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Sea turtles are found in all the world's oceans besides the Arctic Ocean, and some species travel between oceans. The Flatback turtle is found solely on the northern coast of Australia. The Leatherback is the largest, measuring six or seven feet (2 m) in length at maturity, and three to five feet (1 to 1.5 m) in width, weighing up to 1300 pounds (600 kg). Most other species are smaller being two to four feet in length (0.5 to 1 m) and proportionally less wide.

Different species are distinguished by varying anatomical aspects: for instance the prefrontal scales on the head, the number of and shape of scutes on the carapace, and the type of inframarginal scutes on the plastron. The Leatherback is the only sea turtle that doesn't have a hard shell instead carrying a mosaic of bony plates beneath its leathery skin.

Sea turtles have an extraordinary sense of time and location. They are highly sensitive to the Earth's magnetic fieldIn physics, a magnetic field is an entity produced by moving electric charges ( electric currents) that exerts a force on other moving charges. The quantum-mechanical spin of a particle produces magnetic fields and is acted on by them as though it were a and probably use it to navigate. The fact that most species return to nest at the locations they were born at seems to indicate an imprint of that location's magnetic features. The ridley turtles are especially peculiar because instead of nesting individually like the other species, they come ashore in one mass arrival known as an "arribada" (the arrival). With the Kemp's ridley this occurs during the day and on only one beach in the entire world. The numbers used to range in the thousands but these days due to the effects of extensive egg poaching and hunting in previous years the numbers are in the hundreds.

After about 30 years of maturing an adult female sea turtle returns to the land to nest, usually on the same beach from which they hatched. This can take place every two to four years in maturity. They make from four to seven nests per nesting season. They dig a hole with their hind flippers and lay from 100 to 150 eggs in it (depending on the species) before covering it up and returning to the ocean. Some of the eggs are unfertilized 'dummy eggs' and the rest contain young turtles. IncubationThe word incubation can mean the following: In chemistry or biochemistry, incubation refers to maintaining a system under specific conditions in order to promote a particular reaction. The word incubate can also be applied to brooding birds eggs Incubatio takes about 2 months. When the eggs hatch, these baby turtles dig their way out and seek the ocean. Only a very small proportion of them (at most 1 in 100) will be successful, as many predators are waiting to eat them.

1 Threats to Sea Turtles

Sea turtles of all species are endangered. The Leatherback, Kemp's ridley, and Hawksbill turtles are listed as Critically Endangered. The Olive ridley, Loggerhead, and Green turtles are considered Endangered. And the Flat back is considered Data Deficient due to lack of research. They used to be hunted on a large scale in the whalingAlbert I of Monaco) pose while flensing a catch Whaling is the hunting and killing of whales. Historically, poor conservation management by many nations led to far more whales being killed than could be sustained and to near extinction of several species. days for their meat, fat and shells. And coastal peoples have always gathered turtle eggs for consumption. These days though their biggest threat comes from long-line fishingSee also long line (topology) and long line (telecommunications). Long-line fishing is a commercial fishing technique that uses hundreds or even thousands of baited hooks hanging from a single line. Swordfish, tuna and Patagonian toothfish are commonly ca, and as bycatch in shrimp nets, as well as over development on nesting beaches. Each year it is said that 40,000 turtles die from longlines alone. According to researchers at the 24th Annual Symposium on Sea Turtle Conservation and Biology, in Costa Rica the Pacific Leatherback has ten years before extinction if nothing is done to reverse these problems. Small and inexpensive changes to fishing techniques, such as slightly larger hooks and traps from which sea turtles can escape, can dramatically cut the mortality rate.

Beach development is another area which has threatened sea turtles. Since sea turtles return to the same locations to nest, these areas may be protected. In some areas, such as the East coast of Florida, after the adult turtles lay their eggs, they are dug up and relocated to special fenced nurseries where they can be protected from beach traffic. Special lighting ordinances may also be enforced to prevent lights from shining on the beach and confusing young hatchlings.

2 External links

Sea turtle news and research website
Conserving Turtles on a Global Scale
Turtle Trax Dedicated to Hawaiian green turtles
Sea Turtle, Inc. - Kemp's ridley nesting protection, Padre Island National Seashore
ITIS Taxonomy Taxonomic Serial No.: 173828
Leatherback research

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1 Threats to Sea Turtles

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