Turtles - Species

-

 It's that time of the month! When we discover species of turtles together. 

I want to introduce you to a magnificent creature who expertly navigates underwater currents. As, the oldest and largest sea turtle, the leatherback turtle has an allure. 


They can reach up to 7 feet and weigh about 2000 pounds, making them the colossal giants of the sea! 

Distinct from their turtle relatives, leatherbacks boast a shell that defies convention. Instead of a hard, bony structure, their shell is composed of a leathery, rubbery skin with a texture that sets them apart. 

This unique adaptation enables them to navigate the depths of the ocean with unparalleled agility.

Leatherback turtles are adept deep-sea divers, plunging into the ocean's depths in search of their prey. Their physiology allows them to withstand the pressures of the deep, leading to their success as hunters in the vast expanse of the open sea.


The leathery skin of the leatherback turtle enables it to regulate body temperature efficiently. This adaptation allows them to navigate a range of water temperatures, from tropical warmth to the colder subpolar regions.

They reach sexual maturity between 9 and 20 years. They spend most of their lives at sea, returning to the shore to nest. Females, after mating, visit the beach 5–7 times per nesting season, burying around 100 eggs each time. Nesting occurs every 2–4 years between February and July. Eggs, the size of billiard balls, hatch after a two-month incubation. 

Hatchlings must navigate to the sea alone, with only about 6 per cent surviving their first year. This captivating life cycle showcases their resilience in the delicate dance of reproduction and survival.

Now, the green sea turtle. With a charm all its own, this species, scientifically known as Chelonia mydas, adds a splash of emerald to the seascape.


The only herbivore among the various kinds of sea turtles is the green turtle, which is also one of the largest. They usually eat algae and seagrasses. Rather than their shells, green turtles are named for the greenish tint of their fat and cartilage. The locals in the Eastern Pacific refer to a species of green turtles with darker shells as "black turtles." 

Primarily found in tropical and subtropical waters are green turtles. They travel great distances like other sea turtles to get to their feeding areas from the beaches where they hatched.  Moreover, did you know that sea turtles can hold their breath for 4 to 7 hours without difficulty!

However, one of many things they share is that they are both endangered species. There are only 40,000 to 30,000 turtles of both these species left. This is an alarming situation we must do all we can to save them. 

To find out how read our blog next week! 

Until then...

Seashells and Sunsets, Prisha 🐚🌊

_____________________________________________________________________________


Be updated with our latest blogs at our instagram @diveintothesea_23


Give us feedback here: https://forms.gle/PcLCZH5xjP6fmNxe


For more information contact us at adiveintosea@gmail.com








Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A New Beginning...

-
Image
Whenever someone mentions the word “ocean” or “sea” my ears perk up no matter how tired I am. Does this happen to you too? Do you also love everything and anything ocean-related?  Well then, you’ve come to the right place.  Welcome to A Dive into the Sea!  We are two passionate individuals deeply committed to ocean conservation. Our mission started from the concern that many disregard the ocean's significance, leading them to believe it's not worth preserving. Here we cater to all your marine-related needs. From starfish to sharks. From loving them to saving them. We have it all.  Here we explore the wonders of the ocean and advocate for its conservation! So, what’re you waiting for? Come on, let's explore.  This is how it is going to be.  Each month we delve into the life of marine animals. We will explore their species, their habits, how they adapt to different seasons, how human waste is affecting their life and so on. The animals we have chosen t...
Read more

Turtles - Dangers

-
Image
 A turtle has to face many difficulties in its life.  Somethings, like predators, can't be helped. They are natural. However there are some things that can be helped. For example, pollution, climate change, and so on.  Pollution Sea turtles are vulnerable to ocean pollution at all stages of life, from eggs to hatchlings to juveniles to adults. The toxic metals may concentrate in the liver and the kidney of the turtles. This can harm them greatly. Pollutants may cause immediate harm to sea turtles through direct contact or can also build up in tissues over time and lead to immunosuppression resulting in disease and death.  Degradation of sea turtle habitat from pollution also poses a threat and can occur over large areas. Sea turtle habitats overlap with areas most likely to be affected by offshore oil exploration and production.  Oil from spills offshore also washes up on beaches where it degrades nesting habitat, and can impact nests, nesting females, and hatch...
Read more

The Realm of Whales

-
Image
In a huge ocean, whales are one of the biggest animals to be found.  There are many types of whales. For example: Blue whales, Humpback whale, Grey whale, and so many more. Let's explore the world of Blue whales and False Killer whales.  Blue Whales Blue whales are the largest animal to ever exist. They reach maximum lengths of 110 (33.5 m) feet and weights of 330,000 pounds (150 metric tons).  They are friendly and don't attack humans. They feed almost exclusively on krill-small shrimp-like crustaceans that grow to about 6 centimeters.  Blue Whales can live for 80 to 90 years on average. To date, the only known natural predator of the blue whale is the orca. However, despite this, currently the best scientific estimates for the blue whale population are between 10,000 and 25,000 globally. That is a very small number for any species, even a large and long-lived one.  FUN FACT: The scientific name of blue whales is Balaenoptera musculus.  False Killer Whales...
Read more