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,

Did You Know?Did You Know?

Turtles are reptiles and records show their existence Turtles are reptiles and records show their existence during the days of the dinosaurs 200 million years agoduring the days of the dinosaurs 200 million years ago

High mortality rates for hatchlings, juveniles and adult High mortality rates for hatchlings, juveniles and adult turtles are commonly due to predation by sharks, birds, turtles are commonly due to predation by sharks, birds, fish, fishing gear(long line), ingestion of marine debris, fish, fishing gear(long line), ingestion of marine debris, boat strikes, trash on beaches and pollution.boat strikes, trash on beaches and pollution.

Only one hatchling in a thousand make it to adulthood Only one hatchling in a thousand make it to adulthood (15-25 yrs) They can live to be over 100 yrs old(15-25 yrs) They can live to be over 100 yrs old

Monday: 4/9/12Monday: 4/9/12Objective: I will know what the 5 types of sea Objective: I will know what the 5 types of sea turtles are and some of their characteristics!turtles are and some of their characteristics!

Agenda:Agenda:– Lots of marine reptile notes Lots of marine reptile notes

Homework: Homework: – SmileSmile Reptile group please e-mail me anything Reptile group please e-mail me anything

you need printed by tomorrow. Also, e-mail me a you need printed by tomorrow. Also, e-mail me a copy of your quiz by Wednesday for approval. copy of your quiz by Wednesday for approval. [email protected]

Marine ReptilesMarine Reptilesphylum Chordataphylum Chordata

subphylum Vertebratasubphylum Vertebrata

class Reptiliaclass Reptilia

Florida’s Sea TurtlesFlorida’s Sea Turtles

1. Kemp’s Ridley

2. Hawksbill

3. Loggerhead

4. Green

5. Leatherback

Five (5) species of marine turtles nest in Florida

Green Sea Turtle

Hawksbill

Kemp Ridley

Leatherback

Loggerhead

Green turtleGreen turtle

It is one of the It is one of the largest species: largest species: 3ft long3ft long

recognized recognized because they because they have one pair of have one pair of scales in front of scales in front of their eyestheir eyes

Green TurtleGreen Turtle

Most commonMost commonIt’s called the It’s called the green turtle green turtle because of the because of the green color of green color of the fat under the fat under shell, they are shell, they are not actually not actually green.green.

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

Loggerhead

Loggerhead TurtleLoggerhead Turtle

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

Diet consists of mollusks, Diet consists of mollusks, crustaceans, fish, other marine crustaceans, fish, other marine animalsanimals

Widely distributedWidely distributed

Hawksbill

Hawksbill TurtleHawksbill TurtleThe beautiful The beautiful shell often shell often used for used for jewelryjewelryDistinctive by Distinctive by its hawk like its hawk like beakbeakCan reach 3 Can reach 3 feetfeet

Diet consists of primarily Diet consists of primarily spongessponges

Inhabits rocky areas, coral Inhabits rocky areas, coral reefs, coastal areas, lagoons.reefs, coastal areas, lagoons.

Illegal trade of tortoiseshell Illegal trade of tortoiseshell continuescontinues

Kemp’s Ridley

KempKemp’’s Ridley s Ridley most endangered most endangered species, as well as species, as well as the the smallestsmallest: only : only grows to 24-28 ingrows to 24-28 inThey are olive green They are olive green in color.in color.Mostly nest on one Mostly nest on one beach, in Rancho beach, in Rancho Nuevo, Mexico.Nuevo, Mexico.

Carapace is almost as wide as Carapace is almost as wide as longlongDiet consists mostly of crabsDiet consists mostly of crabsFemales swarm to mass Females swarm to mass nesting emergences known as nesting emergences known as arribadasarribadas in the daylight. in the daylight.

arribadasarribadas

LeatherbackLeatherback

Can dive the Can dive the deepestdeepest and and travel the travel the furthestfurthest of any of any other turtle.other turtle.

