Six of the seven species of marine
turtles are listed
as endangered or
critically endangered!
This page is intended to
only be an introduction to endangered sea turtles. Links at the bottom of the page will take
you to some of the best resource sites out there for more in-depth information. The
best sites to start with are marked with a star
.
The general consensus of opinion among scientists is that there are at least seven species of sea turtles. They are the Green Sea Turtle, the Hawksbill, the Leatherback, the Loggerhead, the Atlantic Ridley, the Pacific Ridley and the Flatback. There are seven species of marine turtles, six of these are found in the northern hemisphere. Only the Flatback is restricted to the southern hemisphere. An eighth species, called the Black Turtle is recognized by some authorities as a subspecies of the Green Sea Turtle.
The Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas),named for the color of the fat under their skin (their shell is not necessarily green at all), is the largest hard-shelled sea turtle in the world, weighing over 300 pounds and measuring three to four feet. They are primarily vegetarians, feeding mostly on sea grasses and algae. They nest on beaches all over the world in many tropical areas Unfortunately, they are often poached for their meat and shells. Once, there were several million green sea turtles; however, it is estimated that only 200,000 nesting females are alive today. Sadly, they are listed as endangered species, and in some areas such as Bermuda and the Cayman Islands, exploitation has led to complete extinction.
The Hawksbill Sea Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) is one of
the smallest sea turtles, measuring only up to three feet and weighing
usually between 100 and 150
pounds when fully grown. The are omnivorous and will eat almost anything. While some hawksbill turtles stay in one area, other will migrate as
far as 2000 miles. Because of their beautiful shells they are also on the
endangered list. These colorful shells which have beautiful brown and beige
colors and are unfortunately used for everything from cabinets to hand mirrors.
The Leatherback Sea Turtle, (Dermochelys coricea) is the largest living reptile in the world,
up to 1800 pounds and an incredible eight feet in length. Unlike other
sea turtles, the leatherback does not have a hard shell and prefers open
beaches to nest. They are carnivorous, feeding mostly on jellyfish and some
bony fish. Migrations can cover thousands of miles, and each year the
female returns to lay her clutch of eggs on the very same beach where she
was born. Research indicates that these turtles use the earth's magnetic
fields to navigate. Leatherbacks have the widest range of any marine turtle
and they are the only reptile known to be active in temperatures as low as
forty degrees F. They are on the critically endangered list.
World Wildlife Fund: Global Species Program
-Leatherback Sea Turtle
Excellent website with focus on critically endangered
Leatherback.
.
Loggerhead Sea Turtles (Caretta caretta caretta) are carnivorous and named for their large heads, feeding on a variety of shellfish, sponges, jellyfish, shrimp and a variety of bony fish.. Fishermen named them loggerheads when they would see these turtles bobbing at the surface of the ocean, looking like floating logs. They are a large turtle and adult can weigh up to 350 pounds and measure over three feet in length.
Loggerhead Sea
Turtle Migration Website
A research website that
chronicles Loggerhead Sea Turtle migration during 1996.
The Atlantic Ridley Sea Turtle (Lepidochelys kempi), also known as Kemp's Ridley, is carnivorous and feeds primarily on marine invertebrates. It is one of the smallest species of marine turtles (twenty-eight inches long and up to only 110 pounds) and also one of the rarest, nesting only on one beach in Mexico -Rancho Nuevo. Other beaches were used in the past but aggressive egg collecting has reduced this population to a very low level. All ridley turtles are "mass nesters" where the females all come ashore together at the same time and nest as a group, usually in one day. Atlantic Ridleys have a distinctive round to heart-shaped shell that ranges in color from gray-brown to olive, even to black. Their range extends from the Gulf of Mexico to the Canadian Marine Provinces.
Olive Ridley Sea Turtles (Lepidochelys olivacae), also known as the Pacific Ridley are omnivorous and this species also has mass nesting, like the Atlantic Ridley but this phenomena tends to occur at night. These can be extraordinarily large, with a nesting of over 500,000 Olive Ridleys reported in a single week in March 1991, at Gahirmatha Orissa, India. It is the most abundant sea turtle and it's overall color is olive green as the name implies. It is found in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and inhabits mainly tropical and subtropical coastal bays and estuaries.
Flatback Sea Turtles (Natator depressus) are very similar to the green turtle, and used to be classified in the same genus (as Chelonia depressa), but now they are in their own genus (Natator). The flatback marine turtles are smaller than green marine turtles as adults, has a distinct low-domed flat carapace and has one of the most limited ranges of all sea turtles. They are endemic to the continental shelf of Australia and although they feed around Papua New Guinea and Indonesia as well as within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, they nest only in northern Australia The beaches where they nest are very remote and so it is thought that this population may be quite stable, with little influence by humans.
