Book 32, Question 116 · Video
Why do sea turtles look like they’re crying?
Sea turtles seem to cry when they come ashore, but they aren’t sad. Big salt glands near their eyes get rid of extra salt from the sea. The salty liquid runs out like tears. This helps keep their bodies in balance, since they take in lots of salt when they swim and eat. Those “tears” are a salt filter.
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What Crafty Clover says in this video
Intro
Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why do sea turtles look like they’re crying?
The Big Idea
Sea turtles look like they're crying! But they aren't sad. What's going on?
Not Sad
Step one: Not Sad. Sea turtles seem to cry when they come ashore, but they aren't sad. Their tears are doing an important job.
Salt Glands
Step two: Salt Glands. Big salt glands near their eyes get rid of extra salt from the sea. The salty liquid runs out like tears.
Balance
Step three: Balance. This helps keep their bodies in balance, since they take in lots of salt when they swim and eat. Those tears are a salt filter.
A Closer Look
Let's take a closer look! Near eyes. Removed. Salty. Kept.
Quick Facts
Quick facts! Seabirds have salt glands too. The tears aren't sadness. Glands remove salt. Seawater is salty.
Think Like a Scientist
Now, think like a scientist! Put a pinch of salt and a pinch of sugar on dark paper. Look at both with a magnifying glass. Draw the shapes of the grains. Salt grains look like tiny cubes. That's what sea turtles flush out.
Outro
Sea turtles seem to cry on shore, but they aren't sad. Big salt glands near their eyes remove extra salt they take in from the sea, and the salty liquid runs out like tears, acting as a salt filter. Science is amazing! What will you discover next? Every question is a new adventure, so keep wondering and keep exploring with me! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!