(DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species turtle, loggerhead sea
Species Id M030071
Date 26 AUG 96
TAXONOMY
NAME - turtle, loggerhead sea
OTHER COMMON NAMES -
ELEMENT CODE - 03/14/84
AOU CODE - 04/24/85
09/29/88
11/21/88
CATEGORY - Reptiles
PHYLUM AND SUBPHYLUM - Chordata,
CLASS AND SUBCLASS - Reptilia,
ORDER AND SUBORDER - Testudinata,
FAMILY AND SUBFAMILY - Cheloniidae, Carettiinae
GENUS AND SUBGENUS - Caretta,
SPECIES AND SSP - caretta,
SCIENTIFIC NAME - Caretta caretta
AUTHORITY - Linnaeus
TAXONOMY REFERENCES - 1038, 2086 and 8850
COMMENTS ON TAXONOMY -
This species is also known as Atlantic loggerhead, Pacific loggerhead,
cabezon, caguama and caouane *8817*.
Taxonomy - 1 (DRAFT) - Status
Species turtle, loggerhead sea
Species Id M030071
Date 26 AUG 96
STATUS
Coded Status
T: Federal Threatened
Plan approved by Director
REFERENCES FOR STATUS - 8817
COMMENTS ON STATUS -
This species is threatened by habitat loss, human overuse, disease and
predation. The meat and eggs are eaten by humans. They have been
commercially used for meat, jewelry and the curio trade although the primary
use continues to be the egg harvest. A Recovery Plan for Marine Turtles was
approved in 1984. The effort is to maintain populations at current levels by
ruducing limiting factors until a stable or upward trend is established.
Efforts include 1) mitigate factors affecting terrestrial mortality and/or
stress, 2) assess and monitor population levels on beaches, 3) mitigate
factors affecting marine mortality and/or stress, and 4) assess and monitor
estuarine and marine population *8817*.
Status - 1 (DRAFT) - Distribution
Species turtle, loggerhead sea
Species Id M030071
Date 26 AUG 96
DISTRIBUTION
References on County Occurrence - 001, 013, 073, 093, 103, 115, 119, 131, 133, 199, 510, 650, 700, 710, 740, 800, 810, CB1, CB2, CB3, AO1 and 735
References on Seasonal Occurrence - This species occurs near shore in the spring, summer, and fall, with one record
from Four-Mile Run in Alexandria *4269*.
References on County Abundance - 001, 131, 133, 115, 510, 810, CB1, CB2, CB3 and AO1
REFERENCES FOR HYDROLOGIC UNIT CODES - 001, 013, 073, 093, 103, 115, 119, 131, 133, 199, 510, 650, 700, 710, 740, 800, 810, CB1, CB2, CB3, AO1 and 735
OTHER DISTRIBUTION
REFERENCES FOR OTHER DISTRIBUTION - H
Distribution - 1 HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS
HABITAT - Aquatic
REFERENCES FOR HABITAT - 1027
LAND USE -
Water
Bays and Estuaries
Chesapeake Bay
Atlantic Ocean Coastal Waters
Barren Land
Beaches
REFERENCES FOR LAND USE - 2086 and 8817
NATIONAL WETLAND INVENTORY CODES
NWI NWICLS NWIMOD NWISPEC
Marine, subtidal OW0
Estuarine, subtidal OW0
Estuarine, intertidal AB2
Estuarine, intertidal BB2
Estuarine, intertidal SB.
Marine, intertidal BB2
Marine, subtidal RB.
Marine, subtidal RF.
Marine, subtidal UB.
Estuarine, subtidal RB.
Estuarine, subtidal RF.
Estuarine, subtidal UB.
REFERENCES FOR NWI - 2086, 1027 and 1026
COMMENTS ON HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS -
This species is a wanderer which prefers moderately deep bays, and has been
found in streams, marshes and many miles into the sea *1027,1026*. Some
unique habitat includes dunes, islands-sandy, reefs/atolls and lagoons.
Nearly all nesting sites are on islands, cheifly the barrier islands in the
United States. They require a sand beach which is high enough that it is
not innundated by high tides nor soaked by ground water rising from below
*8817*.
ECOREGION -
Southeastern Mixed Forest: Flat Plains
Southeastern Mixed Forest: Irregular Plains
REFERENCES FOR ECOREGION - 4269
Habitat Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Food Habits
Species turtle, loggerhead sea
Species Id M030071
Date 26 AUG 96
FOOD HABITS
TROPHIC LEVEL -
Carnivore
REFERENCES FOR TROPHIC LEVEL - 1027 and 1026
LIFESTAGE FOOD FOOD PART
General Plants Not Specified
General Plants See Comments
General Animals Adult stage
General Sponges Adult stage
General Scyphozoans Adult stage
General Molluscs Adult stage
General Bivalve Molluscs Adult stage
General Squid, Octopus Not Specified
General Cirripeds Not Specified
General Malacostraca Adult stage
General Osteichthyes Adult stage
General See Comments; Food See Comments
REFERENCES FOR GENERAL FOOD - 1027, 1028, 4269 and 8817
COMMENTS ON FOOD -
Conch (Strombus) is the preferred dietary item *1026* and sea grasses taken
include Zostera, Thalassia and Sargassum *4269*. They also consume sponges,
fish, insects, spiders, centipeds, millipeds, crustaceans, molluscs/snails
and coelenterates *8817*. The prefered diet is the horeshoe crab (Limulus
polyphemus) *8818*.
