#turtle

#turtle

Satellite Tracking Shows Turtle's U-Turn Days Before the Tongan Volcano EruptionThere have been many recorded instances of animals sensing danger before humans. Most examples involve pets like cats who scientists theorise may be able to sense P-waves (primary waves), helping them respond to earthquakes faster than humans.This ability to "sense danger" is not limited to land animals. Last January 15th, Tonga was shaken with an undersea volcanic eruption and 15-meter-high tsunami that killed three people. Just a couple days prior, a female green sea turtle was seen making a giant U-turn away from the volcano.

Barnacles, Once Thought to be Immobile, Can Actually 'Surf' Slowly Across Turtle ShellsBarnacles are known to be immobile, clingy crustaceans usually seen on rocky shores and hulls of boats as well as on other creatures such as manatees, crabs, and sea turtles. Now, studies suggest that at least one species, Chelonibia testudinaria, can actually slide across surfaces.The C. testudinaria barnacles are found to secrete incremental amounts of cement to “surf” to a different position. This “surfing” is a way for barnacles to find more food that is usually found in areas of high water flow. Hence, they “surf” from areas of lower water flow to areas of higher water flow.Previously thought to be immobile, these barnacles are found to move very slowly. Findings show that they move at an average of about seven millimeters over three months with one barnacle reaching up to eight centimeters over one year.Image: Benny K.K. Chan/Academia Sinica, Taiwan#barnacle #surf #turtle #turtle

Sea Turtle Has a 'Third Eye' That Senses Change in SeasonsLeatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) has a pink spot/white spot on top of its head that act as a "third eye" to help it sense the change in seasons.Every summer, the sea turtle swim thousands of miles from their breeding ground in tropical waters to feed in cooler parts of the ocean - but how does it know how to begin its journey back? Now, a new anatomical study showed that the pink/white spot on top of its head has a markedly thinner layer of bone and cartilage thus allowing the underlying pineal gland of the turtle's brain to sense subtle changes in sunlight that accompanies the changing of the seasons - thus acting as a "skylight" sensor.Image: J. Davenport et al.#turtle #leatherbackseaturtle #thirdeye #eye #pinealgland #anatomy #animalmigration