1000+ images about Sea Turtles. on Pinterest | Olives, Ocean photos and The turtles Forward Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle The smallest of the world’s sea turtles, Kemp’s ridleys are also the most endangered. In 1947, 42,000 of these turtles were filmed nesting on a single beach near Rancho Nuevo, Mexico.

That film also captured people digging up the nests to collect the eggs, which number more than 100 per nest; the eggs are eaten as an aphrodisiac.In the United States, all six sea turtle species are listed as threatened or endangered.Kemp’s ridleys have been killed after getting… See More Sea Turtle Facts – Loggerhead Marinelife Center Weighs 700-1500 pounds and measures 4 to 8 feet in length Nests in Florida from March through July Loggerhead World Conservation Union (IUCN) status – Endangered Most common sea turtle in Florida Named for its large head Feeds on crabs, mollusks, encrusting animals attached to reefs and rocks Weighs 200 to 350 pounds and measures about 3 feet in length Nests in Florida from April through September Green World Conservation Union (IUCN) status – Endangered Named for greenish color of body fat Feeds on seagrass and seaweed Adult females weigh 300 pounds and are 3-4 feet in length Nests in Florida from May through September Hawksbill World Conservation Union (IUCN) status – Critically Endangered Has a beautiful shell, which is

 used for jewelry causing this turtle to be listed internationally as critically endangered Feeds on sponges Occasional nests are found in Palm Beach County each year Kemp’s Ridley World Conservation Union (IUCN) status – Critically Endangered Smallest of the sea turtles Nesting is mainly restricted to a 20-mile stretch of beach in western Gulf of Mexico Nesting often occurs in large aggregations during the daylight Feeds on blue crabs, clams, mussels, fish and jellyfish Adult weighs 85-100 pounds and measures 24-30 inches in length How do sea turtle patients arrive at the Loggerhead Marinelife Center for rehabilitation?

LMC is one of 12 sea turtle rehabilitation facilities in the State. Patients are transported to the LMC under the direction of the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission. How many turtles do you rehabilitate a year? On average 50-60 juvenile through adult sea turtles and over 1,000 hatchlings are cared for at LMC each year. Unfortunately, not all patients can be successfully rehabilitated. What are sea turtles’ biggest predators? The eggs of sea turtles can be a meal for foxes, raccoons, crabs, and other small carnivores. Many human cultures throughout the tropics of the world also consume sea turtle eggs as a source of protein and/or for cultural ceremony (now illegal in the U.S.). As hatchlings, their predators include birds, small land animals, insects, and fish. As adults, their biggest predators are humans. Humans commercially harvest sea turtles for their meat, flippers and shells. Many sea turtles die from commercial fishing techniques, and ever-developing coastlines disrupt reproductive processes. How many hatchlings reach adulthood? It is not known.

However, many years of research have lead experts to predict that approximately 1 in 1,000 to 1 in 10,000 eggs produce hatchlings that reach adulthood. How old do sea turtles get? It is not known. However, it is widely believed that they can reach at least 80 –100 years old. When is official sea turtle nesting season? March 1st through October 31st in Palm Beach County. How long can sea turtles hold their breath? It varies widely. The rate at which sea turtles utilize the oxygen they take with them underwater determines how frequently they must surface for air. Research has shown that dive durations of 15 to 30 minutes are common. What types of sea turtles nest on Juno and Jupiter Beach? Leatherbacks, loggerheads and greens. However, one may see Kemps Ridley and Hawksbill turtles swimming off our coast, but they rarely nest on our local beaches. Are turtle nests protected on the beach? They are protected by State and Federal law. However, only a fraction of the total number of nests on our beach are marked in any fashion. The vast majority are left to incubate naturally, without further protection.

Do beach goers harm turtle nests? No, sea turtles bury their nests deep enough to be unaffected by routine beach activity. How many eggs are there per nest? There are approximately 100 eggs per nest, with an average 60 day incubation period. What happens to the sea turtle eggs if they are exposed? If the eggs are not hatched, rotation and exposure to the elements often cause the eggs to stop developing. Beach erosion commonly exposes turtle nests, which is an unfortunate but natural process. Why do we have to turn lights off along the beach for the turtles? Adult females avoid lighted beaches for nesting, and emerging hatchlings often become disoriented by beachfront lighting as they try to reach the ocean. What beaches do you patrol for sea turtle nests? The LMC’s Research Staff patrol 9.5 miles of beach between John D. MacArthur State Park and the Palm Beach/Martin County line. Why can’t we touch the turtles that reside at the Center? For several reasons: the turtles are here because they are ill or injured, human contact can be an unnecessary source of stress; there may be unwanted bacterial exchange between humans and turtles; and… they bite!

Leatherback Sea Turtle | National Geographic Leatherback Sea Turtle About the Leatherback Sea Turtle Leatherbacks are the largest turtles on Earth, growing up to seven feet (two meters) long and exceeding 2,000 pounds (900 kilograms). These reptilian relics are the only remaining representatives of a family of turtles that traces its evolutionary roots back more than 100 million years. Once prevalent in every ocean except the Arctic and Antarctic, the leatherback population is rapidly declining in many parts of the world. Turtle Shell While all other sea turtles have hard, bony shells, the inky-blue carapace of the leatherback is somewhat flexible and almost rubbery to the touch. Ridges along the carapace help give it a more hydrodynamic structure. Leatherbacks can dive to depths of 4,200 feet (1,280 meters)—deeper than any other turtle—and can stay down for up to 85 minutes. Population Range Leatherbacks have the widest global distribution of all reptile species, and possibly of any vertebrate. They can be found in the tropic and temperate waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, as well as the Mediterranean Sea.