The links below will take you to
some great websites about sea turtles.
The best sites to start for general information are marked with a
star
.
If you have a site that you think should be listed,
please
email me.
Official, Scientific & Governmental Sites
Endangered Species Organizations
Sea Turtle Conservation Groups
Other Countries
Sea Turtle Observation -Tours, Dives Sites & Parks
Sea Turtle Hospitals and Rehabilitation Programs
Commercial Sites
Miscellaneous
Mass Extinction of Species
Euro Turtle
A superb European based resource website presenting all aspects of sea
turtle biology and conservation.
Florida Power and Light "How You Can Help The Sea Turtle"
Includes a list of things you can do
to help protect sea turtles
FWC Marine Turtle Program
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission page on their program to protect endangered marine turtles.
If You Find A Sea Turtle
Great little information
page of The Humane Society of the United States
Marine Science: Sea Turtles
A great educational resource website hosted by Genny Anderson
Marine Turtle Conservation Act of 2003
To assist in the conservation of
marine turtles and the nesting habitats of marine turtles in foreign
countries.
Marine Turtle Newsletter
The Marine Turtle Newsletter
is published quarterly (January, April, July, October) and distributed
free of charge to over 110 nations and territories. The only periodical
of its kind, MTN is a highly acclaimed publication for timely
information concerning the biology, conservation, management, legal
status and survival prospects of all species of endangered and
threatened sea turtles.
National Parks Sea Turtle Conservation Society
General information about sea turtles
as well as in depth information about National Parks. Since 1919, the
National Parks Conservation Association has been the sole voice of the
American people in the fight to safeguard the scenic beauty, wildlife,
and historical and cultural treasures of the largest and most diverse
park system in the world.
National Save The Sea Turtle Foundation
The National Save The Sea
Turtle Foundation is a non-profit Florida corporation incorporated in
the year 1987 for the purpose of preservation of marine life and is
concentrating its efforts on endangered species, oceans and waterways.
Sea Turtle, Inc
STI was formed in 1977 to
assist in the protection of Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle, but has expanded
its scope to actively support the conservation of all marine turtle
species.
Sea Turtle. Org
Seaturtle.org was founded
out of a desire to support research and conservation efforts in the sea
turtle community. A
comprehensive internet resource for sea turtle research and
conservation. Large link index of sea turtle related websites.
Sea Turtles of the Southeast Brochure
An Adobe downloadable document. Published by the Georgia Department of
Natural Resources.
Sea Turtle Restoration Project
A website dedicated to protecting endangered sea turtles and marine
biodiversity worldwide.
SOS For Sea Turtles
Kurt Amsler's website for
protection of Balinese Sea Turtles and turtles in general
The Archie Carr Center For Sea Turtle Research
Located at the University of Florida
Turtle Trax
A webpage devoted to sea turtles
World Turtle Trust
Hawaiian based website that has as
its operating principle hands-on activism to save sea turtles
World Wildlife Fund Global Species Programme: Marine Turtles
A superb resource site covering all aspects of
marine turtles
ICUN World Conservation Union
The World Conservation
Union is the world’s largest and most important conservation network.
The Union brings together 82 States, 111 government agencies, more than
800 non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and some 10,000 scientists
and experts from 181 countries in a unique worldwide partnership. The
Union’s mission is to influence, encourage and assist societies
throughout the world to conserve the integrity and diversity of nature
and to ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and
ecologically sustainable.
United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation
Monitoring Centre
The
United Nations Environment Programme
World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) is the
biodiversity assessment and policy implementation arm of the United
Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the world's foremost
intergovernmental environmental organization.
US Fish & Wildlife Webpages on Endangered Species
The American endangered
species list maintained by the US Fish & Wildlife Service
Word Conservation Union ICUN Red List of Endangered Species
IUCN
- The World Conservation Union, through its Species Survival Commission
(SSC) has for four decades been assessing the conservation status of
species, subspecies, varieties and even selected subpopulations on a
global scale in order to highlight species threatened with extinction,
and therefore promote their conservation.
Caretta Research Project -Wassaw Island
Hands on conservation and
research program dedicated to protecting the loggerhead turtle.
Folly Beach Turtle Watch Program
Folly Beach, North Carolina
Georgian Sea Turtle Center
The Jekyll Island Foundation's sea turtle website. (Jekyll Island,
Georgia)
Help Endangered Animals -Ridley Turtles
Houston Texas sea turtle
restoration project
Holden Beach Turtle Watch Program
Holden Beach, North Carolina
N.E.S.T Network For Endangered Sea Turtles
Outer Banks, North
Carolina
Save A Turtle In The Florida Keys
A volunteer
non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and protection of
rare and endangered marine turtles and to the enhancement of their
habitats here in the Keys and throughout the world.
