Sea Turtles Flashcards
Describe the anatomy of sea turtles
Rhamphotheca (beak made of keratin); Scrutes (Large scales); Carapace (Dorsal shell); Plastron (ventral belly plate)
how are sea turtles well adapted for a marine existence
They have insulated fat inside their shells to hold in heat; they have salt glands near their eyes that secret excess salt
Describe the Leatherback turtle
Largest of the sea turtles, found world wide, feed on jellyfish, tunicates and other soft bodied invertebrates and have specialized fat cells that generate heat to keep their body temp 8 degrees higher than environment
Describe the Green Turtle
Second largest of the sea turtles, herbivores (sea grass), found in Atlantic and Gulf coasts, have green fat inside
Describe the Hawksbil Turtle
Know for their narrow head and sharp beak like a bird. Thought to be the most beautiful of the sea turtles because their colorful shells. It’s one of the smaller turtles and feeds on sponges and are found in the tropics and sub-tropics
Describe the Loggerhead
Named for it’s massive head and strong jaws. It’s the 3rd largest of the sea turtles. Eats mostly on crustaceans and are found in every ocean
Describe the Flatback turtle
They are named for their flat carapace. and are found only in Australia. They are preyed upon by salt-water crocs and are the 4th largest.They omnivore, feeding on a variety of prey including sea cucumbers, jellies, soft corals, shrimp, crabs, molluscs, fish, and seaweed
Describe the Olive Ridley turtle
They are the second smallest of the sea turtles, Omnivores, nest in large groups called arribadas, and are found globally but mainly in the tropics
Descibe Kemp’s Ridley turtle
The smallest of the sea turtles and the most endangered due to their restricted nesting sites. More of carnivores feeding on crabs, shrimp, and jellyfish. They are mainly found in Mexico
Which turtles can be found in Georgia waters
Loggerhead, Leather back, Kemp’s Ridley, Green, and Hawksbil
How are leather backs able to keep their body temps higher than their surroundings
They have a special layer of subcutaneous fat have counter current exchange
What are the threats to sea turtle population and why
By catch from fishermen: the get caught in nets and drown; nesting: not eggs destroyed on beach and nests disturbed. Also, hatchlings being confused and not making it to the sea and dying; diseases
When are sea turtles on land? Do both sexes come ashore? Where does mating occur?
They come on land to nest; only the females come on land; mating occurs in the water
Describe the nesting behavior of a female sea turtle
Generally they’ll come on land shore around the same time in order to maximize their off springs survival rate. They’ll dig a nest in the sand, lay their eggs, burry them, and go back to sea
Do females choose beaches randomly?
I’s been proven that the female will return to the beach she hatched from to lay her eggs