Adult leatherbacks also traverse as far north as Canada and Norway and as far south as New Zealand and South America. Unlike their reptilian relatives, leatherbacks are able to maintain warm body temperatures in cold water by using a unique set of adaptations that allows them to both generate and retain body heat. These adaptations include large body size, changes in swimming activity and blood flow, and a thick layer of fat. Reproduction Leatherbacks undertake the longest migrations between breeding and feeding areas of any sea turtle, averaging 3,700 miles (6,000 kilometers) each way. After mating at sea, females come ashore during the breeding season to nest. The nighttime ritual involves excavating a hole in the sand, depositing around 80 eggs, filling the nest, leaving a large, disturbed area of sand that makes detection by predators difficult, and finally returning to the sea. The temperature inside the nest determines the sex of the hatchlings. A mix of male and female hatchlings occurs when the nest temperature is approximately 85.1 degrees Fahrenheit (29.5 degrees Celsius), while higher temperatures produce females and cooler temperatures produce males.

Female hatchlings that make it to sea will roam the oceans until they reach sexual maturity, when they return to the same nesting areas to produce their own offspring. Males spend the rest of their lives at sea. Threats to Survival Their lifespan is unknown but many leatherbacks meet an early end due to human activity. It is estimated that only about one in a thousand leatherback hatchlings survive to adulthood. Eggs are often taken by humans from nests to be consumed for subsistence or as aphrodisiacs. Many leatherbacks fall victim to fishing lines and nets, or are struck by boats. Leatherbacks also can die if they ingest floating plastic debris mistaken for their favorite food: jellyfish. Some individuals have been found to have almost 11 pounds (5 kilograms) of plastic in their stomachs. Leatherbacks are currently designated as endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. The number of leatherbacks in the Atlantic appears to be stable or increasing, but the Pacific population is declining at an alarming rate due to egg harvest, fishery bycatch, coastal development, and highly variable food availability. Some Pacific populations have disappeared entirely from certain areas, such as Malaysia.

Scientists around the world are tracking and studying leatherbacks to learn more about these reptilian giants and how they can be saved. © 1996-Sat Jan 14 18:08:23 EST 2017 National Geographic Society. Sea Turtle | Species | WWF Sea Turtle Adopt a Sea Turtleh Overview For more than 100 million years sea turtles have covered vast distances across the world's oceans, filling a vital role in the balance of marine habitats. VU Status e Habitats Open water and coasts Seven different species of sea (or marine) turtles grace our ocean waters, from the shallow seagrass beds of the Indian Ocean, to the colorful reefs of the Coral Triangle, and even the sandy beaches of the Eastern Pacific. WWF’s work on sea turtles focuses on five of those species: green, hawksbill, loggerhead, leatherback and olive ridley. Human activities have tipped the scales against the survival of these ancient mariners. Nearly all species of sea turtle are classified as Endangered. Slaughtered for their eggs, meat, skin and shells, sea turtles suffer from poaching and over-exploitation. They also face habitat destruction and accidental capture in fishing gear.

Climate change has an impact on turtle nesting sites. It alters sand temperatures, which then affects the sex of hatchlings. WWF is committed to stop the decline of sea turtles and work for the recovery of the species. We work to secure environments in which both turtles—and the people that depend upon them—can survive into the future. Sea turtles and shrimp cocktail: what’s the connection? Sea turtles are some of the most majestic, long-living animals in the ocean, yet hundreds of thousands of them are accidentally caught and die in shrimp nets and other fishing gear each year. Endangered loggerheads, green turtles, and leatherbacks are especially vulnerable. Why They Matter Fundamental Link in Marine Ecosystems Sea turtles are a fundamental link in marine ecosystems. They help maintain the health of sea grass beds and coral reefs that benefit commercially valuable species such as shrimp, lobster and tuna. Sea turtles are the live representatives of a group of reptiles that have existed on Earth and traveled our seas for the last 100 million years. Turtles have major cultural significance and tourism value.

No reasonable doubt that the last individual has died EW Known only to survive in cultivation, in captivity or as a naturalised population CR Facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the Wild EN Facing a high risk of extinction in the Wild VU Facing a high risk of extinction in the Wild NT Likely to qualify for a threatened category in the near future LC Least Concern Does not qualify for Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable, or Near Threatened Sea turtles journey between land and sea and swim thousands of ocean miles during their long lifetimes, exposing them to countless threats. They wait decades until they can reproduce, returning to the same beaches where they were born to lay their eggs, few of which will yield hatchlings that survive their first year of life. Beyond these significant natural challenges, sea turtles face multiple threats caused by humans. Bycatch Worldwide, hundreds of thousands of sea turtles are accidentally caught in shrimp trawl nets, on longline hooks and in fishing gillnets every year. They become fisheries bycatch--unintended catch of non-target species. Sea turtles need to reach the surface to breathe and therefore many drown once caught. Incidental capture by fishing gear is the greatest threat to most sea turtles, especially endangered loggerheads, greens and leatherbacks.

This threat is increasing as fishing activity expands. Overharvesting and Illegal trade Sea turtles continue to be harvested unsustainably both for human consumption and trade of their parts. Turtle meat and eggs are a source of food and income for many people around the world. Some also kill turtles for medicine and religious ceremonies. Tens of thousands of sea turtles are lost this way every year, devastating populations of already endangered greens and hawksbills. Killing of turtles for both domestic and international markets continues as well. While international trade in all sea turtle species and their parts is prohibited under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), illegal trafficking persists. Habitat loss Sea turtles are dependent on beaches for nesting. Uncontrolled coastal development, vehicle traffic on beaches and other human activities have directly destroyed or disturbed sea turtle nesting beaches around the world. Turtle feeding grounds such as coral reefs and sea grass beds are damaged and destroyed by activities onshore, including sedimentation from clearing of land and nutrient run-off from agriculture. Climate Change All stages of a sea turtle’s life are affected by environmental conditions such as temperature—even the sex of offspring.

