Page 157 - Caribbean Reef Life Demo

Sea turtles are under threat worldwide. The awksbill Turtle is now considered a critically endangered species. Other than the occasional shark, the only predator of sea turtles is man. They are hunted for their meat and their nests are raided for their eggs. Boat traf c near coral reefs can kill turtles as well, like this unlucky individual on the right. Sea turtles only start reproducing very late in life 35 years in the case of the Loggerhead and fewer are being given a chance to reach this age. ollution is also taking a toll; turtles get caught in discarded shing nets and line or they may try to eat oating debris, such as plastic bags, that can look like jelly sh.
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awksbill Turtles on the left get their name from their sharp beaks, used to break open sponges. They prefer the tough Leathery Barrel Sponge p. 65 . reen Sea Turtles pictured above feed on seagrasses in the lagoon as well as on jelly sh beyond the reef. Loggerheads have strong jaws that allow them to feed on shell sh and crustaceans.
Sea turtles are similar to their land-based cousins but are unable to retract their heads into their shells. They spend their entire lives in the water, females only coming onto land once every two to four years to lay their eggs, always returning to the same spot where they were hatched.