IPB WARNING [2] Illegal string offset 'member_id' (Line: 619 of /modules/blog/lib/lib_blogfunctions.php)
IPB WARNING [2] Illegal string offset 'member_id' (Line: 619 of /modules/blog/lib/lib_blogfunctions.php)
IPB WARNING [2] Illegal string offset 'member_id' (Line: 619 of /modules/blog/lib/lib_blogfunctions.php)
IPB WARNING [2] Illegal string offset 'member_id' (Line: 619 of /modules/blog/lib/lib_blogfunctions.php)
IPB WARNING [2] Illegal string offset 'member_id' (Line: 619 of /modules/blog/lib/lib_blogfunctions.php)
IPB WARNING [2] Illegal string offset 'member_id' (Line: 619 of /modules/blog/lib/lib_blogfunctions.php)
IPB WARNING [2] Illegal string offset 'member_id' (Line: 619 of /modules/blog/lib/lib_blogfunctions.php)
IPB WARNING [2] Illegal string offset 'member_id' (Line: 619 of /modules/blog/lib/lib_blogfunctions.php)
IPB WARNING [2] Illegal string offset 'member_id' (Line: 619 of /modules/blog/lib/lib_blogfunctions.php)
IPB WARNING [2] Illegal string offset 'member_id' (Line: 619 of /modules/blog/lib/lib_blogfunctions.php)
Hamara Forums -> Sea Turtles

Welcome Guest ( Log In | Register )

 

 | Category: What enthralls me!
entry Mar 21 2006, 07:20 PM
This year has recorded a mass nesting of Sea Turtles.. Over 80000 have thronged to the coast of Orissa and Andhra (Vishakapatnam).

Recently an aunt of mine been to the coast to see them. It is an amazing sight. Each of the turtles lay some 50 60 eggs at a time.

Here is an intro to sea turtles - for ppl who havent read about them.

INTRODUCTION TO SEA TURTLES
IPB Image

Sea turtles are large, air-breathing reptiles that inhabit tropical and subtropical seas throughout the world. Their shells consist of an upper part (carapace) and a lower section (plastron). Hard scales (or scutes) cover all but the leatherback, and the number and arrangement of these scutes can be used to determine the species.

Sea turtles come in many different sizes, shapes and colors. The olive ridley is usually less than 100 pounds, while the leatherback typically ranges from 650 to 1,300 pounds! The upper shell, or carapace, of each sea turtle species ranges in length, color, shape and arrangement of scales.

Sea turtles do not have teeth, but their jaws have modified "beaks" suited to their particular diet. They do not have visible ears but have eardrums covered by skin. They hear best at low frequencies, and their sense of smell is excellent. Their vision underwater is good, but they are nearsighted out of water. Their streamlined bodies and large flippers make them remarkably adapted to life at sea. However, sea turtles maintain close ties to land.

Females must come ashore to lay their eggs in the sand; therefore, all sea turtles begin their lives as tiny hatchlings on land. Research on marine turtles has uncovered many facts about these ancient creatures. Most of this research has been focussed on nesting females and hatchlings emerging from the nest, largely because they are the easiest to find and study.

Thousands of sea turtles around the world have been tagged to help collect information about their growth rates, reproductive cycles and migration routes. After decades of studying sea turtles, much has been learned. However, many mysteries still remain.


Sea Turtles and Humans Sea turtles have long fascinated people and have figured prominently in the mythology and folklore of many cultures. In the Miskito Cays off the eastern coast of Nicaragua, the story of a kind "Turtle Mother," still lingers. Unfortunately, the spiritual significance of sea turtles has not saved them from being exploited for both food and for profit. Millions of sea turtles once roamed the earth's oceans, but now only a fraction remain.


Reproduction Only females come ashore to nest; males rarely return to land after crawling into the sea as hatchlings. Most females return to nest on the beach where they were born (natal beach). Nesting seasons occur at different times around the world. In the U.S., nesting occurs from April through October. Most females nest at least twice during each mating season; some may nest up to ten times in a season. A female will not nest in consecutive years, typically skipping one or two years before returning.


