People are fascinated by turtles, especially sea turtles. There are about 7 species of sea turtles. Most people can name a few species -Leatherback, Green, Loggerhead. The way the scutes (plates on a turtle's back) are arranged, and the number of scutes helps to identify each species of turtle. The Loggerhead sea turtle is the one that many have seen on nature programs on television. I have included a photo of one just in case you've never seen one. She sat still for me so that I could take her photo through the plexiglass. This particular turtle's name is Calypso, and she currently lives at Underwater Adventures, an aquarium at the Mall of America. I have personally known her for 4 years. In my job as an Aqua Guide at the aquarium, I spend a good deal of time pointing her out and coaxing her over to see me. She is very much a people-turtle.
We're going to talk a little bit about the terms "threatened" and "endangered" as they apply to sea turtles over the next months, but briefly-"threatened" sea turtles are sea turtles whose populations have grown smaller and run the risk of extinction. "Endangered" sea turtles are sea turtles that most likely will become extinct at some point unless some action is taken to protect them and build up their populations. Loggerheads were once under the "threatened" category, but are now listed as "endangered". Many things contribute to this problem. Along with the two causes mentioned in the above paragraph, another is the mortality rate of baby loggerheads. The link below will give you more in-depth information:
Now- a little bit about the Loggerhead. Why is it named that? Its head is big and bulky. Its jaws are as strong as a bear trap, and work about the same way. A Loggerhead's favorite meal is clams and crab. Loggerheads are generally yellowish on the plastron (underside) and brownish-red on the Carapace (topside, or what we would call the "shell"). A Loggerhead can live an easy 100 people years, and according to some information, will mature at 25 people years. Our friend Calypso matured at about 7 years. She weighs 305 lbs. The average ocean Loggerhead will get up to 250 lbs. Captivity changes things in a sea turtle's life, but it's all good for Calypso. Because she has some irregularities in her shell, she is being cared for by Underwater Adventures. Her health, growth rate, and other statistics are reported to the United States Government as part of the Endangered Species Act. For more information on that, click on the link below:
Go To Page: 1 2
