Loggerhead Turtles: Creature Feature

These  beautifully  colored  sea  turtles  got  their  name  because  their  oversized  head  sort  of  looks  like  a  big  log.    Within  their  heads  are  powerful  jaws,  which  loggerheads  use  for  crushing  prey  like  conchs,  horseshoe  crabs,  and  other  animals  with  hard  shells.  They  also  eat  softer  foods  like  jellyfish,  fish,  seaweed,  and  a  brown  algae  called  sargassum.  

Loggerheads  live  in  oceans  all  over  the  world,  except  in  the  coldest  seas.  There  are  more  loggerheads  in  the  waters  of  the  United  States  than  any  other  species  of  sea  turtle.  Even  so,  loggerheads  are  threatened  by  many  things,  including  predators,  pollution,  human  development  in  the  turtles'  nesting  areas,  and  fishing  nets.  

A  female  loggerhead  sea  turtle  may  travel  thousandsof  miles  to  return  to  the  beach  where  she  hatched  as  a  baby  

to  lay  her  own  eggs  as  an  adult.  A  loggerhead  female  generally  nests  every  two  to  three  years.  After  mating,  she  heads  to  shore  to  lay  her  eggs.  

 

On  average,  she’ll  lay  eggs  four  times  in  one  nesting  season.  Each  time,  she  comes  ashore  and  uses  her  front  flippers  to  clear  a  spot  in  dry  sand.  Then  she  uses  her  hind  flippers  to  dig  her  nesting  hole.  She  positions  herself  so  that  her  eggs  fall  gently  into  the  hole  as  she  lays  them.  

Even  in  the  buried  nest,  the  loggerhead  eggs  may  fall  prey  to  hungry  raccoons  or  wild  pigs  that  dig  them  up.  But  the  eggs  that  remain  undisturbed  hatch  about  60  days  after  being  laid.  Hatchlings  dig  their  way  up  through  the  sand  toward  the  surface  

and  wait  just  underneath  the  last  layer  of  sand  until  nightfall.  

Once  cooler  temperatures  signal  that  the  sun  has  set,  the  hatchlings  pop  the  rest  of  the  way  out  and  scurry  toward  the  ocean.  On  that  dangerous  journey  to  the  water,  they  face  raccoons  once  again,  as  well  as  crabs,  birds,  and  other  predators.  

 

Another  danger  the  hatchlings  face  is  what's  called  disorientation.  By  instinct,  hatchlings  head  toward  the  brightest  horizon,  which  is  normally  the  horizon  over  the  sea.  

 

But  in  places  where  there  is  human  development,  like  stores  or  houses,  the  bright  light  from  these  areas  draws  the  turtles  away  from  the  sea  instead  of  toward  it.  Babies  that  head  toward  the  artificial  light  usually  die.  

Even  when  these  little  loggerheads  do  make  it  safely  to  the  ocean,  they  have  to  dodge  predators  in  the  water,  such  as  sharks  and  other  fish.  (In  fact,  loggerheads  have  to  be  on  the  lookout  for  sharks  their  entire  lives,  no  matter  how  big  they  get.)  

Laws  prohibit  people  from  harming  loggerheads  and  other  sea  turtles.  Sea  turtles  live  in  the  water,  but  they  must  surface  to  breathe.  And  when  they  do,  they  can  get  hit  by  boats.  They  also  frequently  get  tangled  in  fishing  nets  and  drown.  So  laws  require  certain  nets  to  have  a  device  that  allows  sea  turtles  to  escape  if  they  get  caught.  These  devices  are  called  "turtle  excluder  devices."  

Many  of  the  beaches  where  sea  turtles  nest  are  protected  by  law  too.  People  are  prohibited  from  harming  either  the  nesting  loggerhead  females  or  their  eggs.  Loggerhead  sea  turtles  face  many  challenges,  but  people  can  help  the  species  by  

protecting  them  in  the  sea  as  well  as  on  shore.    

 Text  by  Catherine  D.  Hughes  

 

Turtle  Article  

FAST  FACTS  The  scientific  name  of  the  loggerhead  sea  turtle  is  Caretta  caretta.    A  loggerhead  sea  turtle  can  live  to  be  more  than  50  years  old  in  the  wild.    The  loggerhead  sea  turtle  is  a  threatened  species.  This  means  that  they  are  likely  to  become  an  endangered  species.  

There  are  seven  species  of  sea  turtle:  loggerhead,  leatherback,  hawksbill,  Kemp's  ridley,  olive  ridley,  green,  and  flatback.  All  sea  turtles  are  protected  by  law.    An  adult  loggerhead  is  about  36  inches  (90  centimeters)  long.  It  weighs,  on  average,  about  250  pounds  (113  kilograms).  

 

Newly  hatched  loggerheads  are  about  two  inches  (5  centimeters)  long.  For  the  first  7  to  12  years  of  its  life,  a  young  loggerhead  lives  far  out  at  sea.  As  hatchlings,  they  find  the  ocean  currents  that  will  carry  them  away  from  shore.  Only  when  older  do  the  sea  turtles  live  or  linger  in  waters  nearer  shore.  Adults  often  live  in  bays  and  estuaries.  

