The diagram depicts various steps involved in the natural process known as the sea turtle’s life cycle from birth to maturity.
Overall, the life of the sea turtle consists of three major stages, starting when the adult female lays its eggs on a nesting beach and ending with the turtle growing up to live 50 years, and repeating its life cycle again.
Initially, turtles start their life as eggs, which are laid on a nesting beach by mature female turtles. Next, it takes 8-10 weeks for these eggs to incubate in the sand. After being broken out of the egg with an egg tooth, they are ready to hatch. In the following stages, turtles move slowly and migrate into the ocean in schools. After developing for 30 to 50 years, adult turtles live for another 5 to 20 years.
The next phase involves immature mating activities. Immature and adult turtles are then in shallow water before adult males continue their foraging and migratory patterns. Female sea turtles typically return to foraging areas. After the mating area, the male and female stay within the shallows for intervals of two weeks. Moreover, the females also make a nest before their eggs hatch.