Final answer:
It is false that turtles guard their eggs until they hatch; they lay many eggs but leave them to develop independently.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement about turtles laying many eggs and guarding them until they hatch is false. Turtles do lay a substantial number of eggs in holes in mud or sand, but they do not guard them until hatching. Instead, after laying the eggs, turtles cover them and leave them to develop on their own. The hatchlings, which look like smaller versions of adults, must then make their way to the water independently, facing numerous predators along the way. Noteworthy exceptions in the reptile world include female crocodiles and alligators, which provide care and protection for their eggs and young hatchlings.