From turtles, which are mysterious and have been existing since time immemorial, people continue to have tender feelings.
Whether it is on land with the terrestrial tortoise or in water with the sea turtle, those animals are an incredible part of the systems now existing in the world.
Despite this, a unique part of the daily turtle experience has gone under the radar for the most part, as people do not pay attention to turtle activity during the nighttime. This lesser-known behaviour is found among different species and geographic locations and hence enhances the understanding of the lives of turtles.
The Importance of Moonlight in Turtle Behavior
One of the most important environmental factors that influences the activity of numerous animals is moonlight, and the turtles are no different. For sea turtles, the moonlit ocean surface is significant during their nesting season as it helps even illuminate the path.
Female sea turtles, when in the process of laying their eggs on sandy beaches, take their eggs back to the sea, mainly using light from the moon. In the same manner, hatchlings are naturally attracted to the brighter horizon, where the moon and stars glimmer on the water from the nest.
However, to issues of navigation, moon light has been known to affect basking moments or tendencies amongst some species of turtles. For instance, the red-eared slider and painted turtle are some of the freshwater turtles that are believed to travel out of water at night when there is a full moon, only to rest on rocks and logs.
This is believed to be a process through which they were able to embrace the warm evening air and the warm heats that comes with the reflection of moon. Thus, turtles can control their body temperature and, at the same time, may not be exposed to different predators that are present during the day.
Cultural Significance of Turtles and the Moon
Turtles have always been associated with long life, knowledge, and steadiness throughout the course of human histories and across many different cultures. Many of them are also related to the moon in most cultures of the world. For instance, in Chinese mythology, the turtle is counted among the four divine creatures, and it is said that the turtle supports the world on its back.
Therefore, whereas the sun is perceived as masculine, rational, and stable, the moon is therefore the opposite: feminine, mystery, and change. That is why turtles are attributed to the moon in the fairy tales: these turtles are presented as living in the night and enjoying the night light.
There are also many legends involving the turtle in Indigenous cultures in the Americas, where the turtle’s shell is associated with the earth. The phases of the moon are often referred to as the section of a turtle’s shell, and, thus, the relationship between these animals and this element is enhanced.
In this context, one gets a vision of turtles lying on a beach and trekking through the silvery shades of the night, which reassures the unity of the earth with the cosmos.
Conservation Efforts and the Role of the Moon
Current conservation agendas have acknowledged the role of moonlight in the protection of turtles. Today, most nesting sites are shielded from artificial light that often confuses the turtles and their young ones.
There are also attempts to study the behaviors of turtles with the aim of easily scheduling conservation measures to suit certain phases of the lunar calendar.
For example, in some protected areas like the seashores, human activities are restricted during full moon nights, when turtles are allowed to bask or even lay eggs.
Furthermore, it can help in the management of the captive breeding programs therein, supporting the release of hatchlings already bred in captivity and yet in a position to do well in natural moonlight conditions.
While turtles are traditionally associated with daylight, they are also the dwellers of the night, gleaming happily in the moon’s rays. Whether to find their way, to warm their eggs, or to just move around at night, the story of turtles and moonlight shows the detailed bonds between animals and their surroundings.
As research about these archaic reptiles and their conservation goes on, we should not overlook even such aspects as the impact of moonlight. In this way, we can guarantee that turtles in the future will be able to bask in moonlit waters just as the turtles of the past did.
ASH CK