Flatback turtles primarily eat soft-bodied prey, such as jellyfish, sea cucumbers and soft corals. These hatchlings tend to stay closer to shore as they mature into adults. The number of eggs in a flatback turtle’s clutch is fewer than other species of marine turtles. These added anthropogenic pressures on nesting beaches and juvenile and young adult turtles lessen their chance of survival. Flatback turtles primarily eat soft-bodied prey, such as jellyfish, sea cucumbers and … Click here or below to download hands-on marine science activities for kids. When it comes to babies, healthy corals don't compromise, Watch: 9 fast facts about leatherback sea turtles, Trump Administration Withdraws Rule to Protect Endangered Species, Rising temperatures are cooking baby sea turtles in their nests. The flatback’s smooth, waxy shell is quite thin and easily damaged. The Flatback sea turtle has a unique feature that differs it from other sea turtles. We have already protected nearly 4 million square miles of ocean and innumerable sea life - but there is still more to be done. Both families are highly aquatic, and most species only … Unlike other sea turtle species, this one never spends time in the open ocean. Saltwater crocodiles, sharks, and large bony fishes are the primary natural predators of flatback turtles after they enter the water. They are olive gray in color and they have scales that are the front of the body by the head. All other species of sea turtles face a threat of extinction, so it is likely that the flatback turtle’s status is similar. Flatback sea turtles are native to Australia, and rarely travel far from home. Flatback nesting beaches are monitored, but flatbacks are captured as fisheries bycatch. 3. Other Name (s): Australian flatback sea turtle, flatback turtle The carapace (shell) of an adult flatback turtle can grow up to one metre long. Flatback sea turtles are re… The flatback sea turtle is a medium-sized sea turtle with an elliptical, flattened shell characterized by upturned edges. Seven different species of sea (or marine) turtles grace our ocean waters, from the shallow seagrass beds of the Indian Ocean, to the colorful reefs of the Coral Triangle, and even the sandy beaches of the Eastern Pacific. Lays an average of 50 eggs at time, but these are comparatively quite large. Status: Australia – Listed as Vulnerable under the Australian Environment Protection & Biodiversity Conservation Act. [3] The flatback turtle is the least endangered of all of the sea-going turtles. Breeding and nesting only occur in Australia with the largest concentration of females nesting on Crab I… The head of adults is a moderate size and the thick overlapping carapace scales form an oval to heart-shaped shell. Photo by Linda Reinhold. Further study and monitoring of flatback turtles’ population trends is crucial to ensuring that any significant threats to this species can be identified and addressed in a timely fashion. Nesting: Nests 4 times per season. Flatback turtles have a preference for shallow, soft-bottomed sea bed habitats away from reefs. Visit STAT's project page for additional information. Purpose. The flatback has the smallest geographic range of the seven sea turtle species. Scientists know little about the population trends or conservation status of the flatback turtles. N/A. Description: Flatback sea turtles have a single pair of prefrontal scales in front of its eyes. Description: Head has a single pair of prefrontal scales (scales in front of its eyes). The name for the Flatback Sea Turtle is the result of the appearance of the shell which is flat. Though this species is known to visit the waters of Papua New Guinea to feed, it nests only on beaches in Australia. After several weeks, the baby flatback turtles hatch, emerge from the sand and enter the water together. They feed in the northern coastal regions of Australia, extending as far south as the Tropic of Capricorn. Population Estimate*: Between 20,000 and 21,000 nesting females. Flatback Sea Turtle Distribution It is found only in the waters around Australia and Papua New Guinea in the Pacific. Carapace is olive-grey with pale brown/yellow tones on margins and the flippers creamy white. They have only been found to live in the northern waters of Australia. It has a flat carapace, or shell, which is unlike the curved shell of other sea turtle species. The flatback sea turtle looks just like its name. 2. After mating out at sea, females will visit a sandy beach several times during the course of the nesting season, dig a burrow, and lay approximately 50 eggs each time. Flatback turtle, Natator depressus, moving up beach to dig nesting hole, Munda Station near Port Hedland, Western Australia. This beautiful blue translucent enamel over sterling silver sea turtle jewelry has a necklace and matching earrings. The ventral (under) side, or plastron, is pale yellow. Flatback sea turtle hatchlings, when emerging from nests, are larger than other sea turtle hatchlings; their carapace length averages 60 mm (2.4 in). Description: Head has a single pair … WWFs work on sea turtles focuses on five of those species: green, hawksbill, loggerhead, leatherback and olive ridley. Most sea turtles migrate extremely long distances, travelling across entire ocean basins multiple times throughout their lives. The gorgeous creature with the common name of the Flatback Sea Turtle represents one of only seven known species of marine turtle. Threats to Survival: Sea turtles are threatened with capture, harvesting of eggs, destruction of nesting beaches, ocean pollution, oil spills and entanglement in fishing and shrimp nets. Flatback sea turtles were fitted with a slip-on harness (turtle girdle) with Wildlife Computer Splash tags as they returned to the water after nesting on Bare Sand Island. A great way to get involved in protecting #oceans: Join Oceana as a Wavemaker & sound off on important issues! Coastal waters of Australia and Papua New Guinea, Order Testudines (turtles, tortoises and terrapins), Family Cheloniidae (hard shelled sea turtles). http://ow.ly/HoEaH, Cephalopods, Crustaceans, & Other Shellfish, Australian Government Department of the Environment and Energy, Saving the Mediterranean, one turtle at a time, Quantity or quality? Weight: Adults weigh an average of 198 pounds (90 kg). As is the case with other sea turtles, the predominant threats facing flatback turtles include accidental capture in fisheries targeting other species, damage pollution of nesting beaches, and collection of eggs and meat. Diet: Apparently eats sea cucumbers, jellyfish, mollusks, prawns, bryozoans, other invertebrates and seaweed. Common Name: Australian flatback – named because its shell is very flat. A flatback turtle is a sea turtle native to the northern coast of Australia and nearby waters. Flatback sea turtles, like all sea turtles, spend most of their lives in the water. Researchers used to believe flatback turtles were a type of green turtle. 