Marine Reptilesphylum Chordata

subphylum Vertebrata

class Reptilia

Florida’s Sea Turtles

1. Kemp’s Ridley

2. Hawksbill

3. Loggerhead

4. Green

5. Leatherback

Five (5) species of marine turtles nest in Florida

Green Sea Turtle

Green turtle

It is one of the largest species: 3ft long

recognized because they have one pair of scales in front of their eyes

Green Turtle

• Most common• It’s called the

green turtle because of the green color of the fat under shell, they are not actually green.

• Diet consists almost exclusively on seagrasses and marine algae (Hatchlings eat plants and animals)

• Inhabits shallow waters and is attracted to lagoons with an abundance of grass and algae

Hawksbill

Hawksbill Turtle• The beautiful

shell often used for jewelry

• Distinctive by its hawk like beak

• Can reach 3 feet

• Diet consists of primarily sponges• Inhabits rocky areas, coral reefs,

coastal areas, lagoons.• Illegal trade of tortoiseshell

continues

Kemp Ridley

Kemp’s Ridley

Kemp’s Ridley • most endangered

species, as well as the smallest: only grows to 24-28 in

• They are olive green in color.

• Mostly nest on one beach, in Rancho Nuevo, Mexico.

• Carapace is almost as wide as long• Diet consists mostly of crabs• Females swarm to mass nesting

emergences known as arribadas in the daylight.

arribadasarribadas

Leatherback

Leatherback• Can dive the

deepest and travel the furthest of any other turtle.

• Can reach 4 to 8 feet• Diet mostly jellyfish, but also sea

urchins, squid, crustaceans, fish, blue-green bacteria, & floating seaweed

• Most pelagic of all sea turtles

Leatherbacks

• Instead of a solid shell they have bones in their skin that form 5 ridges.

Loggerhead

Loggerhead Turtle• They can be

identified by their large head, reddish brown carapace (top), and dull brown plastron (bottom).

• Diet consists of mollusks, crustaceans, fish, other marine animals

• Widely distributed

Turtle concerns

1. Diseases……caused by???????• Pollution• Red Tide• Viruses

• Fibropapilloma tumors–(FY bro PAP il LO ma) –Causes blindness–Difficulty swimming –Eventual death

Locations w/ infected Turtles

Turtle concernsTurtle concerns2. 2. UsUs (humans) (humans)

BoatsBoats

Shrimp Boats, TED Shrimp Boats, TED DevicesDevices

Plastics, trashPlastics, trash

Loss of habitatLoss of habitat

Turtle egg poachingTurtle egg poaching

Beach Beach nourishment/dredgingnourishment/dredging

Beach drivingBeach driving

http://www.scaquarium.org/seaturtle/rescue.aspx

Interesting Facts:Archelon is the oldest known fossil at 150 MYA.

Found in 1970’s in S.Dakota.

Archelon:Measured 15 ft long (from beak to tail) and

16.5 ft wide(including flippers and shell), weighing 4,500

lbs.

Archelon:Primarily ate giant squid.

• Marine Iguana (10 in- 2 ft)– Widely distributed throughout Galapagos– Population varies in color & size= single species– Herbivores= seaweed in intertidal zone

• Males are bigger than females• Males tend to swim past breaks• Average diving depths= 1.5-5 meters

Physical &Physiological CharacteristicsPermit feedingHabits

-Long & sharpclaws

Land Iguana

Marine Iguana

Marine Iguana gripping rocks during feeding

• Adapted to swim well• Flattened tail for propulsion

Able to scrape algae off rocks with 3 cusped teeth- Razor Sharp!!

Sea Snakes

• Approx 70 species of sea snakes

• Almost all are venomous

• Different from eels– Eels are fish with

gills, not reptiles with lungs

American

Crocodile

American

Alligator

Overlapping Teeth

Gator vs Crocodile

Crocodiles

Have been on earth for about 100 million years

• Human impacts have caused population to decline

• Found around the tip of Florida in coastal, brackish or saltwater habitats

AmericanCrocodile

AmericanAlligator

American Alligator

• Primarily freshwater swamps• Adults can tolerate saltwater for only short

periods of time• Lack salt secreting glands found in crocodiles• Hatchlings receive parental care from mother

staying with her for up to a yearFlorida Red-bellied turtles tend to lay their

eggs in an alligator nest