National Geographic UK - 10.2019

Ribs

Fat

Esophagus
CONSERVATION STATUS
Critically endangered
Endangered
Vulnerable
Insufficient data

Shell length

3.5 ft (maximum)

Scute

3.1 ft

200 ft

Female

Claw

1 in

Scute

Rib

Stomach

Liver

4 ft

Brain

500 ft

PRIMARY ADULT DIET
Invertebrate
Marine plant
Horseshoe crab
Sponge
Crustacean
Mollusk
Fish

2.1 ft

Diet Maximum diving depth

585 ft

160 ft

Lungs

INDIANOCEAN

PACIFICOCEAN

PACIFICOCEAN

ATLANTICOCEAN

SOUTHAMER.

AMERICANORTH EUROPE

ANTARCTICA

AUS.

ASIA

EQUATOR AFRICA

Population at

highest risk

Range

Nestingarea

FERNANDO G. BAPTISTA, JOHN KAPPLER, DIANA MARQUES, AND EVE CONANT, NGM STAFF; MESA SCHUMACHER SOURCES: JEANETTE WYNEKEN, FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY; BRIAN HUTCHINSON, RODERIC MAST, OCEANIC SOCIETY

SEA SURVIVORS

HARD SHELL

Sea turtles have navigated the oceans since the time of the dinosaurs

more than 100 million years ago. Today all seven species are under threat

at every life stage because of human activities, from accidental capture in

fishing nets to overharvesting of eggs and widespread plastic pollution.

Six of the seven species have hard
shells fused to their ribs and over-
laid with keratin scutes. They also
have claws on their flippers.

Illustrations in

approximate,

relative scale

All sea turtles have

glands around the eyes

to remove excess salt

from their bodies.

Interlocking scutes pre-

vent water loss and cover

flattened, fused ribs that

separate at the tips.

Adult males can be

identified by their

long tails, which

hold sex organs.

Front flippers act

as wings for propulsion.

Rudder-like hind feet

stabilize and steer.

The green turtle’s

serrated beak helps

tear marine plants.

KEMP’S RIDLEY

Lepidochelys kempii
Accidental capture and egg overhar-
vesting have made the smallest sea
turtle the world’s most threatened.

LOGGERHEAD

Caretta caretta

The most abundant sea turtle in the

U.S. is named for its giant head. Its

strong jaws can crack conch shells.

FLATBACK

Natator depressus

The flatback makes the shortest migra-

tion: around Australian waters. It has a

nearly flat body with flared edges.

GREEN

Chelonia mydas

Named for a layer of green fat under

their shell, green turtles start as omni-

vores before turning into herbivores.