Day Three: Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta)

Name: Caretta caretta (Loggerhead Sea Turtle)

Classification:  Genus - Caretta
                          Family - Chelonioidae
                          Order - Testudines
                            - subclass- Anapsida
                          Class - Reptilla
                          Phylum - Chordata
                          Kingdom - Animalia

Location: This subspecies of Sea Turtle is found in most ocean waters across the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans.
IUCN Red List Status: Endangered (roughly 60,000 remain globally in the wild)

General Information: The loggerhead is one of many subspecies of sea turtles and is the worlds largest hard shelled turtle(not to be confused with the land tortoise). These creatures spend most of their lives at sea with the exception being females who will come to shore to lay their eggs. The life span can range anywhere from 50-67 years and are known to reach maturity between 17-33 years. Carnivorous by nature, the diet of the Loggerhead will usually consist of jellyfish, crabs, and some fish with the occasional seaweed.
Other smaller creatures and plants are dependent on this sea turtle by finding a home on top its shell. As much as 100 species of animals and plants have been known to live on one single Loggerhead shell.

The Recent Threat: Loggerheads are often a victim of fishing nets. Once caught in a net it is hard for them to escape, and will most likely be caught for the use of their shell to be placed in products likes purses, boots, or wallets.
Nearly 24,000 metric tons of wastes and plastic are dumped into our oceans each year. These creatures ingest our waste mistaking it for jellyfish.
Raccoons in the US and other land creatures in other countries are very fond of turtle eggs and are often the cause of offspring not being born. Female sea turtles usually lay an average of 4 egg clutches and cannot reproduce again for another 3-4 years.

What You Can Do: if you're interested in finding out ways to help, I recommend checking out the links I have posted. http://www.seaturtles.org/ is an excellent Sea Turtle Restoration project site to checkout if you're interested in being a part of an expedition. Also, don't just dump your trash where ever. Keep the ocean clean yo'





references:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loggerhead_sea_turtle#Threats

• http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/loggerhead-sea-turtle/

• http://www.worldwildlife.org/species/finder/loggerheadturtle/loggerheadturtle.html