1. Scientific Name: Natator depressus. Here are some flatback fast facts: These sea turtles have the smallest distribution of … Both the scientific and common names refer to the turtle's most obvious characteristic, the shape of its shell, which has a very flat top. There is not enough data to assess whether or not this species is at risk of extinction, but the Australian government considers the species to be vulnerable. Their feeding grounds also extend to the Indonesian archipelago and the Papua New Guinea coast. In general, once sea turtles enter the water they never come back on land except to nest. Rather than fleeing or recoiling, the flatback turtle turns its head towards the approaching shark and takes a series of aggressive biting lunges towards its attacker. Naturally, only one or two out of several hundred eggs will make it to adulthood. The flatback sea turtle (Natator depressus) is a sea turtle that is endemic to the continental shelf of Australia. Further research is needed to identify specific threats to flatbacks, determine the status of the species and develop species-specific conservation priorities. It is also called Australian flatback because it is native to the north coast of this country. With large, non-overlapping scales present and only 4 lateral scutes, its bony carapace has no ridges. The flatback turtle is listed by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as Data Deficient, meaning there is insufficient scientific information to decide its conservation status at present. The carapace of this turtle is grayish-green or olive green like the flippers, but the rest of the body is between yellow and light green. The flatback turtle is endemic to Australia and all known breeding sites of this species occur only in Australia. They do not have an oceanic phase, or undertake long, open ocean migrations like other sea turtles, and are usually found in waters less than two hundred feet in depth. Range: Very limited. Sign our petition to tell GrubHub to take shark fin off the menu now – before the ocean’s most iconic predators disappear. Flippers have 1 claw. Flatback turtles are foraging predators, with adults eating a variety of soft-bodied prey, including jellyfish, sea cucumbers, and other invertebrates. When the hatchlings emerge, they are larger than most species. 4. Supplemental information. Change in classification does not imply species recovery, it just indicates a lack of recent research into their abundance and distribution. The scutes of the hatchlings form a unique dark-grey reticulate pattern, and the center of each scute is olive colored. The flatback turtle, however, has a much smaller range, is the only sea turtle that does not visit the Americas, and is restricted to the coastal waters of Australia and Papua New Guinea. Habitat: Prefer turbid inshore waters, bays, coastal coral reef and grassy shallows. References. It wasn’t until 1988 that they were recognized as a separate species.2. Flatback sea turtle (Natator depressus) images & facts - this gallery shows you our best collection of beautiful stock photos and illustrations along with interesting facts on this endemic species of sea turtle, also known as Australian flatback sea turtle. Flatback sea turtle babies are blue so this sea turtle jewelry is very unique! Flatback sea turtles, with the scientific name Natator depressus, get their name from their flattened body. Sign up today to get weekly updates and action alerts from Oceana. We are restoring the world’s wild fish populations to serve as a sustainable source of protein for people. Description. Was previously listed as vulnerable. Carapace is oval or round and body is very flat. Sorry. During that time, a variety of seabirds, terrestrial mammals, and other predators reduce the turtle’s numbers drastically. Flatback turtles spend most of their time in the water with females only coming to shore to lay eggs. They are about 35 inches long and they feature four pairs of costal scales which is less than other species. The most significant predation pressure on flatback turtles occurs when the eggs and hatchlings are still on the beach. The project studies turtle foraging behaviour in Roebuck Bay in Western Australia, in the hope of revealing the poorly understood lives of flatback turtles on their feeding grounds. Flatback turtle, Natator depressus, hatchlings on beach making their way to the ocean, Munda Station near Port Hedland, Western Australia, Australia. Synonym: Natator depressa. The shells of adults of both species range from 90 … The eggs incubate for about 55 days. The flatback turtle (also called the Australian flatback) grows to about 3 feet in length … Size: Adults measure up to 3.25 feet in carapace length (99 cm). © 1996 - 2021 Sea Turtle Conservancy, all rights reserved. Flatback turtles belong to the Cheloniidae, or sea turtle, superfamily and are the only species found in the genus Natator. Female flatback turtles nest on Australian beaches only. You must have JavaScript enabled to fill out this form. The Flatback sea turtle has an oval or round carapace and an extremely flat body. The flatback sea turtle has this unusual name for its particular oval shell that lacks ridges and protuberances, making it look flat, smooth and slightly curved down. Their allocation is restricted to tropical regions of the continental shelf, and coastal waters of Northern Australia, Southern Indonesia, and Southern Papua New Guinea. Common Name: Australian flatback – named because its shell is very flat. Flat and smooth shelled, the flatback sea turtle is visible on Australia’s northern beaches as well as the Indonesian archipelago, where it makes the long travel just to feed on the coast of Papua New Guinea. The flatback turtle is named for the relative flatness of its shell, one of the characteristics that distinguish it from the other sea turtles around the world. Free Shipping on our Baby Sea Turtle Necklace. The Sea Turtle Conservancy® logo and logo turtle are registered trademarks of the Sea Turtle Conservancy.
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