(DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species turtle, Atlantic green sea
Species Id M030072
Date 26 AUG 96
TAXONOMY
NAME - turtle, Atlantic green sea
OTHER COMMON NAMES -
ELEMENT CODE - 03/10/84
AOU CODE - 04/24/85
09/29/88
CATEGORY - Reptiles
PHYLUM AND SUBPHYLUM - Chordata,
CLASS AND SUBCLASS - Reptilia,
ORDER AND SUBORDER - Testudinata,
FAMILY AND SUBFAMILY - Cheloniidae,
GENUS AND SUBGENUS - Chelonia,
SPECIES AND SSP - mydas, mydas
SCIENTIFIC NAME - Chelonia mydas mydas
AUTHORITY - Linnaeus
TAXONOMY REFERENCES - 3082 and 1045
COMMENTS ON TAXONOMY -
Although there is insufficient taxonomic information to distinguish between
stocks, there may be geographically and genetically distinct populations of
the green sea turtle. Replacement of extinct populations by transplanting
individuals from another population has not succeeded, and even if it were
to succeed, the animals would be biologically different. Although the
treatment of the species as a single stock may be ill-advised, because of
its worldwide distribution, the lack of data indicating discrete stocks, and
the difficulties in distinguishing separate stocks, populations and
subspecies, the species is necessarily considered a single stock in the
Indo-Pacific region and a single stock in the Atlantic Ocean and adjacent
seas for purposes of this review.*91* In various parts of its range, the
green sea turtle also may be called tortuga verde, greenback turtle, edible
turtle, soup turtle, tortue verte, tortuga blanca, tartaruga verde, aruana
and krape. It is distinguishable from other sea turtles by its four large
plates on each side of its upper shell and one pair of prefrontal scales;
shell plates that do not overlap; and paddle shaped limbs that normally have
only one claw. The color of the shell in most adult green sea turtles is
highly variable, but background color may be light to dark brown, green,
buff, black, or olive. The underside is usually white to pale yellow.*91*
Taxonomy - 1 (DRAFT) - Status
Species turtle, Atlantic green sea
Species Id M030072
Date 26 AUG 96
STATUS
Coded Status
E: Federal Endangered
Plan approved by Director
T: Federal Threatened
REFERENCES FOR STATUS - 1045, 828 and 274
COMMENTS ON STATUS -
This species is Endangered in Florida and Threatened elsewhere. It is
included in the Recovery Plan For Marine Turtles. Causes of declines in
stocks include 1) destruction or modification of habitat, 2) overutilization
for commercial, scientific or educational purposes, 3) inadequate regulatory
mechanisms, 4) disease and or predation, and 5) losses to incidental catch
*8850*.
Status - 1 (DRAFT) - Distribution
Species turtle, Atlantic green sea
Species Id M030072
Date 26 AUG 96
DISTRIBUTION
References on County Occurrence - 001, 131, 810, CB1 and AO1
References on County Abundance - 001, 131, 810, CB1 and AO1
REFERENCES FOR HYDROLOGIC UNIT CODES - 001, 131, 810, CB1 and AO1
REFERENCES FOR OTHER DISTRIBUTION - H
Distribution - 1 HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS
HABITAT - Aquatic
REFERENCES FOR HABITAT - 1045
LAND USE -
Water
Bays and Estuaries
Barren Land
Beaches
REFERENCES FOR LAND USE - 1045
NATIONAL WETLAND INVENTORY CODES
NWI NWICLS NWIMOD NWISPEC
Marine, subtidal OW0
Marine, subtidal AB1
Marine, subtidal AB2
Marine, subtidal RF.
Marine, intertidal AB2
Marine, intertidal AB1
REFERENCES FOR NWI - 1045
COMMENTS ON HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS -
Nesting beaches are distributed widely in tropical and subtropical regions
and as far north as Cape Canaveral Florida. They prefer high energy beaches
and nesting requires sand deep enough to deposit the eggs below one meter
*8850*.
