Painted Turtles Defrost Back to Life | Frozen Planet II | BBC Earth

"Darkness took me, and I strayed out of thought and time... The stars wheeled overhead, and every day was as long as a life age of the earth... But it was not the end. I felt life in me again. I've been sent back until my task is done"-Turtle

Painted turtles can survive freezing partly because they can control the formation of ice in their bodies. Dropping temperatures cue the turtle's liver to produce special proteins that cause very small ice crystals to form in fluids such as blood plasma and urine. Because the ice crystals are kept very small, damage to surrounding tissues is minimized. But no matter how small they are, ice crystals cause irreparable damage if allowed to form inside cells. So another adaptation allows painted turtles to protect their cells from ice damage. When ice begins to form outside the cells, the cells produce sugar compounds called cryoprotectants. Cryoprotectants protect the cells from damage and prevent the water inside the cells from freezing, much like the antifreeze in your car's radiator.

I like that they're all together before they freeze.

2:08 they hi-fived each other like yh bro we made it

I had a pet softshell turtle get out of its cage and fall behind the table one night, stayed out all night, and literally felt 100% frozen and dead.. I was crying and my mom was thawing him out, he ended up just wiggling like crazy and waking up like "what the hell are you guys doing here, I was just sleeping"

I like that their first instinct when they wake up is to hi-five the other turtles

when they wake up and drink that first glass of water after months, it must feel godly

Wow. Nature is incredible.

I have never seen anything more beautiful. Truly the work of wonder .

It’s amazing how the crew behind this managed to capture these turtles awakening from their frozen sleep.

Best sleep ever👌

I had to look it up because I didnt understand how the Turtles don't get riga mortis from their hearts stopping: Their hearts don't stop they just beat at such a reduced rate they don't have to eat for the whole season: just enough to maintain circulation and prevent tissue/muscle death.

Magical creatures. We still know very little about our world. More to discover.

Hats off to the crew who filmed this

I M over 70 I live in Maryland USA...... Thank U 4 this Video...... I have never heard of this Type of 🐢 Turtle....... I 💚 TURTLES 💚 🐢

I like that hi-five the one turtle gave the other.

2:05 The most epic high-five in history XD

When I was a kid, I dream to be a wildlife videographer and make documentaries like this one.

I'm going to miss this man. He's been narrating these nature videos all my life. I've heard a dozen other voices, but they all pale in comparison. You are a legend Dave, thank you for all you've done.

1:59-2:11 There is something so poetically beautiful about this. Imagine you're in a deep sleep and the first thing you feel as you awaken is the touch of your sibling, hand to hand. You're all ready to take your first steps into a land awoken by the first breath of spring.