Food Habits - 1 (DRAFT) - Environment Associations
Species turtle, loggerhead sea
Species Id M030071
Date 26 AUG 96
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G = General A = Adult
LIM = Limiting RA = Resting Adult
J = Juvenile FA = Feeding Adult
RJ = Resting Juvenile BA = Breeding Adult
FJ = Feeding Juvenile P = Pupae
L = Larvae E = Egg
RL = Resting Larvae
FL = Feeding Larvae
LIFESTAGE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G Bottom Type [Aquatic]: Mud or silt
G Bottom Type [Aquatic]: Sand
G Bottom Type [Aquatic]: Rooted aquatic vegetation
G Density of Aquatic Vegetation: Low
G Density of Aquatic Vegetation: Moderate
G Density of Aquatic Vegetation: High
G Aquatic Habitat Zonation: Open water [pelagic zone]
G Aquatic Habitat Zonation: Shallows with emergent vegetation [littoral zone]
G
G Water Depth Preference: Specified in Comments
G Coastal Features: Sand beaches
G Human Association: Wildlife refuges/sanctuaries
LIM Coastal Features: Sand beaches
BA Coastal Features: Sand beaches
REFERENCES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ - 2086, 1027 and 1026
REFERENCES FOR LIMITING ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ - 1027
REFERENCES FOR BREEDING ADULT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ - 1027 and 1026
COMMENTS ON ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS -
This species prefers bays of moderate depth *1027*. They have been observed
several hundred miles at sea, yet penetrates estuaries far up into brackish
water *4269*.
COMMENTS ON BREEDING ADULT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ -
Reefs may be important as refuges for adults during the internesting period
*8817*.
Environment Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species turtle, loggerhead sea
Species Id M030071
Date 26 AUG 96
LIFE HISTORY
Physical description: The carapace length is 910 mm (35.8 in), and the
carapace width is 740 mm (29.1 in). The width of the head is 193 mm (7.61
in). There are 5 or more lateral laminae, 11 to 15 marginal laminae and the
carapace is brown with a tinge of green and a yellow border. The plastrom is
yellow *2086,1027*. There are five pairs of costal scutes, the first of
which makes contact with the nuchal. There are three enlarged poreless
inframarginal scutes on the bridge between the plastron and the carapace
*8817*.
Reproduction: The breeding season is from April to August. They lay 120 to
150 eggs per clutch. Incubation takes 55-70 days *4269*, and there are 2 to
3 nestings per year *1027*. Nesting in Virginia has been reported on the
barrier beach islands off the Eastern Shore and in or near Back Bay Wildlife
Refuge *4269*. This species requires a reproductive site that is a sand
beach which is high enough that is is not inundated by high tides nor soaked
by ground water rising from below. They can not cope with many predators on
the nest site and almost all nests are on islands. The age at maturity is
thought to be from 13 to 20 years with the maximum reproductive life of a
female 32 years. Mating begins before the nesting season and ends soon after
nesting begins. There may be long term sperm storage by the females. The
female goes to shore 1 to 7 times during a nesting season to deposit the
eggs in a hole which she digs on a high beach. A few nest every year but
most nest every second or third year. A few may nest every 4 years. The
average incubation period is 55 days with a range from 49 to 62 days.
However, this time is temperature dependent and can be greater than 70 days
in North Carolina *8817,8850*.
Behavior: This species wanders extensively and nests on sandy beaches *2086,
1027*. This species is a carnivore and feeds mainly on invertebrates which
are crushed by its powerful jaws before swallowing. It is an opportunistic
feeder and has three feeding strategies. They feed in shallow water on
mollusks, horseshoe crabs, barnacles, crustaceans, echinoderms and sponges.
They also feed pelagically on coelenterates and scalps. They may also feed
as a scavenger on shrimp heads, fish, crabs, squid and other discards from
the shrimp fleet. This species is a wanderer and exhibits moderate to strong
philopatry in that they nest at the same beach throughout their reproductive
life with very little straying. They nest at night and feed almost
exclusively during the day. The hatchlings emerge from the nest at night.
They take a migration route to the waters in and around the Azores and
eventually several years later end up in U.S. waters. The hatchlings require
floating rafts of sargassum for survival (lost year). There is no parental
care and the female leaves the eggs after they have been buried. In the
Chesapeake, this species arrives in June and stays throughout the warmer
months of the year *8817,8850*. Habitat partitioning was exhibited by the
different life stages of the loggerhead turtle in Virginia. The habitat was
partitioned to allow immature stages to forage within Chesapeake Bay, while
large sub-adults and adults were found offshore during the summer *8819*.
