Sea Turtle
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Sea turtles can sleep underwater!
Snoozing underwater
No bed needed here!
Sea turtles can rest and sleep underwater, slowing down while they snooze. Because they're reptiles that breathe air, though, they eventually have to return to the surface for another breath.
Now You Know!
A resting sea turtle can stay underwater much longer than one that's busy swimming!
Exactly how long depends on the species, water temperature and what the turtle is doing.
How does a sea turtle sleep?
- How long?
Resting underwater for extended periods
- When?
Often at night, but it varies
- How?
Submerged underwater
From Sleep, Nap, Snooze
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The sea turtle takes bedtime below the surface in Sleep, Nap, Snooze: The Bed Habits of Animals.
Explore the BookKeep snoozing...
Discover All Animal Sleep FactsFor parents & teachers
Is this really true? Sources & further reading
Sea turtles can rest or sleep while submerged and remain underwater much longer while resting than when they are actively swimming.
They still breathe air and must eventually return to the surface. How long a resting dive lasts varies by species, temperature, activity and environmental conditions.
This is why we avoid giving every sea turtle one exact “hours between breaths” number.
- Animal:
- Sea Turtle
- Scientific name:
- Chelonioidea (group)
Source: NOAA Fisheries.
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