ANIMAL/PLANT SPECIES ASSOCIATIONS -
Predators of adult turtles include man, killer whales, and sharks. Eggs are
eaten by man, raccoons, coatimundi, dogs, pigs, foxes, peccary, lizards,
rats, crabs, and birds.*91*
Hatchlings are eaten by dogs, hogs, rats, mongoose, cats, lizards, snakes,
jackfish, kingfish, snook, barracuda, groupers, rock cod, and sharks.*91*
REFERENCES FOR SPECIES ASSOCIATIONS - 91
COMMENTS ON SPECIES ASSOCIATIONS -
Predators of adult turtles include man, killer whales, and sharks. Eggs are
eaten by man, raccoons, coatimundi, dogs, pigs, foxes, peccary, lizards,
rats, crabs, and birds. Hatchlings are eaten by dogs, hogs, rats, mongoose,
cats, lizards, snakes, jackfish, kingfish, snook, barracuda, groupers, rock
cod, and sharks. The loss of eggs and hatchings to predation is assumed to
be very high. Only one to three percent of the hatchlings reach sexual
maturity and only about 50 percent of the eggs hatch.*91*
POTENTIAL NATURAL VEGETATION -
065 Northern Cordgrass Prairie (Distichlis-Spartina)
REFERENCES FOR PNV - 1045
ECOREGION -
Southeastern Mixed Forest: Flat Plains
Habitat Associations - 1 REFERENCES FOR ECOREGION - 1045
Habitat Associations - 2 (DRAFT) - Food Habits
Species turtle, Atlantic green sea
Species Id M030072
Date 26 AUG 96
FOOD HABITS
TROPHIC LEVEL -
Omnivore
REFERENCES FOR TROPHIC LEVEL - 1045
LIFESTAGE FOOD FOOD PART
General Plants Not Specified
General Chlorophyta Not Specified
General Tracheophyta Not Specified
General Poaceae Not Specified
General Animals Adult stage
General Scyphozoans Adult stage
General Sponges Adult stage
General Molluscs Adult stage
General Diplopods Adult stage
Larva Animals Adult stage
Adult Plants Not Specified
Adult Chlorophyta Not Specified
Adult Tracheophyta Not Specified
Adult Poaceae Not Specified
Adult See Comments; Food See Comments
REFERENCES FOR GENERAL FOOD - 1045, 1026 and 1027
REFERENCES FOR ADULT FOOD - 1045, 1026 and 1027
REFERENCES FOR LARVAE FOOD - 1026
COMMENTS ON FOOD -
Green sea turtles are primarily herbivores that eat sea grasses and algae.
Other organisms living on sea grass blades and algae add to the diet.*91*
The green turtle has the unique ability among marine turtles to digest
plant material. However, hatchlings and yearlings are primarily carn-
ivorous and mature specimens eat marine animals, particularly cniderians
whenever available *8850*.
COMMENTS ON ADULT FOOD -
The adults are mainly herbivores, eating mostly algae and marine grasses,
including Thalassia, Zostera, Cymodorea, and Halophila *1045,1026,1027*.
However, they do occasionally eat jellyfish, mollusks, and crustaceans
*1045,1027*.
COMMENTS ON JUVENILE FOOD -
The hatchlings and yearlings are primarily carnivorous *8850*.
Food Habits - 1 (DRAFT) - Environment Associations
Species turtle, Atlantic green sea
Species Id M030072
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 Water Temperature: Specified in Comments
G Bottom Type [Aquatic]: Rooted aquatic vegetation
G Aquatic Habitat Zonation: Shallows with emergent vegetation [littoral zone]
G Coastal Features: Reefs
G Coastal Features: Sand beaches
G Coastal Features: Vegetated offshore islands
G Density of Aquatic Vegetation: High
G Water Depth Preference: 5-10 ft.
G Water Depth Preference: 10-25 ft.
LIM Gradient: Specified in Comments
LIM Water Temperature: Specified in Comments
REFERENCES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ - 1045, 1026 and 1027
REFERENCES FOR LIMITING ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ - 1045 and 1026
COMMENTS ON ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS -
This species lives in waters that are above 20 degrees C in the coldest
month. A sloping beach is used for nesting *1045*.
Environment Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species turtle, Atlantic green sea
Species Id M030072
Date 26 AUG 96
LIFE HISTORY
Physical description: The shell is broad and heart-shaped and the head
small. They have a length from 91-122 cm and weigh 100-200 kg. The smooth,
keelless carapace is brown with brown mottling. The plastron is white to
yellow and the head is light brown with yellow markings. The flippers are
paddle-shaped and each has one claw *1045,1027*. They are characterized by a
single pair of prefrontal scales on the head and usually four costal scutes
on the smooth carapace *8850*. Reproduction: The breeding season varies with
location but probably does not occur in Virginia. The incubation period is
48-70 days, depending on the beach conditions. Nesting occurs at 2, 3, or 4
year intervals. They have 2-7 clutches per season with 75-200 eggs/clutch.
The female builds the nest at night on a sloping beach. She digs a large
basin with the front flippers, and at the bottom of this digs a smaller
egghole with the rear flippers *1045, 1027,8850*. Courtship and nest occur
in the vicinity of nesting beaches and possibly enroute to nesting beaches
*8850*.
Behavior: This species forages in shallow water marine grasses. Nesting is
on shallow beaches and copulation occurs in the water near the nesting
beach. Basking is on reefs or uninhabited islands *1045*. This species has
the unique ability to digest plant material. However, the hatchlings and
yearlings are primarily carnivorous and mature specimens eat marine animals,
particularly cniderians when they are available. Hatchling dispersal
is likely to be a response to wave forces and ocean currents in their
subsequent movements rather than migration *8850*.
Origin: The origin of this species is native *1045*.
Limiting factors: They use uninhabited beaches for nesting *1045,1026,1027* .
