Other Turtle Discussion :: RES...shades of red...

[Cosmo]

hey turtle people!

does anyone really understand the red marks on RES?

if i were a turtle, it would seem kinda ridiculous to have random red stripes on my head if i was otherwise pretty well hidden among other green things. not to mention that the head is a little too important to be screaming "i'm here!" to the whole world. i guess that i'm just wondering why they are there...if there is a reason at all! also, maurice's marks are sometimes darker and othertimes lighter. does this have anything to do with...anything? it's just something that i've noticed and i'm curious!

am i the only one that thinks they are kinda silly?
(but i love 'em anyway!)

[pumpkinsherbet]

that's just how nature made them. but, in dark areas where they usually hide it doesn't make a difference so long as it doesn't glow in the dark! it can also help them blend in with coloured plants.

[Cosmo]

yeah i guess...but i'm really curious about is why they are sometimes darker and sometimes lighter. and i never thought of them hanging around colored plants! that makes a lot of sense.

[pumpkinsherbet]

nature is a funny thing. look at the hammerhead shark the shape of their head actually affects their ability to properly hunt prey, they need to do it in packs and recognise signals to know what's going on. not very efficient

[SpotsMama]

I suppose red cheek stripes could be an advantage if one were looking for a mate with red cheek stripes! Though my RES doesn't seem to need the red cheek stripes - he flutters his toenails at any dark striped rock.

[H15A5H1]

i believe the red stripes serve the same purpose as the big white "eye" on the killer whale (orca). it makes the animal seem more AWARE. in nature, big eyes = IM WATCHING YOU.

[Cosmo]

lol!

i guess that it's just a nature thing...



...it doesn't always have to make sense to us!

[Turtlelover123]

nature is a funny thing. look at the hammerhead shark the shape of their head actually affects their ability to properly hunt prey, they need to do it in packs and recognise signals to know what's going on. not very efficient

Actually Hammerheads use their heads to pin down skates and rays. They rarely hunt in groups.