Like other reptiles, turtles reproduce by laying eggs in multiples referred to as a clutch. On average, turtles lay between 6 to 10 clutches of eggs. The specific number of eggs laid by each turtle however, depends on a number of factors, one being the type of species.
Bigger sized turtles tend to lay more eggs than smaller sized turtles
All types of turtle species regardless of their habitats dig nests on land.
To learn more about laying of eggs in turtles, we will cover the following;
- Average number of eggs laid by type of turtle
- How do they do it?
- When and where do turtles lay eggs?
- How often do turtles lay eggs?
How Many Eggs Do Turtles Lay
See the table below which outlines the numbers of eggs laid per type of turtle:
| Number of eggs by turtle species | |
|---|---|
| Sea turtles | 110 eggs in 2 to 8 clutches per season |
| Snapping turtles | 25 to 30 eggs in one clutch per season |
| Box turtles | 2 to 8 eggs in one clutch per season |
| Painted turtles | 4 to 8 eggs in one clutch per season |
| Freshwater turtles | Up to 200 eggs in one clutch per season |
| Loggerhead turtles | 100 to 120 eggs in 4 clutches per season |
| Eastern box turtles | 2 to 8 eggs in one clutch per season |
| Hawksbill sea turtle | 130 to 160 eggs in 3 to 5 clutches per season |
| Olive Ridley sea turtles | 100 eggs one to 3 times per season |
| Red eared slider | 10 to 30 eggs in 5 clutches per season |
| Green sea turtles | 75 to 200 eggs per season |
| Leatherback sea turtles | 65 to 115 eggs per season |
Here is more detail on the following types of turtles:
1. Snapping Turtles
Snapping Turtles lay 25 to 30 eggs in one clutch per season.
The female snapping turtles tend to lay their eggs on sandy spots or besides roadsides returning back to their nest to observe whether their eggs have hatched.
Their eggs are known to hatch late August to early September though a significant number are lost to predators such as raccoons and foxes.
Native to North America and New England, the snapping turtle was named in reference to its aggressive nature and tendency to bite. This is however a defense mechanism seeing that they lack the ability to retract their heads into their shells and use their powerful jaws as a form of self-defense.
2. Sea Turtles
Also known as marine turtles, sea turtles are believed to have existed since the dinosaur age.
There are believed to be seven type of sea turtles species which are leatherback, green turtle, hawksbill, loggerhead, olive ridley, kemp`s ridley and flat back sea turtles.
With the exception of a few species such as the Hawaiian green turtle and adult females, sea turtles usually spend 99% of their lives in the ocean depending on the ocean to feed.
During breeding, the female turtles leave land to incubate and nest their eggs. Sea turtles lay 110 eggs in 2 to 8 clutches per season.
3. Box Turtles
A box turtle usually has one clutch per year, with between 2 to 8 eight eggs in each clutch.
Like other turtle species, the nest temperature will determine the sex of the hatchlings; warmer nests tend to have females while cool temperatures produce male hatchlings. [1]
Nesting for female box turtles occurs from May through July closely following the mating season which lasts from April to October.
Usually the female will dig a nest a few inches below the soil. Depending on the soil`s temperature and moisture, incubation will last on average about three months.
Related article: Are turtles good pets?
4. Painted Turtles
After mating, female turtles go to the land surface and begin nesting usually in sand or mud but close to the water body.
Female painted turtles usually lay between 2 to 5 clutches of eggs in a year, and abandon the clutch completely after covering it with a light layer of dirt.
Turtle hatchlings usually take about 80 days to incubate after which they head to water if the weather is favorable.
The painted turtle is native to North America and is commonly found existing in freshwater bodies specifically those with thick mud bottoms.
Related article: Do turtles shed their shells?
5. Freshwater Turtles
Freshwater turtles can lay up to 200 eggs in one season.
Female freshwater turtles tend to dig their nests along the sides of riverbanks or areas near swamps and ponds.
These turtles are common pets and are naturally found in lakes, swamps and riverbeds. Some species of freshwater turtles include the painted turtle, African aquatic sideneck turtle, razor-backed musk turtle, spotted and pig-nosed turtle.
When Do Turtles Lay Eggs?
Turtles on average lay their eggs 3 to 6 weeks after mating. This is referred to as the last week of their gestation period.
How Often Do Turtles Lay Eggs?
Most species of turtles lay their eggs once a year, some select few lay twice a year while some other few lay their eggs every other year.
Sea turtles in particular generally nest in three- to four-year cycles. During the nesting season, egg laying cycles occur in periods of about two weeks apart.
This allows the female turtle a rest period from nesting which is an energy-demanding activity and also to allow for ovulation and shelling of the turtle eggs.
Where Do Turtles Lay Eggs?
All turtles regardless of whether they live on land or in saltwater lay their eggs on land.
Depending on the species however, some migrate to nest while others lay their eggs close to where they live.
Leatherback turtles for instance mate at sea and must lay their eggs in land. Sea turtles generally migrate from their feeding grounds under the sea to nesting beaches. The female leatherback turtles for instance are the longest migrating travelling for up to 3,700 miles to lay their eggs on the sea shore.
How Do Turtles Lay Eggs?
Here is a video showing how turtles lay eggs.
After mating has occurred, the female turtle will create a nest on land. The female turtle uses its hind legs (flippers) to dig a nest usually on land or wet soil.
Varied flipper sizes among different turtles explains one of the reasons why nest sizes vary as turtles can only dig up until their flippers can reach.
Bigger sized turtles also generally have bigger nests to accommodate the increased size and number of their eggs.
We hope that this article has been informative on the different turtle species and the number of eggs they lay.
Are you an aspiring turtle owner or just a turtle enthusiast? We are too, and have written a ton of articles about turtles. This is for aspiring turtle parents to learn as much as they can in order to provide the best care for their babies.
You can find all the articles in this turtle category.
