Page 288 - French Polynesia
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he nesting activity begins when the female ing the first few days after leaving the nest, the this is repeated with each breeding season.
hatchlings make use of their reserved yolk. In most species, the energy demands of long
Temerges from the sea to the beach of her migrations and egg laying dictates that most
Once they enter the water, the hatchlings females do not nest annually but, on the aver-
choice, most often at night. She digs her body swim offshore and enter the major ocean age, every 2-5 years. The males, on the other
and egg pits and lay more than a hundred currents. Studies by Carr (1986) suggest that hand, breed more frequently (1-2 years) than
eggs. After each nesting, the female goes back small turtles are often found at the boundaries the females (Limpus, 1994 asean).
to her internesting habitat to complete the between water masses where they and their
next clutch of eggs. She can be expected to lay food passively accumulate. They spend an M igration of adult turtles from their
several clutches of eggs at two weeks intervals unknown period of time, several months or feeding grounds is associated
before migrating back to her feeding ground. probably several years, floating in the currents with a testosterone peak after a suitable
During the entire breeding migration, court- (Ross, 1989). Except for the leatherback which gametogenesis on the feeding ground
ship and residency within the internesting has occurred. It is either during migration
habitat, the adult turtles eat almost no food, Matingremains entirely pelagic, the young turtles or near the breeding sites does a female
being dependent on the stored fat reserves become receptive to the advances of
(Limpus, 1994). change its life style at a carapace length of 30 one or more males. Under captive condi-
cm or more, taking residence in shallow waters tions, the females undergo a specific heat
Parental care in not exercised. The eggs and feed principally on benthic organisms. period which lasts from 2 to 4 days. Prior
incubate underneath the sand for about 2 Each individual remains associated with a to and after this heat period, she is not
months where they develop into hatchlings. restricted feeding area for many years and may receptive. The duration of mating cannot
The temperature of incubation determines the shift to a different feeding area as it matures be accurately determined because it is
sex of the hatchling and the rate of develop- (Limpus, 1994). sometimes difficult to see if intromission
ment. Higher temperatures shortens incuba- has occurred or if ejaculation has resulted.
tion period and more hatchlings are females. When sexual maturity is reached, breed- Mating can be as short as 2-3 min or as
Under cooler conditions, the eggs hatch longer ing migration takes place and breeding long as 19 hr of continuous mounting.
and there are more males. After hatching, the occurs in the region of its birth. At the end of
young turtles dig their way up the nest column the season, the turtles return to the same feed-
and rapidly make their way to the ocean. Dur- ing area from which it began its migration and
