![]() ![]() ![]() Six out of the seven species of sea turtles are in danger of extinction, and there is not enough data about the other to assess its conservation status, so it is unknown whether it maintains a stable population or is on the verge of extinction too.ģ. Ancestors of the same Testudines order than sea turtles have existed on earth for over 200 million years and have evolved to what we know today.Ģ. Sea turtles are marine reptiles that belong to the superfamily Chelonioidea, which separates them from tortoises.Ģ. Olive Ridley sea turtle ( Lepidochelys olivacea)Ģ. Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle ( Lepidochelys kempii) Hawksbill sea turtle ( Eretmochelys imbricata) Leatherback sea turtle ( Dermochelys coriacea) There are seven species of sea turtles in the world. The species that belong to the former have hard shells, while those that belong to the latter have soft shells.ġ. There are two families of sea turtles Cheloniidae and Dermochelyidae. These aquatic reptiles are more surprising than we think.ġ. Scientific Name: Natator depressus Status: Vulnerable Size: 3 ft long, weighing 200lbs Diet: Feeding on seas cucumbers, sea pens, soft corals, and jellies Range: Found only around Australia Fun Fact: This species is named after the flatness of their shells.Here are some interesting facts about sea turtles. Also having the greatest number of scutes (shell scales) of any sea turtle. Scientific Name: Lepidochelys olivacea Status: Endangered Size: 2-2½ ft long, weighing 75-100lbs Diet: Feeding on crabs, lobsters, fish, and jellies Range: Found mainly in the Pacific and lower Atlantic Ocean Fun Fact: This species is named after the olive green color of their shell. The two species NOT found in Florida water are the Olive Ridley and Flatback sea turtles. However, in 1978, there were only 500 nesting females recorded. In 1947, over 42,000 Kemps simultaneously nesting during one of these arribadas. Scientific Name: Lepidochelys kempii Status: Critically Endangered Size: 2-2½ ft long, weighing 75-100lbs Diet: Feeding on crabs, lobster, fish, and jellies Range: Primarily found in the Gulf of Mexico and occasionally in the Atlantic and Caribbean Ocean Fun Fact: They have a unique nesting behavior called “arribada,” where they nest together in broad daylight. Scientific Name: Eretmochelys imbricata Status: Critically Endangered Size: 2-3 ft long, weighing 100-150lbs Diet: Mainly feeding on sponges and small invertebrates Range: Found in tropical waters – preferably near coral reefs where sponges are in abundance Fun Fact: “Tortoise shell” materialistic items are harvested from Hawksbill sea turtles because of their unique and beautiful shell pattern. This allows them to expand and contract their bodies to withstand the changes in water pressure during their diving patterns. Scientific Name: Dermochelys coriacea Status: Critically Endangered Size: 4-6 ft long, weighing up to 2,000lbs Diet: Feeding primarily on jellies Range: Found worldwide – preferably deep waters up to 4,000 ft deep Fun Fact: This species is the only one to have a “soft shell.” It is made up of cartilage versus hard-shell sea turtles being made up of keratin. Fun Fact: Their jaw muscles have a similar bit force to a White Shark – approximately 900 psi. Individuals have tracked to be migrating over 7,500 miles from nesting beaches in Japan to feeding grounds off the coast of Mexico. Scientific Name: Caretta caretta Status: Threatened Size: 2-4 ft long, weighing 200-350lbs Diet: Feeding on hard-shelled invertebrates, crabs, lobsters, and conch Range: Mainly found in temperate waters. They eat so much seagrass, that the tissue and fat inside of their bodies turn green overtime. Scientific Name: Chelonia mydas Status: Endangered Size: 3-5 ft long, weighing 200-500lbs Diet: Primarily herbivores – feeding on seagrass and algae Range: Found worldwide, primarily in tropical waters Fun Fact: Like their name suggests, their shells are not actually green. Five of those seven are found in Florida – Green, Loggerhead, Leatherback, Hawksbill, and Kemp’s Ridley. Throughout the entire ocean, there are only 7 living species of sea turtles. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |