Turtles. I love them.
I don’t get to see them very often. But when I do, I feel quite lucky to be in their presence. Turtles. They are pretty amazing creatures when you stop and think about it. For starters, turtles have been around for over 200 million years. To bring you up to speed (no pun intended), that is even longer than dinosaurs.
One of the coolest things about them is their shell, which isn’t just for show. It is actually part of their skeleton and made up of over 50 bones. So be gentle if you try to handle a turtle. They are not made of armor.
There are so many kinds of turtles, I’ll tell you. In fact, there are over 350 species out there, including tortoises, terrapins, and sea turtles. They can live for a long time. The Galápagos tortoise can live to be over 100 years old.
And how about this? Just when magic doesn’t seem possible? Well. Some freshwater turtles even have the wild ability to breathe through their butts. I guess this comes in pretty handy during long dives.
Anyway, the one I’m thinking about today is the Leatherback turtle. When most of us think of turtles, we see a small thing, about the size of a sandwich. But those Leatherbacks? They are ginormous.
The leatherback is a big, big heavyweight. This good species can grow as long as a small car, and they weigh over half a ton. Largeness.
Not only that, they are generally solitary creatures. They don’t really interact with anyone. Not even other Leatherbacks, except, of course, when they have to mate. Introverts, I’d say.
Another thing. Unlike other sea turtles, these gentle giants don’t have a hard shell. Instead, they have a flexible, rubbery shell thing.
They are also the champions of endurance in the animal kingdom. Leatherbacks brave icy waters and dive deeper than 4,000 feet. That’s more than 3/4 of a mile down below.
So. I love a good turtle. And Leatherbacks are one of my favorites. I wonder what they think about in all their solitary swimming in that massive ocean of ours.
So big. And yet? So small.
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“Try to be like the turtle—at ease in your own shell.” — Bill Copeland
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“The turtle moves slowly, but he moves forward all the same.” — Victor Kemper
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“Take a walk with a turtle. And behold the world in pause.” — Bruce Feiler
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“In one drop of water are found all the secrets of all the oceans.” — Kahlil Gibran
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