Can reach 4 to 8 feetCan reach 4 to 8 feet

Diet mostly jellyfish, but also Diet mostly jellyfish, but also sea urchins, squid, sea urchins, squid, crustaceans, fish, blue-green crustaceans, fish, blue-green bacteria, & floating seaweedbacteria, & floating seaweed

Most pelagic of all sea turtlesMost pelagic of all sea turtles

LeatherbacksLeatherbacks

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

Turtle concernsTurtle concerns

1.1. DiseasesDiseases……caused by???????……caused by???????

PollutionPollution

Red TideRed Tide

VirusesViruses

FibropapillomaFibropapilloma tumors tumors–(FY bro PAP il LO ma) (FY bro PAP il LO ma) –Causes blindnessCauses blindness–Difficulty swimming Difficulty swimming –Eventual deathEventual death

Locations w/ infected Turtles

Turtle concernsTurtle concerns2. 2. UsUs (humans) (humans)

BoatsBoats

Shrimp Boats, TED Shrimp Boats, TED DevicesDevices

Plastics, trashPlastics, trash

Loss of habitatLoss of habitat

Turtle egg poachingTurtle egg poaching

Beach Beach nourishment/dredgingnourishment/dredging

Beach drivingBeach driving

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

Interesting Facts:Interesting Facts:Archelon is the oldest known fossil at Archelon is the oldest known fossil at

150 MYA.150 MYA.Found in 1970’s in S.Dakota.Found in 1970’s in S.Dakota.

Archelon:Archelon:Measured 15 ft long (from beak to tail) Measured 15 ft long (from beak to tail)

and 16.5 ft wideand 16.5 ft wide(including flippers and shell), (including flippers and shell),

weighing 4,500 lbs.weighing 4,500 lbs.

Archelon:Archelon:Primarily ate giant squid.Primarily ate giant squid.

Marine Iguana (10 in- 2 ft)Marine Iguana (10 in- 2 ft)– Widely distributed throughout GalapagosWidely distributed throughout Galapagos– Population varies in color & size= single speciesPopulation varies in color & size= single species– Herbivores= seaweed in intertidal zoneHerbivores= seaweed in intertidal zone

Males are bigger than femalesMales are bigger than females

Males tend to swim past breaksMales tend to swim past breaks

Average diving depths= 1.5-5 metersAverage diving depths= 1.5-5 meters

Physical &Physiological CharacteristicsPermit feedingHabits

-Long & sharpclaws

Land Iguana

Marine Iguana

Marine Iguana gripping rocks during feeding

Adapted to swim wellAdapted to swim well

Flattened tail for propulsion Flattened tail for propulsion

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

Sea SnakesSea Snakes

Approx 70 species Approx 70 species of sea snakesof sea snakesAlmost all are Almost all are venomousvenomousDifferent from eelsDifferent from eels– Eels are fish with Eels are fish with

gills, not reptiles gills, not reptiles with lungswith lungs

American

Crocodile

American

Alligator

Overlapping Teeth

Gator vs Crocodile

CrocodilesCrocodilesHave been on earth for about 100 Have been on earth for about 100

million yearsmillion years

Human impacts have caused Human impacts have caused population to decline population to decline

Found around the Found around the

tip of Florida in tip of Florida in

coastal, brackish coastal, brackish

or saltwater habitatsor saltwater habitats

AmericanCrocodile

AmericanAlligator

American AlligatorAmerican Alligator

Primarily freshwater swampsPrimarily freshwater swampsAdults can tolerate saltwater for only short Adults can tolerate saltwater for only short periods of timeperiods of timeLack salt secreting glands found in Lack salt secreting glands found in crocodilescrocodilesHatchlings receive parental care from Hatchlings receive parental care from mother staying with her for up to a yearmother staying with her for up to a year

Florida Red-bellied turtles tend to lay their Florida Red-bellied turtles tend to lay their eggs in an alligator nesteggs in an alligator nest

Conservation-FYIConservation-FYIDecline of alligators led to protection Decline of alligators led to protection

in the 1960’sin the 1960’sThe population has been on the rise The population has been on the rise

and hunting with special permits is and hunting with special permits is allowedallowed

In Florida, 50% of eggs are harvested In Florida, 50% of eggs are harvested while keeping the population stablewhile keeping the population stable