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Climate change: How hotter weather could affect turtles and crocodiles

baby-sea-turtle.Image source, Getty Images

Climate change could cause some animals problems you might not have thought about.

Did you know that the temperature of the Earth helps to decide if some reptiles, like turtles and crocodiles, or fish, are born a girl or a boy?

For example, if the Earth's temperature is hotter, it's likely that more girls will hatch, whereas if it is cooler, more boys will hatch.

As the world's temperature increases due to global warming, this could mean that fewer male turtles or crocodiles could be born.

Some scientists have estimated that by the year 2100, between 76-93% of sea turtles could be born female!

Image source, Getty Images

This means that in the future it could be very difficult for the reptiles to find a mate which could lead to fewer being born.

Although this doesn't sound like great news, there is a bit of hope.

Some sea turtles have begun laying their eggs earlier then normal, when the weather is a bit cooler which some researchers suggest could be part of the way the species helps to keep a balance of boys and girls.

Image source, Getty Images

However, scientists are still concerned about what this might all mean for the future.