Sea Turtles
Scientific name: Chelonioidea
From leatherbacks to loggerheads, seven species of sea turtles swim the world’s oceans—with the exception of the Australian flatback, all are listed as threatened or endangered. Sadly, they face many dangers as they travel the seas—like getting caught in fishing gear meant for other animals, the loss of nesting and feeding sites, directed hunting and pollution.
Air-breathing reptiles, sea turtles are well-adapted to their marine environment. Their size varies greatly, depending upon species—from the small Kemp’s ridley, which weighs between 80-100 pounds, to the enormous leatherback, which often weighs more than 1,000 pounds.
Habitat & Diet
Sea turtles spend their entire lives at sea, except when females come ashore to lay eggs several times per season every 2-5 years. After about sixty days of incubation, the hatchlings emerge from their sandy nests and make their way to the ocean—attracted to the distant horizon. They spend their first few years in the open oceans, eventually moving to protected bays, estuaries and other nearshore waters.
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