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Chelonia Mydas
Habitat
2 types of turtles: east and west
Off the coasts of Europe and North America
Warm subtropical and tropical
waters
Migratory animals
CHARACTERISTICS
Life Cycle
Breeding
Females usually return to the same beach they were
born on to nest
They leave the water and dig a pit in the sand and
lay there eggs
These pits are then covered up with sand
and the females return to the sea
Food sources
Adults- herbivores
Sea grasses and algae
Juveniles- omnivores
Will eat plants but also eat many invertebrates
Adult
baby
Eating habits
Have finely serrated jaws adapted for eating
grasses
Only herbivorous sea turtle species as adults
Hatchling Hazards
Many turtles never make it to the ocean once they
hatch because of
Foxes
Dogs
Raccoons
Crabs
Birds
People!
Adult predators
Since turtles that make it to adulthood are large and
have a protective shell they are not an easy meal for
most large predators
Occasionally sharks and killer whales do feed on turtles
People are also a large problem
Disease
Fibropapillomatosis
External tumors- can hamper swimming, eating, etc.
Widely common among green turtles
People
Hatchlings can be confused by beach front lights
Turtles can be injured by boats
Human pollution is also very harmful to turtles
Sources:
1. http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/green-turtle/
2. https://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Wildlife-Library/Amphibians-Reptiles-and-Fish/Sea-Turtles/Green-Sea-Turtle.aspx
3. https://seaworld.org/en/animal-info/animal-infobooks/sea-turtles/diet-and-eating-habits
4. http://www.seaturtle-world.com/sea-turtle-feeding/
5. http://myfwc.com/research/wildlife/sea-turtles/threats/fibropapillomatosis/
6. http://www.ecohealthalliance.org/news/55-fibropapillomatosis_global_disease_plaguing_endangered_sea_turtles
7. http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/pdfs/education/
8. http://www.seaturtle-world.com/sea-turtle-predators/
9. http://www.virginiaaquarium.com/conserve/about-the-team
10. http://www.turtlehospital.org/
Any Questions??