You’ve probably seen a turtle basking on a log, looking like a prehistoric statue that hasn't moved since the Mesozoic era. They seem like the ultimate practitioners of the "silent treatment." For decades, even high-level biologists basically categorized them as "deaf and dumb." But if you’ve ever wondered what a turtle says, the answer isn’t just silence.
It’s actually a bizarre mix of clicking, grunting, and what some researchers describe as "dead whale noises."
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The Myth of the Silent Shell
Most people grew up believing turtles don't have voices. It makes sense, right? They don't have vocal cords. Without a larynx to vibrate, you’d assume they’re stuck in a permanent state of mime-hood. Honestly, I thought the same thing until I started looking into the work of Gabriel Jorgewich-Cohen from the University of Zurich.
He didn’t just guess; he actually recorded them.
He used specialized underwater microphones called hydrophones to listen to over 50 species of turtles that were previously thought to be totally silent. It turns out, they’ve been talking for about 400 million years. We just weren't listening.
How they make noise without vocal cords
Since they lack traditional vocal equipment, turtles have to get creative. They basically force air out of their lungs. It’s a bit like how you can make a squeaking sound by pinching the neck of a balloon. When a turtle suddenly retracts its head into its shell, it’s not just being shy—it’s physically displacing air.
That rush of air produces a hiss.
This is the sound most pet owners are familiar with. It’s often a "back off" signal. If you pick up a slider and it hisses, it’s not necessarily "mad" in the human sense, but it is definitely stressed. It’s the sound of a lung-emptying reflex triggered by fear.
What a Turtle Says When It’s... Busy
If you want to hear a turtle truly "vocalize," things get a little awkward. Mating season is the peak of turtle chatter. Male tortoises, in particular, are famous for being loud.
They don't just grunt. They moan.
- The "Waah-Waah" Sound: Male tortoises often emit a rhythmic, high-pitched cry during mating that sounds surprisingly like a human being trying to imitate a ghost.
- The Cluck: Red-footed tortoises have been recorded making clucking sounds that are almost indistinguishable from a chicken.
- Deep Bellows: The giant Galápagos tortoises produce deep, guttural roars that can carry across the islands.
It’s weirdly social behavior for an animal we usually think of as a solitary rock with legs.
The Secret Language of Embryos
This is the part that usually blows people's minds. Turtles start talking before they even hatch.
Camila Ferrara, an aquatic ecologist with the Wildlife Conservation Society, spent hours on Brazilian beaches listening to buried eggs. She found that South American river turtle embryos actually communicate with each other inside the shell.
Why? To coordinate their exit.
If you’re a tiny baby turtle, the walk to the ocean is a death trap. Birds, crabs, and pretty much everything else wants to eat you. By "chirping" and "clicking" to each other from inside their shells, the babies synchronize their hatching. They all burst out at once to overwhelm predators with sheer numbers.
Basically, they’re whispering, "Ready? One, two, three... GO!"
Decoding the Turtle Dictionary
Since turtles don't have a standardized language, the sounds vary wildly by species. However, researchers have identified several distinct types of "talk":
1. The Squeak and Chirp
Usually heard in smaller freshwater species like the red-eared slider. These can be signs of excitement, but keep an eye out—persistent chirping or clicking while breathing is often a sign of a respiratory infection. If your turtle sounds like a rusty hinge every time it takes a breath, it needs a vet, not a conversation.
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2. The Low-Frequency Thump
Many sea turtles, like the Leatherback, communicate using low-frequency sounds that humans can barely perceive. These rumbles can travel long distances underwater. It's thought they use these to coordinate migrations or find nesting beaches.
3. The Defensive Hiss
As mentioned, this is the universal "go away" signal. It’s mechanical, loud, and effective.
Common Misconceptions
A lot of people think a turtle "purring" means it’s happy like a cat. Honestly? Turtles don't really do "happy" the way mammals do. A purring or vibrating sound is usually a courtship behavior or a sign of intense focus. If they’re vibrating their front claws near their face, that’s a male trying to woo a female—or sometimes just a confused juvenile practicing his "rizz."
Why the Frequency Matters
Most turtle "speech" happens at a very low frequency, often below 1,000 Hertz. Our ears aren't really tuned for it, especially underwater where the bubbles from a snorkeler’s gear or the hum of a filter mask the sound.
This is why we missed it for so long.
When researchers like Jorgewich-Cohen used hydrophones, they discovered that turtles aren't just making "accidental" noises. They’re responding to each other. They’re sharing information about where they are, who they want to mate with, and when it’s time to move.
Actionable Steps for Turtle Owners
If you have a pet turtle and you want to "hear" what they’re saying, you have to be observant. You probably won't hear a full-blown monologue, but you can learn their cues.
- Check for "Wet" Clicking: If your turtle clicks while basking, look at its nose. If there’s bubbles or discharge, that click is a symptom of illness, not a "hello."
- Listen During Feeding: Some turtles make soft "clacking" sounds with their beaks when they’re excited about food.
- Respect the Hiss: If your turtle hisses when you pick it up, it means you're moving too fast. Try approaching from the side rather than reaching from above like a predatory bird.
- Record the Quiet: If you have a high-quality waterproof mic, try leaving it near the tank (safely) when you aren't in the room. You might be surprised at the "grunts" and "chirps" that happen when they think nobody is watching.
The world of turtle communication is still being mapped out. We used to think they were boring, silent creatures, but the reality is much noisier. They aren't just rocks; they're social, vocal, and have been "talking" since before the first dinosaur ever let out a roar.
To understand your turtle, stop looking for a "bark" and start listening for the subtle air-pushes and low-frequency vibrations that have kept their species alive for millions of years.