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Anatomy of the Flatback Turtle | |||
| For different reasons there's never been done much reseach on the Flatback turtle. Unlike other sea turtles, Flatback turtles do not spend any part of their life in the deep ocean, remaining instead in the surface waters of the continental shelf. The Flatback Sea Turtle is a medium sized sea turtle. Female flatbacks weigh from 70 to 80 kg and their shell is about 85 to 95 cm in length. Males are generally a bit smaller. | |||
 | On the head it has a single pair of prefrontal scales. Its shell is flattened without ridges and has large, non-overlapping, scutes (scales) present with only 4 lateral scutes. Flatback sea turtles were once thought to be a variation of Green Sea Turtles, and were therefore placed in the same genus. It have one pair of long prefrontal scutes between their eyes, and four pairs of lateral scutes on their shell - just like the Green Sea Turtle . | ||
| Today the Flatback turtle are recognized as being very distinctive from Green Sea Turtles with their own genus. Some of tha main reasons for this are the limited range and non-pelagic behavior. They have distinctive flattened shells and a larger head and shorter flippers. |  | ||
| Despite what many believes the Flatback turtle can't withdraw their heads into their shells. The shell gives good protection against predators. for protection the head and neck has thick scaly skin. | |||
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