IPB Image

Researchers do not yet know how long baby turtles spend in the open sea, or exactly where they go. It is theorized that they spend their earliest, most vulnerable years floating around the sea in giant beds of sargasso weeds, where they do little more than eat and grow. Once turtles reach dinner-plate size, they appear at feeding grounds in nearshore waters. They grow slowly and take between 15 and 50 years to reach reproductive maturity, depending on the species. There is no way to determine the age of a sea turtle from its physical appearance. It is theorized that some species can live over 100 years.


Status of the Species The earliest known sea turtle fossils are about 150 million years old. In groups too numerous to count, they once navigated throughout the world's oceans. But in just the past 100 years, demand for turtle meat, eggs, skin and colorful shells has dwindled their populations. Destruction of feeding and nesting habitats and pollution of the world's oceans are all taking a serious toll on remaining sea turtle populations. Many breeding populations have already become extinct, and entire species are being wiped out. There could be a time in the near future when sea turtles are just an oddity found only in aquariums and natural history museums — unless action is taken today. What is Extinction?

What is Extinction and Why Should You Care If Sea Turtles Go Extinct?


IPB Image

A plant or animal becomes extinct when the last living individual of its species dies, causing it to vanish from the earth forever. If there is ever a time when the last green turtle on earth dies, then never again will this magnificent creature grace our world.

Species have been going extinct for millions of years; it is a natural part of the evolutionary process. For example, most of the species that existed during the time of dinosaurs have perished. Many probably went extinct because of sudden geological or climatic changes -- possibly because of a large volcanic eruption or because of a giant meteor hitting the earth. Today, however, species are going extinct because of abrupt changes brought about by humans. Habitat destruction, pollution and overconsumption are causing species to decline at a rate never before seen in history. This loss of species is eroding the diversity of life on earth, and a loss of diversity can make all life vulnerable. Much can be learned about the condition of the planet's environment by looking at sea turtles. They have existed for over 100 million years, and they travel throughout the world's oceans. Suddenly, however, they are struggling to survive -- largely because of things people are doing to the planet's oceans and beaches. But what does this mean for the human species?

It is possible that a world in which sea turtles can not survive may soon become a world in which humans struggle to survive. If, however, we learn from our mistakes and begin changing our behavior, there is still time to save sea turtles from extinction. In the process, we will be saving one of the earth's most mysterious and time-honored creatures. We might just be saving ourselves too.

« Next Oldest · Nimz panoramic outlooks! · Next Newest »

Comments

Mandrake
post Mar 21 2006, 08:48 PM
Comment #1


Dedicated Member
Group Icon

Group: Members
Posts: 3856
Joined: 11-April 05
From: Mumbai, India
Member No.: 2066



Nimii yaar, padhte padhte thak gaya. Can't you edit the posts? You run the risk of no one going through such long posts. sad1.gif

Self - belief is the most potent force.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
Nimii
post Mar 21 2006, 09:14 PM
Comment #2


Dedicated Member
Group Icon

Group: Members
Posts: 22493
Joined: 20-October 03
Member No.: 3



The blogs are for my own reference! N
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
Mandrake
post Mar 22 2006, 06:31 AM
Comment #3


Dedicated Member
Group Icon

Group: Members
Posts: 3856
Joined: 11-April 05
From: Mumbai, India
Member No.: 2066



Won't do Nimii, just won't do.You are not allowed to be selfish here mad.gif spank.gif Do some work.......

Self - belief is the most potent force.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
Nimii
post Mar 22 2006, 04:55 PM
Comment #4


Dedicated Member
Group Icon

Group: Members
Posts: 22493
Joined: 20-October 03
Member No.: 3



Some more info on Sea turtles.. Never knew there were so many varieties.. always thought they were of same type.

There are eight different species of sea turtle:

IPB ImageGreen: (Chelonia mydas)
The green sea turtle usually lives among sea grass and measures 36 to 43 inches and weighs 200 to 300 pounds.

Hawksbill: (Eretmochelys imbricata)
The Hawksbill turtle is the source of the term "tortoise shell" because of the pattern of markings on its shell. The Hawksbill measures 30 to 36 inches and weighs 100 to 200 pounds.