It is distinguishable from other sea turtles by its four large plates on
each side of its upper shell and one pair of prefrontal scales; shell plates
that do not overlap; and paddle shaped limbs that normally have only one
claw. The color of the shell in most adult green sea turtles is highly
variable, but background color may be light to dark brown, green, buff,
black, or olive. The underside is usually white to pale yellow.*91*
Nesting: The nesting season varies with location. Nesting is reported
between May and November in Florida. Most females nesting on a given beach
are never seen again. The ones that do return to nest do not return at a
universal interval; however, returns to nest have been observed in two,
three, or four year cycles. The females deposit between three and seven
clutches per season at about 10 to 18 day intervals. Average clutch sizes
vary between 81 and 147 eggs that hatch usually within 48-72 days.
Hatchlings emerge, mostly at night, travel quickly to the water and swim out
to sea in what is called a "swimming frenzy". At this point, they enter
their "lost year" period before they begin diving behavior. This period may
be spent in areas where currents concentrate debris and floating vegetation
such as sargassum. Since the breeding and nesting grounds are often
separated by long distances from the foraging area, long distance migrations
are required between these sites.*91*
LIFE HISTORY CODES -
Life History - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species turtle, Atlantic green sea
Species Id M030072
Date 26 AUG 96
LIFE HISTORY CODES -
Breeding/Spawning Season: June
Breeding/Spawning Season: July
Breeding/Spawning Season: August
Breeding/Spawning Season: September
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
COMMENTS ON LIFE HISTORY -
Green turtles are considered the most palatable of all sea turtles and
they became a prime source of meat for mariners and settlers of colonial
America *8850*.
REFERENCES FOR LIFE HISTORY- 1045, 1026, 1027, 8850, 8819, 8818 and 8822
Life History - 2 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species turtle, Atlantic green sea
Species Id M030072
Date 26 AUG 96
MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
RESULT MANAGEMENT PRACTICE
Beneficial Regulating harvest of species being described
Beneficial Prohibiting harvest of species being described
Beneficial Maintaining undisturbed/undeveloped areas
Beneficial Maintaining unique or special habitat features [wetlands, caves,
Beneficial Establishing/maintaining nesting and escape cover
Beneficial Stocking captive-reared wild-strain animals
Beneficial Regulating harvest - restricting number of hunters
Existing Regulating harvest of species being described
Existing Prohibiting harvest of species being described
Existing Stocking captive-reared wild-strain animals
Adverse Shoreline modification/development
Adverse Dredging
Adverse Underwater mining
Adverse Other management practices [specified in comments]
REFERENCES FOR BENEFICIAL MANAGEMENT PRACTICES - 1045
REFERENCES FOR ADVERSE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES - 91
REFERENCES FOR EXISTING MANAGEMENT PRACTICES - 1045
COMMENTS ON MANAGEMENT PRACTICES -
Green sea turtles may be adversely affected by the following activities:
1. Domestic development - including artificial lighting, man-made barriers,
rip-rap, jetties, beach cleaning and traffic;
2. Industrial development- thermal discharge, agrobusiness, radioactive
waste, insect control, and trace metals;
3. Pollution - including spills of oil and hazardous materials;
4. Dredging and mining; and
5. Predators attracted to human refuse.*91*
Other habitat alterations that affect green sea turtles include the
introduction of exotic vegetation, by man on nesting beaches and pollution
of the turtles' oceanic habitat. Exotic vegetation may inhibit nesting by
forming barriers and dense root mats. The currents which accumulate
sargassum weed, where some green sea turtles may spend the early part of
their cycle, also accumulate pollutants such as oil, styrofoam, and other
plastic. Numerous young green sea turtles have been found dead or moribund
along Florida beaches with their jaws and throats obstructed by tar.*91*
A complete Recovery Plan is found in reference *8850*.
Management Practices - 1 (DRAFT) - References
Species turtle, Atlantic green sea
Species Id M030072
Date 26 AUG 96
References
828 Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife. 1983. Republication of the lists of
endangered and threatened species. Federal Register
17.11-17.12:1-24.
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.
1045 Serv., U.S. Fish and Wildl. 1980. Selected vertebrate endangered
species of the sea coast of the United States: Green sea turtle.
FWS/OBS-80/1.13. U.S. Dep. Inter., Off. Biol. Serv. Washington,
D.C.
8800 Tobey, Franklin J. 1985. Virginia's Amphibians and Reptiles: a
Distributional Survey. Virginia Herpetelogical Society:114.
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.
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.
8822 Lutcavage, M., Musick, J.A. 1985. Aspects fo the biology of sea
turtles in Virginia. Copeia 1985 2:449-456.
8850 Service , U.S. Fish and Wildlife. 1985. A recovery plan for marine
turtles. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Atlanta, GA:363.
9286 Virginia Dept. Game Inland Fisheries. 1988. Proceedings of symposium
on species of special concern in Virginia. In Press.
References - 1