*Sea Turtles* 

There are many different types of sea turtles, and they all have their own scientific name. There is the Loggerhead (Carreta Carreta), the Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia Mydas), the Leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), and many more. Sea Turtles are found in warm, temperate seas throughout the world. They can be found in the Altlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, along the Argentine coast, the Meditteranean Sea, and Indo- Pacific west coasts of North and South America, from central Baja California to Peru. Some or rather most adults are found in shallow, coastal waters, bays, lagoons, and estuaries. Younger seat turtles may also be found in bays, estusaries and in the seas. Most of all of the sea turtles migrate, but depending on their type decides where they migrate to. Some may stay and nest in their general locations while others may travel far and wide for migration.

                                Picture from here                                                                      Picture from here

                    Male and female sea turtles are both equal in size. Not all Sea turtles grow to be the same size. The Leatherback sea turtle is the largest of its species, while the Kemp's Ridley is one of the smallest. Sea turtles are depicted by a large, streamlined shell with a nonretractile head and limbs. Depending on the species, sea turtles difffer in color. They can be an olive-green, yellow, greenish-brown, or black color. Unlike land turtles, Sea turtles are unable to retract their limbs into their shells. They have flippers which are meant for swimming, making them awkward and vunerable when on land. Sea turtles have large upper eyelids that provide protection for their eyes, and do not have an external ear opening. They can see clearly under water, but are shortsighted in the air. 

          A Sea turtles shell is large and bony, which protects the turtles from predation and abrasion. In all species except for the Leatherback, their shells are covered with a thorny layer of plates which are called scutes. They are firm and flexible, but not brittle. Scientists can often identify a turtle by it's scutes, since the number and pattern are not all the same. The top part of the shell is called the carapace. Depending on the type of species, the adult carapace can be in the shape of an oval, or it can be heartshaped. All sea turtles except for the Leatherback have a bony shell that is composed of broadened, fused ribs, with the backbone attached to the carapace.

 Picture from here

     Not all sea turtles eat the same things. Some may be carnivorous, herbivorous, or omnivorous. For those who are carnivors, they are most likely to eat shrimp, squids, crabs, jellyfish, and molluscs. The vegetarians eat mainly sea grasses and algae. The eating habits of sea turtles doesn't always stay the same though. As they grow odler, they may change from carnivors to herbivors.

     Adult sea turtles have very few predators. Unfortunately its not the same for young or baby sea turtles. They may be hunted by sea birds, raccoons, ghost crabs, and dogs. The ones that prey on adults are Tiger sharks and Killer whales prey on Leatherback sea turtles. Due to the beach developments and disturbances, nesting areas have become more and more scarce. If in one year there were to be forty thousand hatchings, about 20 years later it could be reduced down to less than five thousand. There is also the problem with trash. If a turtle were to ingest the trash that humans laid down on beaches, it could cause death and make these animals disturbed. If a female sea turtle comes upon trash on the beach, it erturns to the sea instead of laying eggs.

     Sadly, there is a more painful way that these beautiful and graceful creatures die. Many sea turtles end up drowning in shrimp nets each year, and hatchlings become confused by the street lights when trying to find the surf. Instead of going to the ocean, they go towards the parking lots and can be eaten by birds or crushed by cars. Some die from exposure.  

      picture from here                      

                                                    Big thanks to these websites

                                                       seaworld.org

                                                                       earthcapades.com

                                                                      agreenliving.org