Page 283 - French Polynesia

Sea Turtles Are Magnificent Creatures

S ea turtles are generally found in the waters which is herbivorous. Some species feed on
over continental shelves. During the first certain prey; sea sponges are the principal food

three to five years of life, sea turtles spend most of hawksbill sea turtles, constituting 70–95%

time in the pelagic zone floating in seaweed of their diets in the Caribbean. Leatherback sea

beds. Once the sea turtle has reached adult- turtles feed almost exclusively on jellyfish.

hood it moves closer to the shore. Females will The loggerhead has a greater list of known
come ashore to lay their eggs on sandy beaches prey than any other sea turtle. Other
during the nesting season.

Sea turtles are almost always submerged, food items include sponges, corals, sea pens,
and, therefore, have developed an anaero- polychaete worms, sea anemones, cephalo-
pods, barnacles, brachiopods, isopods, insects,

bic system of energy metabolism. Although all bryozoans, sea urchins, sand dollars, sea cucum-

sea turtles breathe air, under dire circumstances bers, starfish, fish (eggs, juveniles, and adults),

they may divert to anaerobic metabolism hatchling turtles (including members of its

for long periods of time. When surfacing to own species), algae, and vascular plants. Other

breathe, a sea turtle can quickly refill its lungs common prey items include tunicates, bivalves,

with a single explosive exhalation and rapid shrimp, crabs and rock lobsters.

inhalation. Their large lungs have adapted to During migration through the open sea,
permit rapid exchange of oxygen and to avoid loggerheads eat jellyfish, floating mol-
trapping gases during deep dives.

Sea turtles feed on a wide range of animals luscs, floating egg clusters, squid, and flying
and plants. They are mostly omnivorous fish. Animal prey consists of protochordates or
invertebrates, which can be caught in shallow

in their adult life, except the green sea turtle marine waters or estuarine habitats.