Secret Spikes: How Sea Turtles Use Their Esophageal Papillae
Sea turtles have been swimming the world’s oceans for more than 100 million years, long before the dinosaurs disappeared. Known for their grace, resilience, and impressive migrations, sea turtles have evolved some pretty incredible adaptations—but one of the most surprising lies not in their shells or flippers, but deep inside their throats.
Say hello to esophageal papillae—the spiky, backward-facing structures lining the inside of a sea turtle’s throat. While they may look a bit intimidating, these features are critical to the turtle’s survival in the wild.
What Are Esophageal Papillae?
Esophageal papillae (pronounced puh-PIE-lee) are tough, pointed, keratinized structures that line a sea turtle’s esophagus—all the way from the back of the mouth down to the stomach. These structures are often long and sharp, curving inward toward the stomach.
Different species of sea turtles have slightly different papillae, but they all serve similar functions—primarily related to feeding and survival.
What Do They Do?
These papillae aren’t teeth, and they’re not used for chewing. Instead, they serve several unique purposes:
1. Keeping Prey In and Water Out
Many sea turtles, like loggerheads and green sea turtles, feed on slippery or soft-bodied prey such as jellyfish, squid, or algae. Because turtles often gulp food underwater, the esophageal papillae act like a one-way filter—letting food in, but keeping it from floating back out when they expel excess water.
2. Aiding in Digestion
Once food passes the turtle’s beak and tongue, the papillae help push it along toward the stomach. Their pointed, backward-facing design guides food in the right direction, especially when the turtle consumes prey with tough shells or spines.
3. Protecting Against Stings
Leatherback turtles, which eat mostly jellyfish, rely heavily on their papillae to trap and maneuver their gelatinous meals. The tough papillae also help protect the turtle’s throat from jellyfish tentacles, which can still sting even after being caught.
Why Is This Important?
Sea turtles don’t get enough credit for just how well-adapted they are to life at sea. Their esophageal papillae are just one example of how nature fine-tunes creatures for survival. Understanding these kinds of adaptations helps researchers and conservationists protect sea turtles, especially as they face threats from plastic pollution.
Because plastic bags can look dangerously similar to jellyfish, sea turtles sometimes accidentally ingest them. Without the proper exit route, these materials can become stuck—sometimes painfully so—among the papillae, leading to health issues or even death.
What Can You Do to Help?
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Say no to single-use plastics: Bring your own bags and bottles to reduce plastic waste.
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Support sea turtle conservation programs: Organizations like Florida Oceanographic Society work hard to protect these ancient mariners and educate the public about their needs.
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Be mindful at the beach: Keep lights off during nesting season, pick up litter, and report stranded turtles to local authorities.
Sea Turtles Are Built for the Ocean
From their strong flippers to their built-in food filters, sea turtles are marvels of evolution. And while you might not see those spiky esophageal papillae unless you're looking down the throat of a rescued turtle (which we don’t recommend!), just knowing they exist adds another layer of awe and respect for these magnificent marine reptiles.
Want to see sea turtles up close and learn more?
Join us for an educational sea turtle program at the Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center, where we dive deep into the world of sea turtle biology, behavior, and conservation!
