Sea Turtles, Monk Seals, and Trophic Structure Flashcards
What are turtles?
Reptiles
How are turtles’ blood regulated?
Turtles are cold-blooded aka, they reflect their environment
What is the big difference between terrestrial turtles and land turtles?
Sea turtles are lighter and unable to retract their heads
How did sea turtles anatomically adapt?
Elongated phalanges and reduced claws
How long before females lay their eggs?
20 to 30 years until maturity
Where do female turtles go when they reproduce?
The females go to their maternal beach aka the beach they were born.
What is the purpose of false nesting?
Checking out the area to be sure its safe
What is the average amount of eggs laid in a clutch?
100-150 eggs
What is it called when the turtles hatch all at once? Why is this importance?
Mass emergence, some turtles will get picked off and eaten.
How long does it take for the nests to hatch?
1/2 to 2 months
How do turtles remember where their maternal beach is?
They are imprinting on the beach before the hit the water. They remember the temperature, magnetic area, etc.
What are the “lost years?”
When turtles get caught in the big currents and are swept around in the planktonic layer. They stay there until they are big enough to swim out.
How many out of 100 hatchlings will survive to sexual maturity?
1 in 100
What are Cheloniidae turtles?
Sea Turtles that have scutes
What are Dermochelyidae turtles?
Sea turtles that don’t have scutes
What is the scientific name of the Green Sea Turtle?
Chelonia mydas
What are scutes?
Bony plates
What is the current threat to Green Sea Turtles?
Fibropapillomatosis (tumors that cover eyes, nose, and mouth)
What turtles are most commonly found along the coasts of Hawaii?
Hawksbill turtles
Monk Seals belong to which group and what does it mean?
Pinnipeds, which means “fin footed”
What are the three different types of seals?
Otariids “Eared Seals”Phocids “True Seals” or “Earless Seals”Odobenids “Walrus”
Eared Seals are known as
Otariids
True Seals are known as
Phocids
Walrus are known as
Odobenids
What are the two subfamilies of Phocid seals?
Monachinae and Phocinae
Monachinae include which type of seals?
Monk, elephant, and Antarctic
Phocinae include which types of seals?
North Hemisphere Seals
What are the three types of seal species?
Mediterranean, Caribbean, and Hawaiian
What is the progression of the Monk Seal?
Mediterranean, to North American waters, then to Pacific
Why did the Hawaiian Monk Seals move to the NWHI?
The Hawaiian Monk Seals were being harvested and didn’t like human interaction
Typically how heavy are monk seals?
375-450 lbs
Typically how long are monk seals?
7 - 7.5 feet
