Sea Turtle Facts
| Sea Turtle Species Flatback Green Sea Turtle Hawksbill Kemp's Ridley Leatherback Loggehead Sea Turtle Olive Ridley Turtle Pictures |
All seven species have experienced significant population declines over the last couple of decades, and all are considered either vulnerable or endangered.
Habitat destruction or human encroachment in their traditional nesting grounds, along with increased fishing in their foraging areas, where they are accidentally captured as byproducts, and pollution are a few of the multiple factors that scientists cite as the primary factors contributing to their decline.
In response to these problems, communities are beginning to work on protecting turtle nesting sites in populated areas. The top picture, for example, shows a turtle nesting site along the East Coast of the United States blocked off in pink tape. Warning are posted nearby requesting visitors stay clear of the area.
While sea turtles share many similar characteristics, slight differences in appearance and habit separate all seven species. For example, in physical terms, all sea turtles, with the exception of the Leatherback, are hard shelled turtles. In terms of habit, all sea turtles except the Flatback and Kemp's Ridley turtles have a world-wide range.
Because sea turtles call the world's oceans home, gathering a comprehensive set of facts on their behavior can be difficult. However, sea turtle research, including the production of reliable population statistics, continues to improve.
As scientists implement a standard population estimating procedure across regions and species, some of the problems associated with current population estimates will be resolved.
Here are some additional sea turtle facts.
- The largest sea turtle, the leatherback, grows up to six and a half feet long and weights up to twelve hundred pounds.
- The smallest sea turtle, the Kemp's Ridley, grows about two and one-half feet long.
- Sea turtle diets vary by species and their location. They consume many ocean animals and plants such as jellyfish, crabs, shrimp, snails, algae and seaweed.
- Plastic bags and other garbage in the oceans look similar to many sea turtle food items. Scientists estimate that thousands of sea turtles die from ingesting these items.
- With a life span extending to eighty years, sea turtles rank among the longest lived of the world's animals.
© 2007-2010. Patricia A. Michaels