Facing a perilous life journey, hatchlings are extremely vulnerable to predators and misfortune. Few wild sea turtle hatchlings grow to adulthood as only one in 1,000 survives. Born the size of a quarter, these young sea turtles must survive more than 20 years before they can reproduce. Fun Facts Kemps ridleys nest on the beach during the day whereas all other sea turtles nest only at night. The temperature of the sand surrounding the sea turtle eggs determines their gender.
Higher temperatures produce females and lower temperatures produce males.
Kemps ridleys are the rarest and most endangered sea turtles in the world. They only nest on beaches in Mexico. Although all sea turtles are air breathers and must come to the surface periodically, adults can stay underwater for up to 30 minutes. Virginia Marine Science Museum. All Rights Reserved.