Unusually warm temperatures caused by climate change are disrupting the normal ratios, resulting in fewer male hatchlings. Warmer sea surface temperatures can also lead to the loss of important foraging grounds for sea turtles, while increasingly severe storms and sea level rise can destroy critical nesting beaches and damage nests. What WWF Is Doing WWF works around the world to eliminate sea turtle bycatch from fisheries, reduce the unsustainable harvest and illegal trade in marine turtles, and stem the loss of critical sea turtle habitats. Eliminating Bycatch WWF aims to reduce turtle bycatch by working with fisheries to switch to more turtle-friendly fishing hooks (“circle” hooks). We advocate for the use of special turtle excluder devices in nets. WWF runs an international competition, known as Smart Gear, to attract creative new ways to solve bycatch problems and to advance the best of those ideas. Winning devices have been designed to minimize the bycatch of turtles on tuna longlines and help turtles avoid gillnets. We track turtle movements using satellites to help prevent future interactions between fisheries and turtles and work with fishermen to help them save turtles caught in fishing gear. Addressing Overharvesting and Illegal Trade WWF works with local communities to reduce turtle harvesting and egg collection.

Because exploitation of turtles is often driven by a lack of economic choices, we help develop alternative livelihoods so that local people are no longer dependent on turtle products for income. WWF also supports programs that promote the value of sea turtles. WWF works through TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network, to stop the illegal trade of turtle meat and eggs. We also train and equip local rangers to patrol turtle nesting beaches and protect against poaching. WWF has been supporting a campaign led by TRAFFIC to combat illegal trade from the Coral Triangle and reduce demand in China. Activities include better training for law enforcement officials in both areas and a public awareness campaign in China, targeting areas where turtle trade is the highest. Radio broadcasts and advocacy events spread the message among local fishermen, souvenir shop owners and tourists about the problem of turtle trade. In the western Solomon Islands, WWF supports local rangers on the beaches throughout turtle nesting and hatching seasons to protect against egg harvesting and hunting. The rangers collect important data and inform their communities about laws to protect turtles. Protecting Marine Turtle Habitat WWF works around the world to establish marine protected areas, ensuring sea turtles have a safe place to nest, feed and migrate freely.

We encourage governments to strengthen legislation on, and provide funding for, sea turtle protection. WWF supports local turtle conservationists in many parts of the world to monitor and patrol turtle nests. These efforts often lead to ecotourism opportunities and offer alternative livelihoods. Minimizing Climate Change Impacts WWF studies how sea turtles are being affected by climate change and helps determine the best ways to reduce their vulnerability to changing environmental conditions. We work around the world with communities to monitor and protect nesting beaches, helping turtles be more resilient to the future impacts of climate change. In the Eastern Pacific and Caribbean we work to raise awareness of the threat of sea level rise on nest sites and the importance of shade for nests. Save the Turtles - Leatherback, Hawksbill, Green, Loggerhead, Flatback, Olive Ridley & Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtles Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle Sea Turtles are ancient creatures. Some scientists say they are over 110 million years old, while others claim their lineage goes back 140 million years. They were here before the dinosaurs roamed the planet; and yet today, all species are on the IUCN (World Conservation Union) Red List meaning they are facing a high risk of global extinction.

The United States Endangered Species Act (ESA) also places sea turtles species as endangered. In addition and unfortunately, scientists believe that leatherback sea turtles could be facing extinction in as little as ten years. Save the Turtles, Inc, stands humbled by these gentle creatures and works towards their survival. About Sea Turtles Air breathing reptiles, but can spend hours submerged in the ocean. Adult females must return to land in order to lay their eggs. Many species return to the same beach where they were born to lay their eggs. Are found in oceans all over the world, except the Arctic Ocean. May migrate hundreds or thousands of miles. It is believed that they use the earth’s magnetic forces to navigate throughout the oceans. Most prefer open water, but they are also encountered in coastal waters near reefs and estuaries. Are sensitive to smells and sound. They hear through eardrums below their skin. The adult green turtles are unique among sea turtles in that they are herbivorous, feeding primarily on seagrasses and algae.

Most sea turtles are mainly carnivores and feed on jellyfish, tunicates (ascidians, sea squirts), sponges (one of a few animals that eat them), soft corals, crabs, squids and fishes. All 7 species of marine turtles are listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Sea Turtles & Taxonomy: the scientific classification system Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia (includes turtles, snakes, lizards, and crocodiles) Order: Testudines (includes turtles, tortoises and terrapins). See additional notes below that explain the difference between these categories. Family: Dermochelyidae: The Leatherback is the only non-extinct species remaining in this family and is distinguished from all other turtles by the semi-flexible “leathery” skin on its outer shell Cheloniidae: Most scientists group remaining sea turtle species under the family Cheloniidae. These species have shells covered with hard bony plates or scutes How to Distinguish the Seven Different Species The outer shell or carapace is the primary feature used in the identification of sea turtle species.

The number of scutes on the carapace, their shape, coloring and patterning is specific to each species. Another anatomical feature utilized to distinguish between sea turtles are the prefrontal scales located on the turtle’s head. There are seven living species of sea turtles (the first name listed is based on their physical characteristics and this common name varies in different counties). The name in parenthesis refers to their scientific taxonomy of species and genus: Courtesy of Fisheries and Oceans Canada: Photo of Nova Scotia Leatherback Turtle Working Group Leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea)Leatherbacks are the largest of all sea turtles, the only sea turtle with a leathery soft shell, and unfortunately are the specie that is most in danger of extinction. photo © Carolne Rogers Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata)The beak-like mouth gives the Hawksbill turtle its name. Unfortunately for the hawksbill, their shell is so beautiful that this turtle is often hunted for its shell. Photo © Marco Giuliano/ Fondazione Cetacea Loggerhead (Caretta caretta) Named for their large heads. Known to migrate from Japan to Mexico.

