Page 158 - Caribbean Reef Life Demo

SEA TURTLES

(Eretmochelys imbricata)
Onl adult males ill ha e a lar e tail that e tends ell e ond the shell. la s on i ers are lon and cur ed.
HAWKSBILL TURTLE (Eretmochelys imbricata) < 90 cm / 3 ft
on ointed ea . O erla in lates form a serrated edge to the shell. Two pairs of plates between the eyes.
LOGGERHEAD TURTLE
(Caretta caretta) < 2.5 m / 8 ft istincti el short thic nec and a ul ous head. he tall rounded shell is often encrusted with barnacles.
GREEN SEA TURTLE
(Chelonia mydas) < 1.5 m / 5 ft istincti el smooth rounded shell. One air of lates et een the e es com are to a s ill s t o airs .
Sharksuckers often attach to reen Sea Turtles, getting a free ride and feeding off the turtle’s scraps. Turtles will try to shake them off or pass them on to other turtles or even divers. The same sharksuckers can remain with a turtle for years, even forming mating pairs.
While feeding or moving about on the reef, sea turtles need to swim to the surface and breathe every half hour or so. While resting or sleeping, sea turtles can hold their breath for up to six hours.
Sea Turtles are sometimes seen cleaning their shells, rubbing away algae and parasites from their backs. Sponges can be particularly good for this and they return to the same favorite spots, sometimes wearing a shell-shaped curve into the base of iant Barrel Sponges.
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