Red Ear Sliders, Sea Turtles and Other Turtle Species
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Leatherback Turtle:
Dermochelys Coriacea
| Size: About 6 feet
(1.8 meters) front to back. With the front arm span
around 8 feet (2.5 meters) |
| Weight: Between 1200
pounds (550 kg) and 1450 pounds (664 kg) |
| Habitat: These turtles
inhabit the open seas. They are rarely sighted from
the nesting areas, however some sightings have been
found in feeding areas. |
| Food: Their menu consists
of jellyfish, planktonic tunicates, and some fish |
Leatherback turtles are by far the largest of sea
turtles. They seem to have the highest survival rate
compared to the other sea turtle species. One problem
they have is that they can not differentiate between
plastic bags and jellyfish. It has been found that
nearly 50 percent of non-breeding leatherbacks examined
had plastic in their stomachs, which can lead to death.
It has been estimated that there is about 75,000 total
nesting females. Females lay between 60 to 105 eggs
at a time and can nest four to six times a season. |
References: Groombridge, B. 1982. The IUCN
Amphibia Reptilia Red Data Book:
Testudines, Crocodylia, Rhynchocephalia. IUCN, Switzerland
Photo courtesy of NOAA
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Species
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