1. Did You Know? Turtles are reptiles and records show their existence during the days of the dinosaurs 200 million years ago High mortality rates for hatchlings, juveniles and adult turtles are commonly due to predation by sharks, birds, fish, fishing gear(long line), ingestion of marine debris, boat strikes, trash on beaches and pollution. Only one hatchling in a thousand make it to adulthood (15-25 yrs) They can live to be over 100 yrs old

2. Monday: 4/9/12 Objective: I will know what the 5 types of sea turtles are and some of their characteristics! Agenda: –Lots of marine reptile notes Homework: –Smile Reptile group please e-mail me anything you need printed by tomorrow. Also, e-mail me a copy of your quiz by Wednesday for approval. rgrizzo22@gmail.com rgrizzo22@gmail.com

3. Marine Reptiles phylum Chordata subphylum Vertebrata class Reptilia

4. Florida’s Sea Turtles

5. 1.Kemp’s Ridley 2.Hawksbill 3.Loggerhead 4.Green 5.Leatherback Five (5) species of marine turtles nest in Florida

6. Green Sea Turtle

7. Hawksbill

8. Kemp Ridley

9. Leatherback

10. Loggerhead

11. Green turtle It is one of the largest species: 3ft long recognized because they have one pair of scales in front of their eyes

12. Green Turtle Most common It’s called the green turtle because of the green color of the fat under shell, they are not actually green.

13. Diet consists almost exclusively on seagrasses and marine algae (Hatchlings eat plants and animals) Inhabits shallow waters and is attracted to lagoons with an abundance of grass and algae

15. Loggerhead

16. Loggerhead Turtle They can be identified by their large head, reddish brown carapace (top), and dull brown plastron (bottom).

17. Diet consists of mollusks, crustaceans, fish, other marine animals Widely distributed

18. Hawksbill

19. Hawksbill Turtle The beautiful shell often used for jewelry Distinctive by its hawk like beak Can reach 3 feet

20. Diet consists of primarily sponges Inhabits rocky areas, coral reefs, coastal areas, lagoons. Illegal trade of tortoiseshell continues

21. Kemp’s Ridley

22. most endangered species, as well as the smallest: only grows to 24-28 in They are olive green in color. Mostly nest on one beach, in Rancho Nuevo, Mexico.

23. Carapace is almost as wide as long Diet consists mostly of crabs Females swarm to mass nesting emergences known as arribadas in the daylight.

24. arribadas

25. Leatherback Can dive the deepest and travel the furthest of any other turtle.

26. Can reach 4 to 8 feet Diet mostly jellyfish, but also sea urchins, squid, crustaceans, fish, blue-green bacteria, & floating seaweed Most pelagic of all sea turtles

27. Leatherbacks Instead of a solid shell they have bones in their skin that form 5 ridges.

28. Turtle concerns 1. Diseases……caused by??????? Pollution Red Tide Viruses

29. Fibropapilloma tumors –(FY bro PAP il LO ma) –Causes blindness –Difficulty swimming –Eventual death

32. Locations w/ infected Turtles

33. Turtle concerns 2. Us (humans) Boats Shrimp Boats, TED Devices Plastics, trash Loss of habitat Turtle egg poaching Beach nourishment/dredging Beach driving

34. For more info: http://www.cccturtle.org/ccctmp.htm

35. Interesting Facts: Archelon is the oldest known fossil at 150 MYA. Found in 1970’s in S.Dakota.

36. Archelon: Measured 15 ft long (from beak to tail) and 16.5 ft wide (including flippers and shell), weighing 4,500 lbs.

37. Archelon: Primarily ate giant squid.

38. Marine Iguana (10 in- 2 ft) –Widely distributed throughout Galapagos –Population varies in color & size= single species –Herbivores= seaweed in intertidal zone Males are bigger than females Males tend to swim past breaks Average diving depths= 1.5-5 meters

39. Physical & Physiological Characteristics Permit feeding Habits -Long & sharp claws Land Iguana Marine Iguana

40. Marine Iguana gripping rocks during feeding

41. Adapted to swim well Flattened tail for propulsion

42. Able to scrape algae off rocks with 3 cusped teeth- Razor Sharp!!

43. Sea Snakes Approx 70 species of sea snakes Almost all are venomous Different from eels –Eels are fish with gills, not reptiles with lungs

44. American Crocodile

46. American Alligator

48. Overlapping Teeth Gator vs Crocodile

49. Crocodiles  Have been on earth for about 100 million years Human impacts have caused population to decline Found around the tip of Florida in coastal, brackish or saltwater habitats

50. American Crocodile American Alligator

51. American Alligator Primarily freshwater swamps Adults can tolerate saltwater for only short periods of time Lack salt secreting glands found in crocodiles Hatchlings receive parental care from mother staying with her for up to a year  Florida Red-bellied turtles tend to lay their eggs in an alligator nest

52.  Conservation-FYI  Decline of alligators led to protection in the 1960’s  The population has been on the rise and hunting with special permits is allowed  In Florida, 50% of eggs are harvested while keeping the population stable