©2005 Robert Van Damm Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas)Largest of all the hard-shelled sea turtles and as an adult, are the only species that are herbivorous. ©Cynthia Rubio & NPS Kemp’s Ridley (Lepidochelys kempii)This species is the smallest of the sea turtles. The name Kemp is used because of the man, Richard M. Kemp, who first described these turtles. © Kedar Gore Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea)Most abundant sea turtle and derives its name from the olive coloration of its heart-shaped shell. © Jarrad Sherborne Flatback (Natator depressa)Only sea turtle that exclusively nests in just one country, Australia. They are so named because of their flat shell. Sea Turtles are Global: Although each species has their own preference for nesting grounds, migration patterns and diet, they also have similar characteristics and unfortunately share the same threats. Migration & Navigation There has been extensive research conducted regarding the sea turtles’ abilities to return to their nesting regions. They may migrate hundreds or even thousands of miles. In the water, their path is greatly affected by powerful currents.

Despite their limited vision, and lack of landmarks in the open water, turtles are able to retrace their migratory paths. One explanation of this phenomenon is that sea turtles use the earth’s magnetic fields to navigate. General Behavior Sea turtles are generally solitary and usually interact with one another only for courting and mating. Sexual maturity varies with species, ranging early with the hawksbill at three years and age twenty to fifty for the leatherback. During mating season, two or more males may court a female and the male attaches himself to the back of the female’s shell and then folds his long tail under her shell to copulate. Fertilization is internal and copulation takes place on the surface or underwater, often close to shore. Females may mate with several males just prior to nesting season and store the sperm for several months. When she finally lays her eggs, they will have been fertilized by a variety of males. This behavior may help keep genetic diversity high in the population. Nesting & Reproduction Sea turtles usually nest in intervals of two to three years although some nest yearly. Depending on the species, females may nest from one to ten times during a nesting season.

Only the females come ashore to the beach to lay their eggs a few weeks after mating. When the female Leatherback is ready to nest, she will choose a beach without a coral reef, one close to the deep water, such as ’s Beach. Crawling up from the ocean, she will locate a dry area and begin the arduous task of nest excavation. Using her flippers and the rotation of her body, she will dig an egg cavity that is approximately 70 centimeters deep. She will then lay 80 to 100 eggs, a process that can take over two hours. Eggs are often referred to as the size of billiard balls: she lays an average of 80 fertilized eggs and 30 smaller, unfertilized eggs in each nest. After she is finished, she will carefully cover and camouflage the clutch, and may even construct false nests to fool predators. Her role now complete, she will depart to the ocean, leaving her eggs to their fate. Remarkably, most female turtles share a nesting instinct that drives them to return to the beach of their birth, or natal beach, in order to lay eggs.

In fact, her ability to successfully reproduce depends on the ecological health of this original habitat. However, recent satellite tracking data indicates that the Leatherback, unique among turtles in many ways, may return to a range area or region, rather than a natal beach. The Caribbean coastline of Costa Rica is an example of one of the most important Leatherback nesting regions in the world. When the female turtle comes ashore at night to lay her eggs, she will first dig a body cavity with her front flippers, and then use her back flippers to dig out the nest. Depending upon the species, 80-120 eggs will be deposited in the cavity. Afterwards the female will laboriously cover the nest with sand and often even create another false nest to confuse predators, before she finally crawls back to the sea. Incubation varies with species, clutch size (number of eggs) and temperature, but averages from 45-70 days. Hatchlings Hatchlings use a caruncle, a temporary egg tooth to break open their shells. It may take several days for a group of hatchlings to dig their way up out of the nest cavity.

Although they usually emerge at night, coolness of sand temperature and other factors influence their emergence. The hatchlings crawl towards the ocean in small groups. They must make it to the ocean quickly so they don’t die from dehydration or predators. When a hatchling reaches the surf, it swims continuously for 24-48 hours to get to deeper water away from predators. The turtles must survive several years in a relatively protected area away from predators and one with ample food supply. Juveniles will spend time eating and growing in habitats near the shore. Once they reach adulthood, they migrate to find a primary feeding ground. During mating season, the sea turtles will migrate closer to their nesting beach. Why Sea Turtles Are Endangered Unfortunately, there are many reasons why sea turtles are now at risk Human harvesting of turtles and their eggs. Destruction of nesting habitats. Commercial fisheries who use longline fishing practices or gill nets and do not use Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDS), Pollution affecting nesting habitats and/or species: such as entanglement in marine debris; plastic debris, and commercial and industrial ocean water pollution from oil spills and chemical waste. Global Warming.

Vital to the Eco-system Sea turtles contribute to the delicate balance of ecosystems in our oceans and on the beaches where they nest. Their presence helps replenish both sea and beach nutrients and helps maintain the equilibrium of marine vegetation. For example, without Green turtles to feed on sea grass, the grasses would become overgrown and diseased which would have a negative impact on the many species that rely on this vegetation for sustenance. Sea turtles also play a significant role in balancing the oceans’ food chain. Leatherbacks for instance, consume large quantities of jellyfish, which feed on fish larvae. Some scientists are now looking at the possibility that the severe decline of Leatherback turtles over recent decades may have allowed for a proliferation of jellyfish, thus contributing to the drop in fish populations in the world’s oceans. Sea turtles also support the health of our terrestrial ecosystem. The nutrients from their eggs bring food energy to species on beaches and sand dunes, which has an out-rippling effect to species in surrounding areas. The truth is that our planetary ecosystems are so intricately intertwined that it is difficult to predict just how far ranging the implications are when a global species such as the sea turtle, declines or is lost forever.

