Marine Reptiles phylum 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

most endangered species, as well as the smallest: only grows to 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.

arribadas

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 concerns 2. Us (humans) Boats Shrimp Boats, TED Devices Plastics, trash Loss of habitat Turtle egg poaching Beach nourishment/dredging Beach driving

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= meters

Physical & Physiological Characteristics Permit feeding Habits -Long & sharp claws 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

American Crocodile American Alligator

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 year  Florida Red-bellied turtles tend to lay their eggs in an alligator nest