SEA TURTLES

BIOLOGY PRESENTATION
 A D E S C R I P T I O N
O N S E A T U RT L E S
SEA TURTLES ARE THE LIVE
REPRESENTAT IVE S OF A GROUP OF
R E P T I L E S T H AT H AV E E X I S T E D O N
E A R T H A N D T R AV E L E D O U R S E A S F O R
THE LAST 100MILLION YEARS.
THEY ARE MARINE REPTILES WITH
STREAMLINED BODIES AND LARGE
FLIPPERS THAT ARE WELL-ADAPT ED
TO L I F E I N T H E O C E A N . A LT H O U G H
SEA TURTLES LIVE MOST OF THEIR
L I V E S I N T H E O C E A N , A D U LT
F E M A L E S L AY T H E I R E G G S O N L A N D .  
SEA TURTLES
ROLE IN THEIR Sea turtles niche is its role in the
ecosystem. Sea turtles are a keystone
ENVIRONMENT 
species, meaning their presence or absence
can dramatically affect the health of an
ecosystem. They help maintain the health
of coral reefs and seagrass beds, which
provide critical habitat and food for many
other species such as shrimp, lobster and
tuna.
SEA TURTLES
P R E D AT O R S  
S E A T U R T L E S H AV E H A R D S H E L L S ( C A L L E D
CARAPACES) THAT HELP PROTECT THEM, BUT
T H E Y S T I L L H AV E P R E D AT O R S . T H E Y A R E A L S O
MORE VULNERABLE THAN LAND TURTLES
BECAUSE UNLIKE LAND TURTLES, SEA TURTLES
ARE UNABLE TO RETRACT THEIR HEADS OR
FLIPPERS INTO THEIR SHELL.
P R E D AT O R S O F S E A T U R T L E S E G G S A N D
H AT C H L I N G S  

There are some predators of sea turtles as adults , but these marine reptiles are most
vulnerable when in the egg and as hatchlings( small turtles recently emerged from
the egg). Predators of eggs and hatchlings include dogs, cats, racoons, boars and
ghost crabs. These animals may dig up a sea turtles nest to get to the eggs, even if
the nest is 2 feet below the surface of the sand. As hatchings start to emerge, there
is a scent of egg that still is on their bodies, plus the scent of wet sand. These scents
can be detected by predators even from a distance. Once hatchings emerge from the
egg, they need to get to the water. At this point, birds such as gulls and night herons
can become an additional threat.
P R E D AT O R S O F A D U LT S E A T U R T L E S

Once turtles make their way to the

Sea turtles are built for life in the
water, both juveniles and adults can
water, not on land. So adults can
be prey for other ocean animals,
also be vulnerable to predators such
including sharks (especially tiger
as dogs and coyotes when they go
sharks), orcras (killer whales), and
up upon beaches to nest.
large fish, such as grouper.
 If turtles survive their natural
predators, they still face threats
from humans. Harvest for meat, oil,
scutes, skin, and eggs decimated
turtle populations in some areas.
Sea turtles face development on Pollution such as marine debris is
their natural nesting beaches, which another threat. Discarded balloons,
Turtles may also be caught as
means they have to contend with plastic bags, wrappers, discarded
bycatch in fishing gear, which was
such things as artificial light, and fishing line, and other trash may be
such a problem that turtle excluder
loss of habitat and nesting sites due mistaken by a turtle for food and be
devices were developed, although
to construction and beach erosion. accidentally ingested, or the turtle
their use is not always enforced. 
Hatchlings find their way to the sea may become entangled. Turtles may
using natural light, the slope of the also be struck by boats.
shore, and the sounds of the ocean
and coastal development can
interrupt these cues and make
hatchlings crawl in the wrong
direction.
S E A T U RT L E S P R E Y 
 Sea turtles may be carnivorous (meat eating),
herbivorous (plant eating), or omnivorous (eating
both meat and plants). The jaw structure of many
species indicates their diet. Green sea turtles have
finely serrated jaws adapted for a mostly vegetarian
diet of sea grasses and algae. As adults, these are the
only predominantly herbivorous sea turtles;
although some occasionally also dine on jellyfish
and sponges.
 Some species change eating habits as they age. For example, green sea turtles are mainly
carnivorous from hatching until juvenile size; they then progressively shift to an herbivorous diet.

A hawksbill has a narrow head with jaws meeting at an acute angle, adapted for getting food from
crevices in coral reefs. They mainly eat sponges, but also occasionally a small amount of tunicates,
shrimps and squids.

The digestive systems of adult hawksbills are able to neutralize the sharp, glass spicules (small
structural elements), and toxic chemicals found in many of the sponges they consume. Sponges
provide hawksbills with a food source few other animals can ingest. This also can make hawksbills
toxic for humans to eat.

An adult hawksbill in the Caribbean can eat 544 kg (1,200 lbs.) of sponges a year. Hawksbills help
maintain healthy coral reefs by keeping sponge growth in check, which allows plenty of space and
sunlight for corals to flourish.Loggerheads', Kemp's ridleys', and olive ridleys  have jaws that are
THE DIET well adapted for crushing and grinding. Their diet consists primarily of crabs, mollusks, shrimps,
jellyfish, and vegetation.

OF A SEA Leatherbacks have delicate scissor-like jaws that would be damaged by anything other than their
normal diet of jellyfish, tunicates, and other soft-bodied animals. The mouth cavity and throat are
lined with papillae (spine-like projections) pointed backward to help them swallow soft foods.
T U RT L E  
Flatbacks have slightly serrated lower jaws and consume a wide variety of marine invertebrates
including jellyfish, sea cucumbers, shrimp, mollusks, and sea pens. They usually feed in shallow,
Green sea turtle 
This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-SA.
Hawksbill Sea turtle

This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY.

Loggerhead sea turtle
This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC.
Leatherback sea turtle
Flatback sea turtle
 N AT U R A L S E L E C T I O N
Sea turtles have evolved over millions of years through natural selection. The process
of natural selection is when organisms that are better adapted to their environment
tend to survive and produce more offspring than other members of the same species.
This means that over time, the characteristics that help an organism survive become
more common in the population.
Sea turtles have evolved many adaptations that help them survive in their environment.
For example, their streamlined shells help them swim faster and more efficiently
through the water. Their flippers are also adapted for swimming and can be used for
steering and diving.
In addition to these physical adaptations, sea turtles have also evolved behaviors that
help them survive. For example, female sea turtles return to the same beach where
they were born to lay their eggs. This helps ensure that their offspring will be born in
a safe environment where they are more likely to survive.
THANK YOU FOR
LISTENING