Nudibranch of the week!!!

Sea birds and marine reptiles

Marine Reptiles 7000 living species Poikilotherms Ectotherms First appeared more than 3MYA

Sea Turtles An ancient group of reptiles Bodies enclosed in a carapace Sea turtles cannot retract heads into shell 9 species Must return to land to reproduce

Green Turtles, Chelonia mydas Live primarily in warm waters Shells grow 1m in length Feed on seagrasses and seaweeds Lack teeth, have strong jaws

Leatherback Dermochelys coriacea Largest sea turtle May attain a length of 7ft and weigh 1200lb Have a series of small bones buried in dark skin An open water, deep diving species Diet consists of jellyfish Endangered

Sea Turtle Reproduction All sea turtles must return to land to reproduce Lay eggs on remote sandy beaches DNA of turtles breeding in one area differs from DNA of turtles breeding in another area Females only venture at hight to lay eggs Incubation period is about 60 days Hatchlings are very vulnerable

Sea Snakes 55 species Found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans Most are 3-4 feet Ovoviviparous Carnivores Most common of all venomous snakes Rarely aggressive

Other Marine Reptiles Saltwater crocodile Marine iguana Inhabits mangrove swamps in Eastern Indian Ocean, Australia, Western Pacific islands Most common on coast Record of one being 33ft, but on average are 20ft. Most aggressive of all marine animals Marine iguana Galapagos Islands Spends most of its time basing in large groups of rocks Eats seaweeds Can dive up to 33feet

Seabirds Seabirds have significant advantages over reptiles Ability to fly homeotherms Eddotherms Water proof feathers Nest on land Breed in large colonies Distributed pole to pole 9700 species Need a lot of food to supply energy to maintain their body temperatures

Penguins Flightless birds Bones are denser than any other bird to make diving easier 18 species All in live in the southern hemisphere

Where Penguins Live

Tubenoses A large group of seabirds with distinctive tube like nostrils and heavy beaks that are curved They have salt glands to get rid of excess salt Skilled fliers Scavangers Many breed in the area of Anarctica Faithful relationships

Pelicans and Related Birds Webbing between all four toes Pelicans have a unique pouch below their beaks Nest in large colonies Deposits of guano are mined for fertilizer Build messy nests of twigs and whatever else they can find

Gulls and Related Birds Largest variety of sea birds Will eat just about anything The Arctic tern wanders 10000 miles during the year Puffins and razorbills are also related

Shorebirds Wading birds that do not have webbed feet Many live inland Common in estuaries and marshes Common examples Plovers sandpipers