The Most Unusual Turtle Courtship Behaviors

Quick Take

• One turtle species courts mates with a gesture that is fast and precise, and scientists think it works on two completely different sensory levels at once. See the claw flutter →
• The most dangerous turtle in courtship is not the one that puts on the biggest show. It is the one that skips the dramatic display entirely. See who skips courtship →
• Some male turtles never even reach the female before the real competition begins, and what happens first can be surprisingly brutal. See the male rivalry →
• One turtle that looks intimidating turns out to use the gentlest courtship touch, and that contradiction is what makes it work. Meet the gentle intimidator →

Turtles may not seem like the most romantic animals, but many species have elaborate ways of finding a mate. While they cannot sing beautiful songs or build treetop nests, turtles have found fascinating ways to attract attention from the opposite sex. They rely on a host of behaviors, from dance routines to swift chases. Some courtships are slow and peaceful, while others can be uncharacteristically rough. Like many courtship rituals throughout the animal kingdom, these displays have evolved over millions of years. They help turtles find suitable mates and reproduce consistently. Here are eight of the most unusual courtship behaviors seen in turtles around the world.

1. Red-Eared Sliders: Fluttering of Claws 

Male red-eared sliders have one of the most recognizable turtle courtship behaviors. They swim in front of a female and vibrate their long front claws against the sides of her face. The movement is quite fast; it almost looks like the male is fanning his prospective mate with tiny feathers. Scientists believe the movement leads to both visual signals and subtle water movements, communicating his reproductive interest. If the female is open to the encounter, the pair may swim together before mating.

2. Painted Turtles: Dancing Underwater

Painted turtles perform a graceful underwater ballet during courtship. A male slowly moves toward a female while stretching out his legs and making swimming motions around her. He avoids rushing the pairing. Instead, he carefully positions himself face-to-face with the female before attempting to mate. The slow, intentional movements help distinguish courtship from aggression. If the female is not interested, she simply swims away.

3. Sea Turtles: Stalking in Open Waters

Courtship in sea turtles takes place far from land in the middle of the ocean. Males essentially follow females patiently for long periods before making their move. They sometimes compete with several rivals throughout the time they trail a chosen female. Once a female accepts the male, the pair might stay together for hours while floating near the surface. Because these turtles mate at sea, scientists have only recently been able to study them up close. They use underwater observations and tracking technology.

4. Box Turtles: Moving Circles Around Each Other 

Many box turtles engage in a slow-going, deliberate courtship that involves circling each other repeatedly. The male follows just behind the female, gently nudging or sniffing her shell in the process. If she appears open to the encounter, the circling behavior gradually grows more organized before mating takes place. The simple and repetitive ritual allows both turtles to effectively assess each other before deciding to reproduce.

5. Giant Tortoises: Stretching to Impress

The world’s largest tortoises use their size and posture more than speed. During courtship, males stretch their necks upward while standing as tall as possible. They are also capable of making deep, booming sounds that can be heard surprisingly far away. These dramatic displays likely show off both size and strength to any females within range, while communicating that rival males should keep their distance.

6. Softshell Turtles: Gentling Caressing

Despite their intimidating appearance, many types of softshell turtles begin courtship with extremely gentle behavior. A male will softly stroke the female’s head and shell with his snout. The careful caress takes place before attempting to mate. Scientists think the light contact is designed to help determine whether the female is interested. If she sticks around, the male softshell turtle will know she is receptive. If she isn’t open to mating, she will either simply swim away or chase him off.

7. Snapping Turtles: Skipping the Fancy Displays

Unlike many other turtles, snapping turtles spend little time on courtship rituals. Their approach is straightforward. Because they don’t want their approach to be mistaken for a threat, males move toward females cautiously, depending on specific posture and subtle movements. Direct physical contact is kept to a minimum until the female appears receptive. Because snapping turtles have extremely powerful jaws, minimizing contact may reduce the risk of injury for both animals. 

8. Several Species: Fighting for the Chance

Before courtship even begins, males of several turtle species compete for access to females. Competitors might ram each other with their shells, snap at exposed legs and necks, or even attempt to flip an opponent over. The strongest males are generally the winners, earning the first opportunity to court nearby females. Although these events can look aggressive, they play an important role in determining which individuals pass on their genes to the next generation.