Chelonia Midas

The Loggerhead is an endangered species. Between 1997 and 2007, around 70% of their east coast yearly nesting population was lost as a result of shrimp trawling and development in nesting areas. The Loggerhead Turtles habitat in Gnaraloo is vital for their survival. The female loggerhead usually digs her nest at night. She digs her nest with her back flippers, about 18 inches beneath the surface. When she lays her eggs they fall to the bottom of the nest and pack together after she lays the eggs she tops off the nest with sand. The hatchlings will incubate for 60- 80 days. Loggerheads nest on ocean beaches, they lay their eggs, immediately after hatchlings emerge from the nest, they begin a period of frenzied activity. Hatchlings are primarily

The ornate box turtle is a extremely common species of turtle that lives throughout the United States. The turtles can be easily recognized by their dark brown shell with bright yellow markings. Almost every box turtle is unique in marking, from yellow to orange spots on their body to the different patterns on their shell. The male and female box turtle are distinguishable by their eye color and tail size. Male ornate box turtles have red eyes and longer tails, while females have brown eyes and shorter tails. These turtles have a interesting life style because they usually live their entire life's within only a few acres. The turtles start out the day basking in the sun. from there they go out hunting for food. Ornate box turtles move and hunt

The Red-bellied Cooter is being threatened by both man-made and natural causes. Do to economic growth, areas that used to be a good habitat for these turtles are now being turned into new, buildings like apartments, houses, and stores. In areas where the turtles can live, they are threatened before they have even hatched from their eggs by other predators like raccoons, skunks, or even snapping turtles. Almost all of the eggs in a nest are harmed before they have a chance to hatch. So while humans taking up land takes the Red-bellied Cooters’ homes, their predators take their lives.

The Graptemys caglei, also known as the Cagle’s Map Turtle, is an endangered turtle species found in San Antonio, Texas and along the Guadalupe River. It identifies easily by the pattern on its shell which resembles an aerial view topography, as well as its spiked shell edges, which are not as sharp as other map turtles of the same genus. Although the Cagle’s Map Turtle has natural predators pose a threat to the individual turtles’ lives, the predators are not a greater threat than habitat disturbances created by humans. Unfortunately, this species suffered a significant drop in population since the mid-1970 through changes in its habitat disallow support of a larger population of the turtles(van Dijk, P. P., 2011).

CHARLESTON, South Carolina (Achieve3000, August 7, 2015). A rare leatherback sea turtle was found on a South Carolina beach in March 2015. The enormous reptile weighed 476 pounds (216 kilograms). It was spotted on the Yawkey-South Island Reserve in Georgetown County. The creature was brought to the South Carolina Aquarium. Workers named her Yawkey. She was treated with fluids, antibiotics, and vitamins. She was the first leatherback to be found alive in South Carolina. Caretakers were eager to see her returned to the sea.

Red eared slider turtles can live for many years. An easy way to help ensure a long life for your pet is by feeding your red eared slider a variety of healthy foods. Another benefit to introducing variety is that your turtle will not get bored with its meals if you make its diet interesting.

Humans have heavily affected sea turtle mortality rates, but one may ask what the benefit of having a stable and healthy population of sea turtles is. Sea turtles hold many important roles in both terrestrial and marine ecosystems where they are found. Along coasts where sea turtles are found nesting, beaches have been seen to have an increase in organic matter, phosphorus, nitrogen, and lipids (Bouchard 2000). This matter left by the sea turtle is in the forms of unhatched eggs and eggshells, which are then brought into the food chain through decomposers, such as beetles, or sea turtle predators, such as crabs (Bouchard 2000).

only lay three to six. The eggs are incubated for about twenty-eight days, and the owlets usually fledge

Over one hundred million years of existence, capable of traveling through the oceans of the world. One creature so magnificent that it is able to live up to 70 years old and weigh between 200 to 500 pounds. This creature is the majestic Hawaiian green sea turtle. Although they are found throughout the world, Hawaiian green sea turtles are distinctly different from other green sea turtles (NOAA Fisheries par. 4). They travel to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands to nest and then travel to the main Hawaiian Islands to feed. Such a unique creature is very important to the Hawaiian Islands. Hawaiian green sea turtles play an important role in the ecosystem, the economy, the culture, and the

The government has listed the manatee as “endangered” since 1972. When animals are listed as endangered, laws must be made to protect them.

This rare turtle found in the United States is the smallest species of turtle in the United States. It can only grow up to 4.5 inches long! This tiny turtle is in two very small distinct populations that are approximately 250 miles away from each other. These turtles are very recognizable by the orange patches on their head. The National Fish and Wildlife foundation says, “In the last 30 years, these turtles have disappeared from more than 50 percent of the wetlands it once inhabited.” I believe we should be resurrecting more of the land that they used to live on.

Turtles are one of the oldest reptile groups. They are classified as amniotes. They have existed a long time ago, which means they have seen the rise and fall of the dinosaurs and the rise of humanity. Scientists think that turtles have existed for around 157 million years (mosaic 29). Approximately, sea turtles were 65 million years ago (Dobbs 1). This family has survived the passage of time and is threatened by the contamination that humans have created in the ocean. The six sea turtles that occur on the coasts of America are in fact threatened. Sea turtles are very important for the ecosystem, but humans, directly and indirectly, endanger this family. If humans do not stop their destructive habits, we can lose the influence of sea turtles on seafarers. Sea turtles play an important role in the ecology of the ocean, and without turtles, we can see an ecological collapse in the oceans. Sea turtles are one of the few animals in the sea that eat sea grass (Godfrey). Sea turtles act as grazing animals that cut short grass and help maintain the health of the family of seaweed (Godfrey). In recent decades, there has been a decline in the sea grass family. This decrease may be related to the decrease in the number of sea turtles (Godfrey). Sea grass is important because it is a fertile ground for many species of fish, shellfish and crustaceans (Godfrey). The beaches and sand dunes are known for not having many nutrients. When the sea turtles reach

for sea turtles to nest. Other places include anywhere with warm waters and beaches that are not over populated by other kinds of species. Which can cause yet another challenge for the turtles to have to overcome.

Sea turtles face a lot of life or death obstacles from the second they are born. Even

Sea turtles have been a big help in maintaining the health of the world's ocean for more than 100 million years. They help by keeping up coral reefs all the way to transporting nutrients to beaches. Major changes have occurred in oceans everywhere due to the decline of the sea turtle population. Oceans are unhealthy because of this. It is time for us to protect the sea turtles and rebuild their population to ensure healthy oceans in the future. According to oceana.org, there are seven species of sea turtles that roam the world, six of which inhabit U.S. waters, and have been listed as either endangered, or threatened. Up until now, all six of these species are not at a healthy level despite protection measures from the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Some populations even continue to decline. Even at a diminished population, sea turtles play an important role in ecosystems. They are also extremely important to humans because they keep oceans healthy, and we use the ocean as a food source. They keep up the health of the ocean in many different ways, all of which, are very important.