Turtle eggs typically take between 45 and 75 days to hatch, depending on the species, nest temperature, humidity, and other environmental factors. Most sea turtle species have an incubation period ranging from about 45 to 70 days, with many sources citing around 60 days as a common average
. Key details include:
- Incubation time varies with species and environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity in the nest
- Warmer nest temperatures generally speed up development and shorten incubation, while cooler temperatures slow it down
- The sex of the hatchlings is often determined by nest temperature, with higher temperatures producing mostly females and lower temperatures producing mostly males
- After hatching, it can take 2 to 7 days for the hatchlings to dig their way to the surface before emerging, usually at night to avoid predators
- In some species, incubation can be longer due to embryonic diapause, but this is less common
In summary, most turtle eggs hatch within about 1.5 to 2.5 months after being laid, with environmental conditions influencing the exact timing.