Kemp's Ridley: (Lepidochelys kempii)
The smallest and the most endangered of all the sea turtles, the Kemp's Ridley has an oval-shaped shell that is olive-grey in color. On average, it reaches a length no more than 30 inches and weighs 80 to 100 pounds.

Olive Ridley: (Lepidochelys olivacea)
This turtle gets its name from its olive-colored shell. The Olive Ridley has a wide, heart-shaped shell and a greenish-white underside. It is 24 to 30 inches in length and weighs 90 to 100 pounds.

Leatherback: (Dermochelys coriacea)
This turtle is the largest living sea turtle. The leatherback has large limbs and no claws. It has no shell, but instead has a leathery back with raised gray stripes. It can reach a length of 6 feet and weighs up to 1,400 pounds.

Loggerhead Turtle: (Caretta caretta)
A large turtle with reddish-brown markings, the loggerhead can reach 33 to 40 inches in length and weighs 150 to 400 pounds.

East Pacific Green: (Chelonia agassizi)
Australian Flatback: (Natator depressus)
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
Nimii
post Mar 22 2006, 05:09 PM
Comment #5


Dedicated Member
Group Icon

Group: Members
Posts: 22493
Joined: 20-October 03
Member No.: 3



Did you know that female turtles typically return to the same beach where they were hatched, to lay eggs!!!!!!!!!!! This pattern has been noticed along the Orissa/Andhra coastal areas and people throng to view them during the stipulated period.. The season usually begins towards the end of Feb! N
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
Nimii
post Mar 22 2006, 05:15 PM
Comment #6


Dedicated Member
Group Icon

Group: Members
Posts: 22493
Joined: 20-October 03
Member No.: 3



The most endangered species of sea turtle in the world is the Kemp's ridley which is also the most common species found in the waters off of Texas.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
Nimii
post Mar 22 2006, 05:19 PM
Comment #7


Dedicated Member
Group Icon

Group: Members
Posts: 22493
Joined: 20-October 03
Member No.: 3



Some info about Leatherback Turtles!! Once a male leatherback sea turtle struggles from its egg and makes its way to the sea as a 4-inch (10 cm) hatchling, it may never again return to land during its 80-year lifetime. Although they are air-breathing animals born on land, leatherbacks, like all sea turtles, spend their lives in the ocean. Females return to land only to lay their eggs. Sigh can you believe these turtles are used for turtle soup - a delicacy in Europe.. cry.gif
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
Nimii
post Mar 22 2006, 05:21 PM
Comment #8


Dedicated Member
Group Icon

Group: Members
Posts: 22493
Joined: 20-October 03
Member No.: 3



Exploitation of Sea turtles angry2.gif mad.gif abuse.gif In Indonesia, for example, shops are full of turtle souvenirs, turtle-skin bags, jewelry made from shells, and stuffed turtles, all of which are marketed to tourists. Leatherbacks are killed to be rendered into oil for caulking boats in the Persian Gulf, for use in oil lamps in Papua New Guinea, and for medicinal use in the Caribbean. In the Solomon Islands, hunting sea turtles, including leatherbacks, is considered an important cultural event. Japan historically has been the largest importer of sea turtle products in the world. Between 1970 and 1989, Japan imported 1.5 million pounds (680 metric tons) of shell, which represents about 700,000 dead turtles. Grrrrrrrrrrr I could kill these hunters fight.gif spank.gif
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
Nimii
post Mar 22 2006, 05:24 PM
Comment #9


Dedicated Member
Group Icon

Group: Members
Posts: 22493
Joined: 20-October 03
Member No.: 3



Aren't these beauties!!!!!!!!!!

IPB Image






User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
Nimii
post Apr 7 2006, 07:09 PM
Comment #10


Dedicated Member
Group Icon

Group: Members
Posts: 22493
Joined: 20-October 03
Member No.: 3



IPB Image

Nests of Sea turtles.. These are protected like this -


IPB Image
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page

 
« Next Oldest · Nimz panoramic outlooks! · Next Newest »