Scott Eckert’s (PhD) testimony to the Ocean Commission provides many examples of the interconnectedness of sea turtles and the eco-system: Eckert also quotes another scientist, Dr. Nat Frazer, who eloquently describes their importance: “Envision this with me . . . millions of sea turtles pulsing ashore onto the beaches . . . fertilizing the rims of thousands of islands and two continents. And after this wave of nutrients enters the rims, it is pulsed on up and into the interior lands in successive waves of biological transport. Year after year – tons of nutrients and billions of kilojoules of energy in a predictable, regular cycle – for tens of millions of years. Envision this with me . . . millions of turtles grazing on seagrass beds, stimulating primary productivity at the base of the ocean’s food chain. And this surge of increased productivity works its way up the food chain, nourishing shrimp, mollusks, lobsters, and fish – as well as eventually pulsing onto the shore in the annual ballet of nesting activity. Envision this with me . . .

millions of sea turtles nibbling on sponges – trimming back the invading poriferans that otherwise would overgrow and shut down the coral reef machine. A constant system of checks and balances that also contributes to the gift of energy that sea turtles offer to the land each year in the form of nests and eggs. Year after year, for tens of million of years, the ecosystem engineers, these hawksbill and green and loggerhead and ridley and leatherback turtles, shape and improve and fine-tune the complex and mysterious and marvelous cybernetic machines of the oceans.” We are a non-profit organization dedicated to sea turtle conservation, and we are proud to be a vital link to the international efforts of protecting marine life. We appreciate gathering some of our data from the resources below. Many of these websites have additional pages with links that will provide more detailed information about sea turtles. In addition, we gratefully acknowledge the photographers who have given us permission to use their turtle photos . Sea Turtle Resources 1000+ images about Sea Turtles on Pinterest | Conservation, Animais and Islands Forward Anyone else not realize that Leatherback Turtles were so huge?

Adults average 1–1.75 m (3.3–5.74 ft) in carapace length, 1.83–2.2 m (6.0–7.2 ft) in total length and weigh 250 to 700 kg (550 to 1,500 lb). The largest ever found, however, was over 3 metres (9.8 ft) from head to tail, including a carapace length of over 2.2 metres (7.2 ft), and weighed 916 kilograms (2,020 lb). See More Leatherback turtle | WWF Leatherback turtle Climate change and turtles Leatherback turtle The leatherback turtle has survived for more than a hundred million years, but is now facing extinction. Recent estimates of numbers show that this species is declining precipitously throughout its range. Discover how WWF is working to protect turtles. © naturepl.com / Solvin Zankl / WWF Leatherback turtle returns to the sea after laying eggs on the beach.

© WWF / Martin HARVEY Subscribe to WWF Common Name Leatherback, leathery turtle, luth, trunkback turtle; Tortue luth (Fr); Baula, Canal, Cardon, Tinglada, Tinglar, Tortuga laud (Sp) Scientific Name IUCN: Critically Endangered CITES: Appendix I CMS listing: Appendix I and II Population Approx. 20,000 to 30,000 nesting females Underwater giant on the brink The Pacific population of leatherback sea turtles has suffered most over the last twenty years: as few as 2,300 adult females now remain, making the Pacific leatherback the world's most endangered marine turtle population. Although Atlantic populations are rather more stable, scientists believe that they, too, will decline due to the large numbers of adults being killed accidentally by fishing fleets. In the Atlantic, the fact that they are widely distributed during the migration process increases the risk of interaction of leatherback turtles with longline fisheries.

From left to right: A female leatherback turtle leaves a beach in French Guiana after nesting; About 60 days later, hatchlings come out of the nest and head to the sea; Adult leatherback caught in a net. © From left to right: WWF / Ronald PETOCZ; WWF / Roger LeGUEN; WWF / Michel GUNTHER Physical Description The leatherback turtle is the largest marine turtle and one of the largest living reptiles. Leatherbacks are one of the most migratory of all marine turtle species, making both trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific crossings. They are easily distinguished by their carapace, which is leathery, not hard as in other turtles, and by their long front flippers. Leatherbacks have a unique system of blood supply to their bones and cartilage. This enables their body temperature to stay several degrees above the water temperature and allows them to tolerate cold water, rather like a mammal. They can dive to depths of up to 1,200m, much deeper than any other marine turtle. Recent DNA analysis confirms that Atlantic and Pacific populations are genetically distinct lineages of a single species.

In turn, nesting Pacific leatherback populations are separated into two genetically distinct populations (eastern and western populations). Size The leatherback can reach up to 180cm, and 500kg in weight. Colour The species carapace (shell) is dark with white spots. Life Cycle Juvenile leatherbacks may remain in tropical waters warmer than 26°C, near the coast, until they exceed 100cm in curved carapace length. Adults are pelagic and live in the open ocean, sometimes in temperatures below 10°C. Breeding Female leatherbacks may lay 4 to 5 times per season, each time depositing 60 to 120 eggs. Leatherbacks appear to nest once every two or three years with an incubation period of approximately 60 days. Diet The large size of leatherbacks is all the more remarkable given their low energy, low protein diet of soft-bodied creatures such as jellyfish, squid and tunicates ("jelly fish-like" marine invertebrates). Previous Population and Distribution The global population for this species was estimated to be 115,000 adult females in 1982.

By 1996 this had been revised down to about 30-40,000. Leatherback populations in the Pacific and Indian Oceans have undergone dramatic declines in the past forty years. For example, the nesting colony at Terengganu, Malaysia went from more than 3,000 females in 1968, to 20 in 1993, to just 2 in 1993 - there are no signs of recovery. Similar scenarios have occurred in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Mexico. Numbers of females recorded at four formerly major Pacific rookeries have declined to about 250 in Mexico, 117 in Costa Rica, two in Malaysia, and fewer than 550 in Indonesia. Current Population and Distribution Leatherbacks have been recorded as far north as Alaska, and as far south as Africa's Cape of Good Hope. The Pacific may now have as few as 2,300 adult females. Effective Protection However, not all leatherback populations have declined: in southern Africa, three decades of strong protection have increased the small annual nesting population more than fourfold.

