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Sea turtles, air-breathing reptiles with streamlined bodies and large flippers, are well adapted to life in the marine environment. They inhabit tropical and subtropical ocean waters throughout the world. Of the seven species of sea turtles, six are found in U.S. waters: loggerhead, leatherback, green, hawksbill, Kemp's ridley, and olive ridley. Although sea turtles live most of their lives in the ocean, adult females must return to beaches on land to lay their eggs. They often migrate long distances between foraging grounds and nesting beaches. |
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| Sea turtles are some of the largest turtles in the world and live in almost every ocean of the world. Their smooth shells and paddlelike flippers help them speed through the water as fast as 15 miles (24 km) per hour. These long-distance travelers have been known to swim up to 3,000 miles (4,828 km). Although sea turtles cannot withdraw their heads into their shells, the adults are protected from predators by their shells, large size, and thick scaly skin on their heads and necks. |
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Baby sea turtles are most at risk. Their eggs and hatchlings are the prey of many animals, including raccoons and gulls. Wire cages are used to protect the nests from predators. Most sea turtles hatch at night. When artificial lighting is present, hatchlings can get disoriented and head toward the lighted area rather than to the water. If they are allowed to travel in the wrong direction, they may die from dehydration, predation, hit by a vehicle if they travel into the streets or parking areas. In Florida, there is a campaign to encourage people to make sure lights from their property do not shine onto the beach. This is especially important when the eggs hatch (July-October). Biologists also help redirect turtles that head the wrong way. |
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| Until recently, their success was apparent, as marine turtles crawled ashore to nest in abundance on tropical and subtropical beaches around the globe. Unfortunately threats like hunting for meat, shell and eggs; habitat destruction; fisheries bycatch; pollution; boat strikes; and introduced predators have wiped out entire turtle populations, or reduced them to mere shadows of their former glory. Today three of the seven existing species are critically endangered with extinction, three are endangered and the status of the seventh species remains unknown. |
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There remains much to be learned about these animals. It is known that the oceans are necessary for their survival. It is also known that suitable nesting habitat is necessary for their survival. Over the past 50 to 75 years, humans have been developing coastal areas, fishing the oceans, and damaging the ocean ecosystem. It is important to teach people about how both turtles and people can use ocean resources safely. |
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