There are 7 species of Sea Turtles 1. Green Sea Turtle named for the green fat found underneath their carapace (upper shell)

2. Hawksbill Sea Turtle has a sharply pronounced beak-like mouth from which its name is derived

3. Flatback Sea Turtle named for the flatness of its shell

4. Loggerhead Sea Turtle the name refers to it’s large head

5. Kemp’s ridley sea turtle Named after Richard Kemp who discovered them. The rarest sea turtle in the world!

6. Olive Ridley Sea Turtle named Olive for the olive green shell color, the name Ridley remains unclear.

Leatherback sea turtle The name comes from the leathery texture of it’s carapace

What do they eat? Algae Sponges Shrimp Squid Jellyfish

What eats them? Eggs, Hatchlings and Adult Turtles Snakes Seagulls Tiger Sharks Humans

Turtle life cycle

So why are they endangered? Beach development disturbing nesting areas Beach trash deterring females from coming onshore to nest, ingesting trash floating in the ocean Thousands drown each year in shrimp nets Artificial lighting on beaches may inhibit nesting Hatchlings get eaten by dogs, birds, crabs, and other predators Hatchlings get confused by street lights and head toward streets and not the ocean Nests raids by predators

Endangered cont.. A sea turtle can lay 50 to 200 eggs Only 10 % will make it to the ocean The best scientific estimate is that only 1 in 1000 hatchlings will reach maturity (20-50 years)

Conservation efforts Tag and Release – a tag is added to the turtle’s carapace and then they are release into the wild. When a turtle is caught their tag number is recorded. This is a way in which scientists keep track of sea turtle populations

Conservation… Turtle Release Devices (TRD’s) – openings in shrimp nets that allow the turtles to get out but keep the fish in

Adopt a turtle? For more information on how to be a part of sea turtle conservation and/or to donate money for conservation go to