Loggerhead sea turtle: Difference between revisions

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	The '''~~Loggerhead~~ ~~Sea Turtle~~''' (''Caretta caretta'') is a ] and the only member of the genus '''''Caretta'''''. The genus name "Caretta" is a ] of the ] "caret", meaning turtle, tortoise, or sea turtle<ref>http://www.widecast.org/sea/definitions.cfm</ref>. A loggerhead sea turtle reportedly grows up to 800 lbs (364 kg) and 3.5 feet long. <ref><http://www.fws.gov/blackbeardisland/loggerhead.htm></ref>		The '''fuck face''' (''Caretta caretta'') is a ] and the only member of the genus '''''Caretta'''''. The genus name "Caretta" is a ] of the ] "caret", meaning turtle, tortoise, or sea turtle<ref>http://www.widecast.org/sea/definitions.cfm</ref>. A loggerhead sea turtle reportedly grows up to 800 lbs (364 kg) and 3.5 feet long. <ref><http://www.fws.gov/blackbeardisland/loggerhead.htm></ref>

	==Ecology and life history==		==Ecology and life history==

Revision as of 16:10, 16 April 2008

Loggerhead Sea Turtle
File:Loggerhead close up.jpg
Conservation status
Endangered (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Subclass:	Anapsida
Order:	Testudines
Family:	Cheloniidae
Genus:	Caretta Rafinesque, 1814
Species:	C. caretta
Binomial name
*Caretta caretta* Linnaeus, 1758

The fuck face (Caretta caretta) is a sea turtle and the only member of the genus Caretta. The genus name "Caretta" is a latinization of the French "caret", meaning turtle, tortoise, or sea turtle. A loggerhead sea turtle reportedly grows up to 800 lbs (364 kg) and 3.5 feet long.

Ecology and life history

Trophic ecology

The species feeds on mollusks, crustaceans, fish, jellyfish, and other small to medium-size marine animals, which they crush with their large and powerful jaws. As with other sea turtles, females return to lay their eggs on or near the same beach where they hatched. Unlike other sea turtles, courtship and mating usually do not take place near the nesting beach, but rather along the migration routes between feeding and breeding grounds.

Life history

Baby Loggerhead Sea Turtle.

In the Mediterranean, Loggerheads mate from late March to early June. The female nesting season is at its peak in June and July, but this depends on the nesting beach. The clutch may vary from 100 to 126 eggs. Each egg is roughly the size and shape of a ping-pong ball. The average interval between nesting seasons is two to three years.

Loggerheads are the most common sea turtle to nest in the United States and in Greenland. With the largest concentration of nests in south Florida they nest from Texas to Virginia, requiring soft sandy beaches, where there is little light. After approximately 60 days, the hatchlings emerge usually at night when protection from predation is greater. Usually following the brightest light to the ocean's edge, an artificial light, such as from a home can lead them astray. Once in the ocean they use ocean currents to travel to the Sargasso Sea using the Sargassum as protection until they mature.

An alternative to migration for many loggerheads is hibernation to varying degrees as the water cools. By February they are submerged for up to seven hours at a time, emerging for only seven minutes to recover. Although outdone by freshwater turtles, these are the longest recorded dives for any air-breathing marine vertebrate.

Most loggerheads that reach adulthood live for longer than 30 years, and can often live past 50 years. They are immune to the toxins of a Portuguese Man O' War as the turtles have often been seen feeding on them.

Etymology and taxonomic history

Two subspecies are recognized: Caretta caretta gigas, is found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, and C. caretta caretta, the Atlantic loggerhead, also found in south Italy and the Greek islands of Zakynthos, Kefalonia, Crete and the Peloponese and in Dalyan in southwestern Turkey. (see article; June Haimoff).

Importance to humans

Loggerhead Sea Turtles were once intensively hunted for their meat and eggs, along with their fat which was used in cosmetics and medication. The Loggerhead Sea Turtles were also killed for their shells, which are used to make items such as combs. As a result both subspecies are now internationally protected.

Conservation

Today the main threat to the adult loggerheads lies in shrimp trawls and crab fishing nets, to which many loggerheads annually fall victim. Furthermore, adults are often injured by speedboat propellers and by swallowing fishing hooks or getting caught in nets. Internationally animal protection organizations take pains to monitor and protect the turtles' nesting grounds in Turkey, Greece, Bonaire and Costa Rica. The turtles can also be found around the Italian islands of Lampedusa and Linosa, off the coast of Sicily, and in Calabria, where it is particularly endangered. Furthermore, the turtles are known to nest on the beaches of the Northern part of Cyprus, especially Alagadi Beach.

In many places during the nesting season workers search the coastline to find evidence of nests. Once found a nest will be uncovered and the eggs carefully counted, if the nest is dangerously located the eggs will be moved to a better spot. Plastic fencing will be placed at or near the surface to protect the eggs from large predators such as raccoons or even dogs. The barrier used is large enough to allow the hatchlings to emerge without difficulty. The nests are checked daily for disturbances, several days after there is indication that the eggs have hatched the nest will be uncovered and the tally of hatched eggs, undeveloped eggs, and dead hatchlings will be recorded. If any hatchlings are found, they are either taken to be raised and released, or taken to research facilities. Ones that appear strong and healthy may instead be released to the ocean. Typically those that lacked the strength to hatch and climb to the surface by that point would have died otherwise.

Hatchlings require the travel from their nest to the ocean in order to build up strength for the journey ahead, so interfering by helping it to the ocean actually lowers their chances of survival.