D+coriacea

Animal Classification Genus: Dermochelys Coriacea Species: Trunkback Turtle Class: Reptilia Order: Testudines Family: Dermochelyidae

Year: 2000 Why? A decline in nesting of over 80% in most of the Pacific in the last decade.
 * Endangered Species Act**

Location of Ecosystem: Physical Habitat Features: Start: Costa Rica Across Pacific Ocean to South American Coast
 * Description of Habitat**
 * Adult Trunkback Turtles are Pelagic- Live in open Ocean
 * Young Trunkback Turtles live in Tropical Waters
 * It is found from, tropical to sup-polar oceans such as the Atlantic Ocean
 * Latitude 45 degrees
 * Temperature: 18 degrees Celcius
 * Salinity: 34.5 PPS
 * Volcanoes? Yes, In the middle of the Ocean
 * Earthquakes? Yes, there are a few earthquakes, but not many.
 * Sea Floor Spreading? Yes, Mid- Atlantic Ridge
 * Subduction? Yes, there are a few subduction zones in the Atlantic Ocean.
 * Currents: Gulf Stream, North Atlantic Drift, Canary, and Northern Equitorial currents.
 * Average Tidal Range: 3 3/4 feet
 * Migration Patterns:**

Start: Indonesia Across Pacific Ocean to North American Coast

Start: New Guinea Across the Pacific Ocean to New Zealand

26,000 to 43,000 nesting females
 * Population:**

Population has decreased by nearly 75% over the past 30 years
 * Survival Trends:**

Size: 4-8 feet in length Weight: 500- 2000 lbs Color: Black
 * Appearance:**

Nests per year: 5-7 nests Amount of eggs per nest: 70- 80 eggs Incubation: 55- 75 days Remigrate to nesting beaches every 2-3 years Hatchlings hatch at night and are on their own from birth
 * Reproduction:**

Trunkback Turtles prey: Trunkback Turtles predators: Overexploitation Habitat Loss Fishing Pollution In May of 2009 scientists discovered the world's largest Leatherback Turtle population in Gabon, West Africa. Between 15,730 and 41,373 female turtles were found nesting on the West African beaches.
 * Animal Anatomy:**
 * Body Type: Flattened Round Body
 * 2 pairs of large flippers and a short tail
 * Shell: Composed of a mosaic of small bones covered by firm, rubbery skin with seven longitudinal ridges
 * No bony carapace
 * Countershading
 * Warm- blooded ( can maintain body heat in cold waters)
 * thick tissue 1.5 inches thick
 * Points on tomium on upper lip
 * backward spines in throat to aid in digestion
 * tough oily skin
 * Food Chain:**
 * jellyfish and ctenophores
 * cepholopods, sharks, large fish, and killer whales.
 * Economic Importance:**
 * Tourism
 * Bronx Zoo, Mt. Plaisir Estate at Grande Riviere, and other zoos and nesting areas around the world
 * Fishing
 * Shells used for jewelry
 * Part of local diets
 * Harvesting Eggs
 * Used in many Traditional Asian medicines
 * Reasons for Endangerment:**
 * Eggs used in traditional Asian medicines
 * Carribean nations use eggs as an aphrodisiac
 * Eggs important part of local diets
 * Turtle Soup
 * Shells used for jewelry, bags, and souvenirs
 * Harvested for their Oil
 * Noise and bright lights created by human invasion deter many turtles from their nesting beaches
 * Eggs are crushed and hatchlings get confused by all the commotion and may get lost on way to sea
 * Bycatch
 * Nets
 * Shrimp Trawling
 * Long fishing lines
 * Floating plastic and other garbage is consumed but not digested
 * Conservation Methods:**
 * US and 115 other countries around the world have developed trade policies banning the trade of Sea Turtles
 * Protect nesting beaches, eggs, and nesting turtles
 * Turtle Exclusion Devices (TED) are required on shrimp trawling nets
 * Captive Breeding
 * Personal Solutions:**
 * Prevent consumption of Sea Turtles
 * Raise fines and penalties for illegally trafficing Sea Turtles
 * Close off popular turtle nesting beaches, and make them inaccessable to the public
 * Recent Trunkback Turtles in the News:**




 * 3 Questions:**
 * 1) Are Trunkback Turtles migratory animals?
 * 2) Around how many eggs are layed during one nest?
 * 3) What device was created by the US governement to try and minimize the amount of Sea Turtles that are caught in shrimp trawling nets?

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