Tybee Island Sea Turtle Project
Tybee Island, Georgia Marine Science
Center project
BALI
SOS For Sea Turtles
Kurt Amsler's website for
protection of Balinese Sea Turtles and turtles in general.
BARBADOS
Barbados Sea Turtle Project
The BSTP is
a project of the University of the West Indies (Cave Hill Campus,
Barbados) working in collaboration with the Fisheries Division of the
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Government of Barbados.
BONAIRE
Sea Turtle Club Bonaire
The STCB is a non-profit
organization set up to help prevent the extinction of Bonaire sea
turtles and preserve their natural habitats through research and public
awareness programs.
CARIBBEAN REGION
Widecast -Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation Network
The Wider
Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation Network (WIDECAST) is an international
scientific network comprised of volunteer Country Coordinators (mainly
sea turtle experts, natural resource professionals, and community-based
conservationists), an international Board of Scientific Advisors, and
Partner Organizations in more than 30 Caribbean States and territories.
CARIBBEAN REGION
STENEPA
Sea Turtle monitoring program located in St.Eustatius
COOK ISLANDS
Turtle Survey- Cook Islands
Cook Islands in the South
Pacific Center for Cetacean Research and Conservation
COSTA RICA
Pretoma
Costa Rican
program for the restoration of marine turtles.
COSTA RICA
Save The Turtles of Parismina
Save the Turtles
of Parismina is devoted to protecting the Leatherback and Green Sea
Turtles that nest along the Caribbean Coast in Costa Rica.
Sea Turtle protective group
in Cyprus
ENGLAND
Marine Turtle Research Group
School of Biological Sciences, University of Exeter
GERMANY
Turtle Foundation
German non-profit site
dedicated to sea turtle conservation and protection
GREECE
ARCHELON,
The Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece
Since 1983, the
primary objective of ARCHELON, the Sea Turtle Protection Society of
Greece has been to protect the sea turtles and their habitats in Greece
through monitoring and research, developing and implementing management
plans, habitat restoration, raising public awareness and rehabilitating
sick and injured turtles.
GUYANA
Guyana Marine Turtle Conservation Society
Guyana, South America
INDIA
Visakha SPCA -Sea Turtles
An Indian Society For The Prevention Of Cruelty To Animals website.
INDO-PACIFIC REGION ARBEC
Turtle Conservation
Site is dedicated to news on regional
turtle conservation efforts.
KENYA Adopt
A Sea Turtle. Com
Watamu Turtle Watch program -a Kenyan marine
conservation organization.
MEXICO
Sea Turtle Conservation Network of the Californias
Baja, Mexico Network
PUERTO RICO
Provecto Tinglado -Isla de Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
webpage with information on ways to protect sea turtles.
THAILAND
Ma'Daerah
Turtle Sanctuary
The Centre was established
with sponsorship from BP Petronas Acetyls Sdn. Bhd. in support of turtle
conservation and management programmes in Terengganu.
THAILAND
Naucrates
Conservation Biology
Naucrates,
from the Greek language means "who dominates the sea", is an NGO
organization based in Italy operating in different countries of the
world with one of their aims to contribute to the survival of sea
turtles.
Cayman Turtle Farm
Grand Cayman Island's largest land
based attraction, and the only one of its kind in the world, Cayman
Turtle Farm is home to over 16,000 green sea turtles raised for
conservation.
Marinelife Center of Juno Beach -The Turtle Place
Located in Palm Beach County, Florida
Cayman
Turtle Farm
Grand Cayman Island's largest land based
attraction, and the only one of its kind in the world, Cayman Turtle Farm is
home to over 16,000 green sea turtles raised for conservation
Hibiscus Sea Turtle Preserve
Located in TAHAA, French Polynesia
Jason Wood's Wildlife Rehab
North Carolina based general wildlife rehabilitation, including sea turtles.
Karen Beasley Sea Rescue and Rehabilitation Center
Located in Topsail
Island, North Carolina
First Aid
Online Directory of Sea Turtle
Rescue, Treatment and Rehabilitation Organizations
Sea Turtle, Inc
STI was formed in 1977 to
assist in the protection of Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle, but has expanded
its scope to actively support the conservation of all marine turtle
species.
The Turtle Hospital
Marathon, Florida
Cayman Turtle Farm
Grand Cayman Island's largest land based
attraction, and the only one of its kind in the world, Cayman Turtle Farm is
home to over 16,000 green sea turtles raised for
conservation.
Sea Turtle Postage Stamps Of The World
Cool sea turtle stamps
Sea Turtle Fanlisting
A fanlisting site is a place for fans
of one thing to get together. The focus is more on sharing of common
interest in sea turtles than anything else -an online forum.
American
Museum of Natural History Statement
The IUCN Red List of Endangered Species
Professor David Ulansey's Website -Mass Extinction Underway