Recent reports mention that west Africa has an important population with around 10,400 nests per season, but the total area occupied for the leatherbacks is not well known and there is no available historical information on nesting trends of this population. The most important nesting beaches now remaining in the Atlantic are found in Suriname, French Guiana, and Gabon. In the Pacific, the few remaining important beaches are in Indonesia, Mexico and Costa Rica, with other rookeries found in Nicaragua, Panama and Guatemala. Major habitat type Climate change Pollution A paper published in 1983 stated that almost 100% of leatherback eggs in Thailand were poached, while in some areas the egg harvest and illegal poaching has removed more than 95% of the clutches. This has been recognized as the main cause (together with fisheries mortalities and poor hatcheries practices) for the collapse in the Malaysia population. There are now few large populations from which eggs could be collected in the western Pacific. Leatherback turtles are a priority species . WWF treats priority species as one of the most ecologically, economically and/or culturally important species on our planet.

And so we are working to ensure such species can live and thrive in their natural habitats. Bycatch of manta ray (Manta birostris) and leatherback turtle (Dermochelis coriacea). French Tuna purse-seine fishery in the Atlantic ocean. Sept. 1998 © WWF / Hélène Petit What is WWF doing? WWF is working to conserve leatherback turtles and their habitats in Central and South America, and the western Pacific through concerted pan-Pacific and trans-Atlantic approaches that aim to protect critical nesting beaches and migratory pathways. This is being achieved by: protecting nesting beaches and nearshore habitats by establishing and strengthening sanctuaries and wildlife refuges; raising awareness so that local communities will protect turtles and their nests; promoting regional agreements to conserve marine turtles; reducing longline bycatch through promoting and facilitating gear modification, using new migration and genetics information to develop and trial management measures and,ensuring that any traditional take is sustainable.

Specific projects include: Loggerhead Sea Turtle - National Wildlife Federation Loggerhead Sea Turtle Genus: Caretta Species: caretta Loggerheads were named for their relatively large heads, which support powerful jaws and enable them to feed on hard-shelled prey, such as whelks and conch. The most common sea turtle in U. S. coastal waters. the loggerhead sea turtle was listed as threatened throughout its range on July 28, 1978, under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, and has received Federal protection since that time. Description: The adult loggerhead has a slightly heart-shaped, reddish-brown carapace (top shell of a turtle) consisting of five or more pleural scutes and a yellow plastron (bottom shell of a turtle). Adult males are distinguished by long tails that extend beyond the rear carapace in addition to a narrowing of the carapace that tapers towards the rear. Hatchlings have light to dark gray/brown shells. Their flippers are dark brown with white edges and their belly is a faded yellow. Diet: Loggerheads are carnivores, subsisting on crustaceans, fish, and other marine animals.

The hatchlings feed on small animals living in the sea grass-like algal mats called sargassum, where they spend their early developmental years. Juveniles and adults eat mostly bottom dwelling invertebrates such as whelks, other mollusks, horseshoe crabs, and sea urchins. Their powerful jaws are designed to crush their prey. Size: Loggerheads in the southeastern U.S. weigh an average of 250 lbs (113 kg) and are generally about 36 inches (92 cm) long. Habitat: Loggerheads can be found hundreds of miles out to sea or in inshore waters — bays, lagoons, salt marshes, creeks, ship channels, and the mouths of large rivers. Coral reefs, rocky places, and ship wrecks draw large amounts of marine life and are great feeding areas. Loggerheads nest on ocean beaches and occasionally on estuarine (where a river meets the sea) shorelines with suitable sand. Nests are typically made between the high tide line and the dune front. Most loggerhead hatchlings originating from U.S.

beaches are believed to lead a pelagic (open sea) existence in the North Atlantic for an extended period of time, perhaps as long as 10 to 12 years, and are best known from the eastern Atlantic near the Azores and Madeira. As mentioned previously, post-hatchlings take cover in floating mats of sargassum, but once they reach a certain size, these juvenile loggerheads begin "recruiting" to coastal areas in the western Atlantic where they become "benthic" feeders in lagoons, estuaries, bays, river mouths, and shallow coastal waters. These juveniles occupy coastal feeding grounds for a decade or more before maturing and making their first reproductive migration. Typical Lifespan: Scientists believe that loggerheads are long lived and could live to 50 years or more. Range: The loggerhead sea turtle is a wide-ranging species, occuring throughout the temperate sub-tropical and tropical regions of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. In the Atlantic, the loggerhead turtle's range extends from Newfoundland to as far south as Argentina. In the eastern Pacific, loggerheads have been reported as far north as Alaska, and as far south as Chile.

In the U.S., occasional sightings are reported from the coasts of Washington and Oregon, but most records are of juveniles off the coast of California. The west coast of Mexico, including the Baja Peninsula, provides critically important developmental habitats for juvenile loggerheads. The only known nesting areas for loggerheads in the North Pacific are found in southern Japan. Adult loggerheads are known to make extensive migrations between foraging areas and nesting beaches. During non-nesting years, adult females from U.S. beaches are distributed in waters off the eastern U.S. and throughout the Gulf of Mexico, Bahamas, Greater Antilles, and Yucatán. Life History and Reproduction: Female loggerheads reach maturity at about 35 years of age. Every 2-3 years, they mate in coastal waters and then return to nest on the very same beach where they were hatched, called the "natal" beach. The nesting season begins in April and ends in September, with the peak in June. They emerge onto the beach at night every 14 days, laying an average of 4 clutches containing roughly 100 – 120 eggs in each. Sex of hatchlings is determined by incubation temperature.

Warmer temperatures result in the great majority being females and cooler temperatures produce mainly or only males. The majority of loggerhead nesting occurs in the western rims of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, primarily in Oman, the United States, and Australia. The greatest nesting concentrations in the U.S. occur on beaches from North Carolina through southwest Florida, and minimal nesting extends westward to Texas and northward to southern Virginia. Of the loggerhead nesting activity within the southeastern U.S., about 80% occurs in six Florida counties (Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin, Palm Beach, and Broward Counties). In Brevard and Indian River Counties, a 20 mile section of coastline from Melbourne Beach to Wabasso Beach comprises the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge (ACNWR), which is the most important loggerhead nesting area in the western hemisphere. Nesting densities of 1,000 nests per mile (625 nests per km) are recorded for beaches within the ACNWR. Threats: Loggerhead turtles have long been hunted for their eggs and for leather.

