Are turtles connected to the moon? Discover how a turtle's shell acts as a natural cosmic calendar and how lunar rhythms guide these creatures through life.
Image : Risen Wild Photography
Are Turtles Connected to the Moon?
Through a combination of navigation and indigenous symbolism, turtles have been seen to be connected to the moon, as nature’s own living calendar!
Throughout this blog, we’ll dive deeper into;
A Turtle’s Shell
As we know, turtles have a unique pattern on their shell, but what if those patterns were to mean more? The shell of a turtle consists of 28 segments on the outer ring and 13 segments on the inside… but don’t these numbers sound familiar…?
Throughout history, nature was used to track and calculate timings and one of those ‘natural calendars’, were turtles and their shells! It’s said that the segments are symbolic of the 13 lunar cycles of the year, and the 28 days between each one, being a physical representation of the moon’s rhythms. (1.)
Image : Turtle Shell and Segments
Cultural Perspectives on Turtles & the Lunar Cycle
For many cultures, a turtle’s shell doubles as a cosmic calendar!
It is believed that the turtle is often viewed as a symbol of wisdom and furthermore, a connection to the earth’s natural cycle. In other cultures, the turtle is said to be a connection to their ancestors, who followed the lunar cycle closely within agriculture, rituals and social events.
The turtle’s link to lunar cycles takes us back to a time when people were solely connected to nature and its patterns. Nowadays, the connection reminds us of a slower, more natural way of time keeping, honouring cultures that trusted the moon to be their clock and recognised a turtle’s shell to be a reflection of the Earth’s own calendar. (2.)
So, next time you see a turtle, take a moment to check its shell and remember its cultural significance of representing the moon, the lunar cycles and the patterns of nature.
Turtles & the Moon
So, other than turtles being connected to lunar cycles within different cultures, do turtles actually use the moon?
Research shows that the full moon is beneficial to hatchlings as the moonlight reflects off the sea, which helps to guide hatchlings in the correct direction. However, on cloudy nights, this strategy has been less effective, with hatchlings heading the wrong way or even moving in circles. So, more moonlight = better navigation. (3&4)
Evidence does show that the timings of turtle nestings do vary and are not strongly linked to the lunar cycle, but some species have been recorded to have higher nesting activity around a full moon, although this is not consistent behaviour for all species of turtles. We do know that the main impact of sea turtle nesting behaviors are tidal features such as sea temperature, tide levels and water currents, which are all factors primarily driven by the moon’s gravitational pull.
While the connection may not be so direct, the moon still has huge influences on the way turtles live. Which does lead us to question; are turtles following the moon, or just the environmental changes the moon creates?
Either way, the connection may not be perfect, but between a shell pattern and moonlit beaches, turtles seem to carry a bit of the moon’s magic with them! There’s no denying a little cosmic wonder at work - it’s pretty cool, if you ask me!
Image : Josué Soto on Unsplash