Scientists find "talking" turtles in the Amazon

Several scientists from around the world recently found that Giant South American river turtles in the Brazilian Amazon can coordinate their social behaviors through various vocal sounds. These sounds can vary from low frequency pitches that facilitate contact while the turtles migrate to high frequency pitches that females make while nesting. Hatching turtles also make sounds before and during the hatching process which may actually stimulate group hatching.

These turtles are the largest side-necked turtles and are only found in the Amazon river basin. They are recently being threatened by unregulated hunting and eating of the turtles and their eggs. One solution to this issue is to create more studies similar to this in order to raise awareness about the uniqueness of these turtles and help in the conservation effort. The issue with this solution is that places like the Brazilian Amazon are very difficult to regulate and most people don’t care to listen to conservationist groups such as the Wildlife Conservation Society. I personally believe that it is interesting that scientist have found that an animal that most people associate silence with actually communicates through vocal sounds. I also believe that unfortunately, until this species becomes endangered and actual international regulations are placed on it.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/08/140814191526.htm