Other threats include: Loss or degradation of nesting habitat from coastal development and beach armoring Disorientation of hatchlings by beachfront lighting Excessive nest predation by native and non-native predators Degradation of foraging habitat Marine pollution (including oil spills) and debris Watercraft strikes Disease Incidental take from channel dredging and commercial trawling, longline, and gill net fisheries. Directed harvest – The migratory nature of loggerheads severely compromises conservation efforts once they move outside U.S. waters, however, since legal and illegal fisheries activities in some countries are causing high mortality on loggerhead sea turtle nesting populations of the western north Atlantic region. Conservation Efforts: Loggerhead sea turtles are protected by various international treaties and agreements as well as national laws such as the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA). In 2008 NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) updated the recovery plan for the loggerhead turtle. Bycatch of loggerhead turtles (accidental capture by commercial and sport fishermen) is being reduced by fishing gear modifications (i.e.

use of TED’s or turtle exclusion devises), changes to fishing practices and closures of certain areas to fishing during nesting and hatching seasons. Many coastal counties and communities in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina have developed lighting ordinances to reduce hatchling disorientations. Important U.S. nesting beaches have been and continue to be acquired for long-term protection. Regular monitoring of loggerhead turtle populations by NMFS and USFWS, and further research on the biology, life cycle, and migration patterns is needed to help develop effective conservation methods. Sources: Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta), Save the Turtles Loggerhead Sea Turtle Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle Photo © Marco Giuliano/ Fondazione Cetacea Pacific loggerheads migrate over 7,500 miles) between nesting beaches in Japan and feeding grounds off the coast of Mexico Loggerheads were named for their relatively large heads, Loggerheads are the most abundant species of sea turtle found in U.S. coastal waters Largest hard-shelled turtle in the world Life span is at least 30 years and up to 50 years or more. Most loggerhead deaths occur due to drowning in shrimp nets, as well as due to longline fishing practices.

As many as 100 species of animals and plants have been recorded living on one single loggerhead turtle From hatchling to adult, a loggerhead increases its weight more than 6000 times! A female loggerhead tracked at sea made up to 500 dives every 12 hours. Description: This species is the largest hard-shelled turtle in the world. The Loggerhead’s name was derived from its overly large head that is comprised of a horny beak, which is significantly thicker than in other sea turtles. They have powerful jaws and enable them to feed on hard-shelled prey, such as whelks and conch. The carapace is slightly heart-shaped and reddish-brown /rusty in color. Their front flippers contain two claws. The length of adults is approximately three to four feet, and they can weigh from 170– 500 pounds. Habitat, Migration and Nesting Loggerheads migrate great distances and are found in the Atlantic Ocean from Argentina to Nova Scotia. The highest populations in North America are found on barrier islands from North Carolina to the Florida Keys.

Their primary habitat is in southeastern United States ranging southward to South America and extending eastward to Africa and the Mediterranean as well as areas of the western Pacific and Indian Oceans. Loggerheads are the most common turtle in the Mediterranean, nesting on beaches from Greece and Turkey to Israel and Libya. Like other sea turtles, it is believed the Loggerheads have an ability to use the Earth’s magnetic field to navigate across open oceans. Loggerheads nest on ocean beaches, generally preferring high energy, relatively narrow, steeply sloped, coarse-grained beaches Females reach maturity around 35 years old and it is thought that they return to their natal beach, the same beach where they were born, to lay their eggs. Their clutch size is usually 100 or more eggs. Vital to the Ecosystem According to WWW, ‘Loggerhead turtles eat many types of invertebrates, in particular mollusks and crustaceans, and can change the seabed by “mining” the sediments for their favorite prey. Also, loggerhead turtles carry veritable animal and plant cities on their shell. As many as 100 species of animals and plants have been recorded living on a single Loggerhead turtle.

These animals and plants depend on turtles to have somewhere to live and to prosper. The future for many of these species is intimately linked to marine turtle survival”. Threats to the Survival of Loggerheads Like all sea turtles, they are in danger in the oceans and also on beaches. Their nests are often lost to predators such as dogs, crabs, sea birds and ants as well as to shoreline erosion. Hatchlings are preyed upon by mammals, sea birds, crabs and carnivorous fish. Sharks and other large fish remain formidable predators to Loggerheads and all other sea turtle species throughout their entire life cycle. Loggerheads’ life span can range from 30 years to 50 years or more. Loggerheads are listed as “Threatened” on the Endangered Species Act, as well as with the IUCN Red List. Most deaths occur due to drowning in shrimp nets or as a result of longline fishing practices. Like all turtle species, human predation and harvesting is a serious threat to their survival: Loggerhead eggs and meat are sold on the black market for consumption and their shells are used to make items such as boat paddles. The total Loggerhead population is currently estimated at about 60,000.

We gratefully acknowledge the following resources: Lucy Hawkes c/o Marine Turtle Research Group for her photograph the loggerhead hatchlings photo from image library. Marco Giuliano/ Fondazione Cetacea, photo of loggerhead swimming photo found. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Kids corner of NOAA Species of Sea Turtles Found in Florida Species of Sea Turtles Found in Florida Read the Sea Turtle Sea Stats Publication Online LOGGERHEAD (Caretta caretta) The most common sea turtle in Florida, the loggerhead is named for its massive, block-like head. Loggerheads are among the larger sea turtles; adults weigh an average of 275 pounds and have a shell length of about 3 feet. Its carapace, which is a ruddy brown on top and creamy yellow underneath, is very broad near the front of the turtle and tapers toward the rear. Each of its flippers has two claws. As is true for all sea turtles, the adult male has a long tail, whereas the female's tail is short; however, a juvenile's cannot be determined externally. The powerful jaws of the loggerhead allow it to easily crush the clams, crabs, and other armored animals it eats.

