US Geological Survey National Wildlife Health Center-Hawaii Field Station
Sea turtles are one of the oldest extant groups of animals, and they have changed little in basic anatomy for millions of years. Sea turtles are found throughout the world, and depending on the species, range from warm tropical water to frigid oceans near the arctic. They can be herbivores, omnivore...
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| Language: | English |
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| Online Access: | http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.307.3792 http://www.nwhc.usgs.gov/hfs/Globals/Products/Cancer in sea turtles.pdf |
| Summary: | Sea turtles are one of the oldest extant groups of animals, and they have changed little in basic anatomy for millions of years. Sea turtles are found throughout the world, and depending on the species, range from warm tropical water to frigid oceans near the arctic. They can be herbivores, omnivores, or carnivores and can be quite large. For example, the largest species of sea turtle, the leatherback, can weigh several hundred kilos. All sea turtles have an oceanic existence. Males spend almost their entire life in the ocean. After mating, females crawl onto nesting beaches where they dig a nest, lay eggs, and return to the ocean. Several weeks later, these eggs hatch, and baby turtles disappear out to sea (no one knows exactly where). Eventually, juvenile turtles return to foraging grounds where they eventually mature to adults. Adults then migrate, sometimes many thousands of kilometers, to their breeding and nesting grounds where the cycle begins again. Sea turtles live for many (40+ years). |
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