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LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLE (CARETTA CARETTA)
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The Loggerhead Sea
Turtle (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
(1.1 m) long.Their shell color is a reddish brown color, and
the color of their skin is brown yellow. They are named for
their disproportionately large head. They are also the state
reptile of South West of Turkey in Fethiye .
The species feeds on molluscs, crustaceans, fish, jellyfish,
crabs, shrimp and Portuguese Man o' War and other small to
medium-sized 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.
Scientists in Hawaii use satellite transponders to track
loggerhead sea turtles in the Northern Pacific Ocean.
A loggerhead mainly feeds on bottom dwelling invertebrates.
They eat horseshoe crabs, clams, mussels, and other
invertebrates. Their powerful jaw muscles help them to
easily crush the shellfish. During migration through the
open sea, loggerheads eat jellyfishes, floating mollusks,
floating egg clusters, squids and flying fishes.
The loggerhead sea turtle lives in areas such as bays,
lagoons, salt marshes, creeks, ship channels, and the mouths
of large rivers. Coral reefs, rocky places, and ship wrecks
are places where you might find a feeding ground for
loggerheads. Loggerheads nest on ocean beaches and on
estuarine shorelines with suitable sand. They like to feed
in coastal bays and estuaries, as well as in the shallow
water along the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. |
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