MadSci Network: Zoology |
Hi Jeffery, Good question. Nearly everything I've read and all the personal experience I've had watching turtles indicates that no turtles care for their young after the eggs are laid. However, I did find one reference that raised a bit of doubt. The title of the following article made me wonder -- if there's a whole article about nesting and parental care, maybe this person found some evidence that mud turtle parent(s) do care for their young in some way. See if you can find the article in a local library to learn more. Iverson, J. B. (1990). "Nesting and parental care in the mud turtle, Kinosternon flavescens," Canadian Journal of Zoology 68:230-33. Meanwhile, I can safely say that no sea turtles care for their young. Once the mom comes up on the beach and very carefully digs her nest, she heads to the ocean and has nothing to do with the development of the hatchlings once they emerge from the nest. All the freshwater turtles I am familiar with behave similarly. Mom digs a nest, lays eggs, and heads out, leaving the little ones to fend for themselves. For lots more turtle information, visit
http://www.enc hantedlearning.com/subjects/turtle/
Have fun watching turtles whenever you can, and keep asking questions. Ruth
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