1. SEA TURTLES

2. Sea Turtles Class Reptilia Family Cheloniidae Family Dermochelyidae
Species - Leatherback, Green, Black, Loggerhead, Kemp’s Ridley, Olive Ridley, Hawksbill, Flatback

3. Reptilia Characteristics
Ectothermic
Lungs or gills?
3 - chambered heart
lays eggs

4. Family Dermochelyidae
Scute-less turtles
backbone is NOT attached to the inside of the shell
capable of diving up to 1000 feet.
ONLY the Leatherback

5. Family Cheloniidae
Turtles with shells that are covered with scutes (horny plates)
include all species but one
This is a flatback turtle

6. Sea Turtles Fossil records date back to 208 - 245 million years ago
warm/ temperate regions - shallow coastal waters, bays, lagoons, estuaries
large streamline shell - nonretractable head and limbs
This is a green turtle

7. Leave water only to lay eggs
migrate long distances to lay eggs in the same nesting areas every 2-3 years
migration is tracked by flipper tagging, radio transmitters, and satellites
females lay eggs at one time

8. Eggs are temperature dependant (cold = female warm = male)
Incubation ranges from days
Low survival rate, many are eaten by dogs, ghost crabs, pigs, birds, humans
Born on full, bright moonlight nights

9. This Kemp’s Ridley is the smallest and most endangered.
As few as 350 females
She will only lay eggs at Rancho Nuevo, Mexico.

10. Males have a larger tail because the male reproductive organs are at the base of the tail.
Turtles have great vision underwater but not above.
Size ranges from 22 inches to 7 feet (leatherback)