a reduction in oxygen demands, as well as reduced energy demand.
Hibernating turtles depend on the energy that has already been stored. Also, they get their oxygen needs from the water in the pond by making the water move over their body surfaces, which are rich in blood vessels. By doing this, they can have as much oxygen as they need in their low energy state. They get this done without putting their lungs to work. This is possible because the butts of turtles are very well vascularized. The explains why turtles can breathe through their butts.
Unlike turtles, humans are endoderms. Humans have a body that needs food to bring about the needed body need. This, in turn, helps in the maintenance of the right temperature that humans need to operate at their optimum.
When the environment is cold, humans put on thick clothing in an attempt to keep heat trapped, which ultimately helps humans stay warm. This is needed because it is not possible for humans to get the right amount of oxygen across a vascularized surface. The only way humans can get the right amount of oxygen is through the lungs.
Turtles can only stay without Oxygen for 100 days
Although turtles can survive in cold water covered by ice, this is not without a challenge. When the water is freezing, turtles are unable to get air from the surface of the water. That’s not all; the little oxygen in the water is used by other animals alongside turtles. Due to this, oxygen in the ponds moves from being low to being used up. When this happens, specific turtles can survive. However, most die.
When turtles are snapped or painted, they can live without oxygen. This, however, can be done for not more than 100 days. After 100 days, death will be next.