In  addition  to  natural  predators,  loggerheads  face  danger  from  pollution  and  trash  in  the  ocean.  They  

are  also  at  risk  from  boats  when  they  swim  near  shore,  where  they’re  often  injured  or  killed  when  they  collide  with  boats  or  are  hit  by  their  propellers.  

The  shell  on  the  back  of  a  turtle  is  called  the  carapace,  while  the  shell  on  the  belly  side  is  called  a  plastron.  A  loggerhead's  carapace  is  heart-­‐shaped,  and  is  reddish-­‐brown.  Its  plastron  is  yellowish-­‐brown.  

 

           

Loggerhead Turtles

Hazards    Adult  sea  turtles  have  few  natural  enemies.  Shards  are  the  main  predators,  especially  tiger  sharks.  Sea  turtle  eggs  and  hatchling  are  eaten  by  ]ish,  dogs,  seabirds,  raccoons,  ghost  crabs,  and  other  predators.  More  than  90  percent  of  hatchlings  are  eaten  by  predators.  Only  about  1  in  1,000  sea  turtles  survives  to  maturity.      

 

The most serious dangers to all kinds of sea turtles come from human impact. Nesting areas are scarce because of building construction along beaches. Lights, noise, trash, and activity on beaches can discourage adult females from coming on shore. All of these things also confuse hatchlings, who may accidentally head away from the ocean instead of toward it.

Some sea turtles die from eating trash. Leatherbacks often mistake plastic for jellyfish and die when it clogs up their digestive system. Sea turtles can also die from injuries caused by collisions with boats.

                               

 

 © 2011-2012, Gretchen Courtney & Associates, Ltd.

Q.

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A. A.

Consider the argument each author uses to demonstrate the dangers faced by baby loggerhead turtles.

CCSS Name ___________________________________________________ Date _____________________

Video Text Turtle Article Creature Feature

 © 2011-2012, Gretchen Courtney & Associates, Ltd.

Q.

A.

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A. A.

Consider the argument each author uses to demonstrate the dangers faced by baby loggerhead turtles.

Sea turtle eggs are eaten by fish, dogs, seabirds, raccoons, ghost crabs and other predators. More than 90 percent of hatchings are eaten by predators. Most serious dangers to sea turtles are from human impact. Lights, noise, trash, and activities discourage females from nesting. These things confuse hatchlings who may accidentally head away from the ocean instead of toward it.

CCSS Name ___________________________________________________ Date _____________________

Perilous journey Ghost crabs and seagulls take their pick. For schools of hungry fish, hatchling turtles make a good

meal.

Even in the buried nest, the loggerhead eggs may fall prey to hungry raccoons or wild pigs that dig them up. They face raccoons once again, as well as crabs, birds, and other predators. Another danger the hatchlings face is what's called disorientation. By instinct, hatchlings head toward the brightest horizon, which is normally the horizon over the sea.

But in places where there is human development, like stores or houses, the bright light from these areas draws the turtles away from the sea instead of toward it. Babies that head toward the artificial light usually die.

Video Text Turtle Article Creature Feature

 © 2009-2012, Gretchen Courtney & Associates

Planning Strip for Writing Standard #9 Reading Standard #8

Planning Strip for Writing Standard #9 Reading Standard #8

Transition

Prompt statement

Evidence in the text

Analysis of support

Explanation

Evidence in the text

Analysis of support

Explanation

Closing statement

Transition

Evidence in the text

Analysis of support

Explanation

W#9; RI#1 W#9; RI#8

Transition

Prompt statement

Evidence in the text

Analysis of support

Explanation

Evidence in the text

Analysis of support

Explanation

Closing statement

Transition

Evidence in the text

Analysis of support

Explanation

W#9; RI#8

 © 2009-2012, Gretchen Courtney & Associates

Constructed Response (Analytical Essay)

Prompt statement Evidence in the text Analysis of support Explanation Evidence in the text Analysis of support Explanation

Planning Strip

Transition

All three authors make the claim that baby loggerhead turtles face serious dangers. The Creature Feature article provides ample support for this claim by stating that hatchlings usually die when they become disoriented by lights shining in the area where they hatch. In  the  article,  the  author  states,  “Another  danger  the  hatchlings  face  is  what's called disorientation. By instinct, hatchlings head toward the brightest horizon, which is normally the horizon over the sea. But in places where there is human development, like stores or houses, the bright light from these areas draws the turtles away from the sea instead of toward it. Babies that head toward the artificial light usually die.”    The author supports this argument by explaining what the problem is and why it is a problem giving details for both the cause and the effect.

W#9 RI#8 Name ___________________________________________________ Date _____________________

© 2009-2012, Gretchen Courtney & Associates

Constructed Response (Analytical Essay)

Prompt statement Evidence in the text Analysis of support Explanation Evidence in the text Analysis of support Explanation

Planning Strip

Transition

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W#9 RI#8 Name ___________________________________________________ Date _____________________

 © 2009-2012, Gretchen Courtney & Associates

Evidence in the text

Analysis of support

Explanation

Evidence in the text

Analysis of support

Explanation

Closing statement

Constructed Response (Analytical Essay)

Planning Strip

W#9 RI#8 Name ___________________________________________________ Date _____________________

Transition

Transition

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