Sleeping turtles
Jeff asked: "I was wondering how often do they sleep on their journey to the Galapagos and where do they do it? "
Jeff, no one knows how much leatherbacks sleep on their way to the Galapagos. I expect that they sleep for a few hours every night. We know that green turtles and loggerheads sleep every night when on their home territory. They go to the bottom and stick their heads under rocks or coral and sleep all night. They can hold their breath several hours when resting. Loggerheads also go to the bottom and sleep all winter in the Cape Canaveral ship channel in Florida. They don't need much oxygen in cold water. The same is true for freshwater turtles. They sleep or hibernate at the bottom of ponds in winter.
Now leatherbacks- I have seen hatchlings sleep for hours when in a large tank or aquarium. They just fold up their flippers and lay on the surface, occasionally picking up their heads to breath. I expect that the adult females racing to the Galapagos do the same. They probably just lay at the surface and snooze for a few hours at night. It would be great fun to see that.
Dr. Turtle
Jeff, no one knows how much leatherbacks sleep on their way to the Galapagos. I expect that they sleep for a few hours every night. We know that green turtles and loggerheads sleep every night when on their home territory. They go to the bottom and stick their heads under rocks or coral and sleep all night. They can hold their breath several hours when resting. Loggerheads also go to the bottom and sleep all winter in the Cape Canaveral ship channel in Florida. They don't need much oxygen in cold water. The same is true for freshwater turtles. They sleep or hibernate at the bottom of ponds in winter.
Now leatherbacks- I have seen hatchlings sleep for hours when in a large tank or aquarium. They just fold up their flippers and lay on the surface, occasionally picking up their heads to breath. I expect that the adult females racing to the Galapagos do the same. They probably just lay at the surface and snooze for a few hours at night. It would be great fun to see that.
Dr. Turtle
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Drexelina is a woman after my own heart!!!!!!! She does not have to follow the pack, does her own thing, and chooses friends who feel the same way. Drexel couldn't have a better representative. You go, Girl, or, you stay, Girl! And say Hi to Sundae for me. Froggy's Mom
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