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Why do turtles and crocodiles enter water when threatened?
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Avoidance behaviour
Cat fleeing by upward climbing.
Turtles and crocodiles enter the water when threatened as a primary form of avoidance behavior, which is the most common defense mechanism among reptiles.1
When these animals perceive danger, they instinctively plunge into the water and sink out of sight to escape potential predators. This reaction serves as a quick and effective method of flight, allowing them to remove themselves from immediate threats that might otherwise be hazardous to confront directly.1