our ocean friends

Below the surface, the ocean world is teeming with life, color, sound, and speed.

The marine species that make up our underwater ecosystems each play a role in keeping our oceans healthy.

From the tiniest Coral Polyp to the majestic Blue Whale, animals below the surface form a great web of life helping to support the entire planet's environment.

Here are some of our most cherished ocean friends, so read up on who they are, where and how they live, so we can help protect them and their home!!

Sea Turtles

(Cheloniodea)

Originating on earth some hundreds of millions of years ago, sea turtles are ancient air breathing reptiles, varying in species and preferred habitat, taking their lifelong ocean journeys across the globe.

There are seven types of sea turtles!

Leatherback (Dermochelyidae), Kemp's Ridley, Hawksbill, Olive Ridley, Green Sea turtle, and Loggerhead.

Turtles live a very adventurous existence. From the time a hatchling (e.g. newborn turtle) crawls out of a buried egg nest, this turtle heads out to sea, follows currents and streams, and flows along the ocean's highways until one day it returns to its birthplace to lay eggs in its very own beach nest.

Reproduction and sexual maturity happens late in a sea turtle's life, but once a female begins laying eggs, she may do so every 2-4 years and lay between 1-8 nests per season. Depending on the species, a turtle may lay up to 200 eggs at a time in a dug out sand hole, only to fill it in with sand, and leave her eggs to hatch two months later independently.

Most turtle species will travel thousands of miles of ocean terrain before reaching sexual maturity. Some turtles will only reach adulthood at 25-35 years, around the time they are the size of a dinner plate! Turtles can live up to 100 years, and grow to be gentle giants.

Species like the Loggerhead turtle can even acquire Barnacles in their old age!

Barnacles

Barnacles are tiny organisms related to crabs and lobsters. They are part of the Crustacean family, but rather than living independently, barnacles are suspension feeders who prefer to attach themselves to hard surfaces and other animals. Large mammals such as whales often have barnacles displayed on their bodies, and much like mature turtles, they will carry the barnacles along with them throughout their ocean adventures!

What do sea turtles eat?

Most species of turtles eat varying types of sea grass and algae, but some also like to indulge in species of Jellyfish and  bottom dwelling invertebrates (e.g. animal without a backbone). So, the majority of turtles ore Omnivorous, meaning they feed on both plants and animals.

The Green sea turtle feeds almost exclusively on sea grass, helping to maintain the health of sea grass beds by 'grazing' the grass and keeping short so it may stay healthy.

Breathing

All species of turtles need to breathe air to survive. Unlike fish, they do not possess gills (e.g. organ allowing fish to use dissolved oxygen in water to breathe) and will rise to the surface of the water every 15-30 minutes in order to take a big gulp of air!

Sea turtles have lungs especially adapted to perform quick exhalations and inhalations upon reaching the surface of the water, and in extreme cases may use Anaerobic respiration (breathing without oxygen) to avoid having to break the ocean's surface to reach air.

When turtles are resting or sleeping on the ocean floor, they are able to slow their heart rates down in order to stay underwater much longer. Some turtles can wait nearly 4 hours before they need to catch a breath on the surface!

Sea turtles are very special reptiles that have been inhabiting our planet for millions of years. They are an important part of the ocean's ecosystems, and display some fascinating behaviors throughout their life's journeys.

Turtles are intelligent and wise beings with one of the most impressive wills to survive.

Are sea turtles safe in our oceans?

Unfortunately, they have been targeted for their shells and flesh for thousands of years, and still today remain threatened by human impact. There are still a multitude of cultures that hunt and eat turtles (Philippines, India, and Indonesia), sacrifice them for religious beliefs, and use their shells to make jewelry, shoes, bags, etc.

On a larger scale, turtles are often victims of invasive fishing methods like bottom trawling, net fishing, and long-lining. They have also suffered because of intense habitat destruction (e.g. development on important nesting beaches).

Most sea turtle populations are in serious danger, and need to be protected in order for them to survive another million years.

Critically Endangered species include the Leatherback turtle, as well as Kemp's Ridley and the Hawksbill turtle.

Endangered species are the Green sea turtle and Olive Ridley turtle, while the Loggerhead turtle is viewed as Threatened.

Find out if turtles are found in your local waters, and if so, inform yourself on how you can help protect them and their habitat.

For more information on sea turtles, as well as ways in which you can participate in volunteering adventures, or donate to the cause of turtles, you can write us here at Eco-Odyssey or click to a website specializing in turtle conservation like SEA TURTLE CONSERVANCY: http://www.conserveturtles.org/turtletides.php

*Sources: Information for this article was compiled from Wikipedia             at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_turtles http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loggerhead_sea_turtle, and personal knowledge and experience from ocean/conservation work.