Posted by Design | 05.28.2025 | Sea Turtle Camp News

Sea Turtles Don’t Have Teeth — So How Do They Eat?

Ever seen a sea turtle munching on jellyfish or seagrass and wondered, how does it chew that without teeth? Turns out, sea turtles have a wild and effective feeding system that’s completely tooth-free—and totally tailored to their diet.

The Real Reason Sea Turtles Don’t Need Teeth

Instead of teeth, sea turtles have strong, beak-like jaws that are perfectly adapted to what they eat. These jaws vary depending on the species:

• Loggerheads have massive, crushing jaws for cracking crabs and hard-shelled prey.

• Green sea turtles have finely serrated jaws, ideal for slicing through seagrass and algae.

• Leatherbacks, who love jellyfish, have soft, scissor-like jaws and spiny throat projections (called papillae) to keep their slippery prey from escaping.

So while they don’t chew like we do, turtles are still expert eaters—with beaks built for the buffet.

Built for the Bite

What they lack in teeth, they make up for in efficiency. Their beaks are made of keratin (the same material as human fingernails) and are surprisingly sharp.

Green sea turtles, for example, help maintain healthy seagrass beds, making them crucial to marine ecosystems. They act like underwater gardeners with their steady grazing!

Why It Matters for Conservation

Since sea turtles rely on specific diets, they’re extra vulnerable to plastic pollution. Floating plastic bags can look just like jellyfish to leatherbacks—and a single ingested bag can be deadly. That’s why reducing ocean plastic is one of the most important ways we can protect these incredible animals.

Supporting bans on single-use plastics and participating in beach cleanups can make a real impact.

Toothless and Thriving

The next time you spot a sea turtle gliding through the reef, remember: they may not have teeth, but they’ve got one of the most specialized mouths in the ocean. Nature gave them everything they need—just in a totally different way.