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Species in News: Sea turtles
Context:
Sea turtles in Guanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro, are showing signs of improved health after a long period of struggling with fibropapillomatosis (a tumour disease) that affected their movement, sight, feeding, and overall survival.
About Sea turtles:
- The seven sea turtle species are the Green Sea Turtle, Hawksbill, Loggerhead, Olive Ridley, Kemp’s Ridley, Leatherback, and Flatback.
- Families: Cheloniidae and Dermochelyidae.
- Type: Large, air-breathing reptiles.
- Habitat: Found in all the world’s oceans except for polar seas.
- The Flatback Sea Turtle is the only one not found in U.S. waters; it is exclusively found off the coasts of Australia.
- Evolution: Among the oldest creatures on Earth, unchanged for about 110 million years.
- A sea turtle’s most noticeable feature is its shell, with the top part called the carapace and the bottom part called the plastron.
- Sea turtles lack teeth but possess strong jaws capable of crushing, biting, and tearing their food.
- They play a crucial role in marine ecosystems by supporting the health of seagrass beds and coral reefs, which in turn benefits commercially important species like shrimp, lobster, and tuna.
- IUCN Status: Out of seven sea turtle species, three are classified as vulnerable, two as critically endangered, one as endangered, and one as data deficient.
- Threats: Include pollution, coastal development encroaching on nesting beaches, accidental drowning in fishing gear, and the international trade in turtle meat and shell products.
- Conservation Efforts: In the U.S., NOAA Fisheries manages sea turtle conservation in the marine environment, while the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service focuses on nesting beaches.
