marine reptiles phylum chordata subphylum vertebrata class reptilia
TRANSCRIPT
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