A slow swimmer compared to other sea turtles, the loggerhead occasionally falls prey to sharks, and individuals missing flippers or chunks of their shell are not an uncommon sight. However, the loggerhead compensates for its lack of speed with stamina; for example, a loggerhead that had been tagged at Melbourne Beach was captured off the coast of Cuba 11 days later. GREEN TURTLE (Chelonia mydas) Green turtles, named for their green body fat, were valued by European settlers in the New World for their meat, hide, eggs, and "calipee" (the fat attached to the lower shell that formed the basis of the popular green turtle soup). Merchants learned that the turtles could be kept alive by turning them on their backs in a shaded area. This discovery made it possible to ship fresh turtles to overseas markets. By 1878, 15,000 green turtles a year were shipped from Florida and the Caribbean to England. At one time, Key West was a major processing center for the trade. The turtles were kept in water-filled pens known as "kraals," or corrals. These corrals now serve a more benign role as a tourist attraction.

A more streamlined-looking turtle than the bulky loggerhead, the green turtle weighs an average of 350 pounds and has a small head for its body size. Its oval-shaped upper shell averages 3.3 feet in length and is olive-brown with darker streaks running through it; its lower shell, or plastron, is yellow. Green turtles are found during the day in shallow flats and seagrass meadows and return every evening to their usual sleeping quarters-scattered rock ledges, oyster bars, and coral reefs. Adult green turtles are unique among sea turtles in that they are largely vegetarians, consuming primarily seagrasses and algae. Approximately 100 to 1,000 green turtles nest on Florida's beaches each year from June through late September. LEATHERBACK (Dermochelys coriacea) The leatherback is a fascinating and unique animal, even among sea turtles. It is larger, dives deeper, travels farther, and tolerates colder waters than any other sea turtle.

Most leatherbacks average 6 feet in length and weigh from 500 to 1,500 pounds, but the largest leatherback on record was nearly 10 feet long and weighed more than 2,000 pounds. Leatherbacks look distinctively different from other sea turtles. Instead of a shell covered with scales or shields, leatherbacks are covered with a firm, leathery skin and have seven ridges running lengthwise down their backs. They are usually black with white, pink, and blue splotches and have no claws on their flippers. Leatherbacks eat soft-bodied animals such as jellyfish, and their throat cavity and scissor-like jaws are lined with stiff spines that aid in swallowing this soft and slippery prey. Young leatherbacks in captivity can consume twice their weight in jellyfish daily. True denizens of the deep, leatherbacks are capable of descending more than 3,000 feet and of traveling more than 3,000 miles from their nesting beach. They are found throughout the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans, as far north as Alaska and Labrador. Researchers have found that leatherbacks are able to regulate their body temperature so that they can survive in cold waters.

The leatherback is found in Florida's coastal waters, and a small number (from 30 to 60 a year) nest in the state. KEMP'S RIDLEY (Lepidochelys kempi) The Kemp's ridley is the rarest sea turtle in the world and is the most endangered. It has only one major nesting beach, an area called Rancho Nuevo on the Gulf coast of Mexico. The location of this nesting beach was itself a mystery to scientists until the discovery of a film made in 1947 by a Mexican engineer showing 40,000 Kemp's ridleys crawling ashore in broad daylight to lay eggs. Sadly, an "arribada" (from the Spanish word for arrival) of such awe-inspiring splendor can now be seen only on film. Fewer than 1,000 nesting females remain in the world. Kemp's ridleys are small, weighing only 85 to 100 pounds and measuring 2 to 2.5 feet in carapace length, but they are tough and tenacious. Their principal diet is crabs and other crustaceans.

During the 1980s, many eggs were removed from the beach at Rancho Nuevo and incubated in containers. The hatchlings that emerged from these eggs were then raised for almost a year in a National Marine Fisheries Service facility in Galveston, Texas. Upon release, it was hoped that these "headstarted" turtles had a better chance of survival than they would have had as hatchlings. Unfortunately, there were many problems with this program. When it was discovered that the sex of turtle hatchlings was influenced by temperature, project workers realized that the artificial egg incubators were producing only male turtles. They also discovered that many of the "headstarted" turtles did not behave like their wild counterparts after release. Many scientists worried that these "headstarted" turtles would never become reproducing adults. Although two "headstarted" turtles have finally been known to nest, headstarting is generally considered to be an inappropriate conservation technique for marine turtles. HAWKSBILL (Eretmochelys imbricata) The hawksbill is a small, agile turtle whose beautiful tortoise-colored shell is its greatest liability.

The shell is still used in some European and Asian countries to make jewelry, hair decorations and other ornaments, even though international trade in hawksbill products has been banned in much of the world. Hawksbills weigh from 100 to 200 pounds as adults and are approximately 30 inches in shell length. Its carapace is shaded with black and brown markings on a background of amber. The shields of this kaleidoscopic armor overlap, and the rear of the carapace is serrated. Its body is oval-shaped, its head is narrow, and its raptor-like jaws give the hawksbill its name. These jaws are perfectly adapted for collecting its preferred food, sponges. Although sponges are composed of tiny glasslike needles, this potentially dangerous diet apparently causes the turtle no harm. Hawksbills are the most tropical of the sea turtles and are usually found in lagoons, reefs, bays, and estuaries of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans. They are frequently spotted by divers off the Florida Keys, and a few nests are documented annually from the Keys to Canaveral National Seashore.

Unless noted otherwise, all photographs are credited to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), Florida Sea Turtle Salvage and Stranding Network (FLSTSSN). FWC Facts:

Question: Leatherback and loggerhead are varieties of which creature?
Answer: Turtle