They are found in the Chesapeake Bay from May to November with peak
abundance in mid-June *8822*.
Limiting factors: This species is limited by predation of the eggs from the
raccoon and incidental catch from all types of fishing operations *8817*.
In 1984 83 turtles were examined for the cause of death and nets were
implicated in 28.9 percent with boat wounds representing 9.6 percent *8819*.
Life History - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species turtle, loggerhead sea
Species Id M030071
Date 26 AUG 96
Sea turtles are preyed on by sharks *8818*.
Population parameters: There is substantial annual mortality in Chesapeake
during late May and early June, since at least 1970, cause unknown. Musick
speculates that poundnet fishermen may be killing loggerheads to prevent
them from entering their nets *4269*. There is a reported three percent
reduction in the population in Georgia and a five percent decline in South
Carolina *8850*. The sex ratio in Virginia is 2.1 females to 1 male *8819*.
Aquatic/terrestrial associations: Three genera of blood flukes have been
found in loggerheads including Carettacola, Hapalotrema and Neospirorchis
*8817*.
LIFE HISTORY CODES -
Breeding Spawning Season: April
Breeding/Spawning Season: May
Breeding/Spawning Season: June
Breeding/Spawning Season: July
Breeding/Spawning Season: August
Breeding/Spawning Season: September
Nest/Den Site: Primary cavity (excavates its own)
Nest/Den Site: Hole in ground
Nest/Den Site: Bare ground (no or sparce vegetation)/
Nest Materials: Sand
Gestation/Incubation Period: 1-2 months
Average Number of Offspring/Reproductive Effort: 101-
Number of Broods/Litters (Reproductive Efforts) Per Ye
Parental Care of Young: No care given young
REFERENCES FOR LIFE HISTORY- 2086, 1027, 4269, 8817, 8850, 8818, 8819 and 8822
Life History - 2 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species turtle, loggerhead sea
Species Id M030071
Date 26 AUG 96
MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
RESULT MANAGEMENT PRACTICE
Beneficial Regulating harvest of species being described
Beneficial Prohibiting harvest of species being described
Beneficial Transplanting wild animals
Beneficial Predator control
Beneficial Restricting/regulating human use of habitats
Beneficial Restricting/regulating human disturbance of populations
Beneficial Maintaining undisturbed/undeveloped areas
Beneficial Other management practices [specified in comments]
Adverse Other management practices [specified in comments]
Existing Regulating harvest of species being described
Existing Prohibiting harvest of species being described
Existing Transplanting wild animals
Existing Predator control
Existing Restricting/regulating human use of habitats
Existing Restricting/regulating human disturbance of populations
Existing Maintaining undisturbed/undeveloped areas
Existing Other management practices [specified in comments]
REFERENCES FOR BENEFICIAL MANAGEMENT PRACTICES - 1028 and 1026
REFERENCES FOR ADVERSE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES - 1026
REFERENCES FOR EXISTING MANAGEMENT PRACTICES - 1028 and 1026
COMMENTS ON MANAGEMENT PRACTICES -
Lights from coastal highways and developments confuse loggerheads and draw
hatchlings away from the sea *1026*. Transplanting eggs can be beneficial to
this species *4269*. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has transplanted
eggs from South Carolina to wildlife refuges in Virginia at Assateague
Island and Back Bay over several years. Beaches are already protected by
inclusion in the wildlife refuge system, or the National Park Service's
National Seashore system, or in preserves managed by The Nature Conservancy
*4269*.
Management Practices - 1 (DRAFT) - References
Species turtle, loggerhead sea
Species Id M030071
Date 26 AUG 96
References
1026 Bustard, R. 1973. Sea Turtles, Natural History and Conservation.
Taplinger Publ. New York, N.Y:22.
1027 Carr, A.F. 1952. Handbook of Turtles. Turtles of the United States,
Canada, and Baja California. Comstock Publ. Assoc. Cornell Univ.
Press, Ithaca, N.Y:542.
1028 Carr, A.F.. 1967. So Excellent a Fishe.
1038 Pope, C.H. 1939. Turtles of the United States and Canada.
2086 Carr, A.F., Jr. and C.J. Goin. 1969....
4269 Musick, J.A. 1979. Loggerhead. Proceedings of the Symposium on
Endangered and Threatened Plants and Animals of Virginia.
8818 Keinath, J.A., Musick, J.A., Byles, R.A. 1987. Aspects of the
biology of Virginia's sea turtles: 1979-1986. Virginia J. Science
38 (4):329-336.
8817 Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife. 1988. Endangered Species Information
System Booklet: Loggerhead Sea Turtle.
8819 Bellmund, S., Musick, J.A., Klinger, R.E., Byles, R.A., Keinath, J.A.,
Barnard, D.E. 1987. Ecology of sea turtles in Virginia. VIMS
Special Scientific Report 119. VA Inst. Marine Sci., Coll. Wm. and
Mary. Gloucester Point, VA:48.
8850 Service , U.S. Fish and Wildlife. 1985. A recovery plan for marine
turtles. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Atlanta, GA:363.
References - 1