The Loggerhead Sea Turtle

Taxonomy
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Testudines
Family:	Cheloniidae
Genus:	Caretta
Species:	Caretta
Status:	Endangered

The Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) the only member of the genus Caretta, caretta a latinization of the French word “care” meaning turtle, tortoise or sea turtle. A Loggerhead turtle grows up to 364 kg or (800 lbs) and 1.1 meter (3.5 feet) long. The shell color is reddish brown and skin color is brown yellow. The name of Loggerhead is named for their disproportional large head. Loggerhead sea turtle are also state reptile of South Carolina.

Loggerheads feeds on mollusks, fish, crustaceans, jellyfish, crabs and shrimp even the poisonous stingy Portuguese Man o’ War and other small marine animals. Their large and powerful jaws can crush the latter. This amazing fact that even at hatchling, most female sea turtles, remembers the beach where they were hatched. Mating occurs near the nesting beach unlike the other sea turtle it takes place along the migration routes between feeding and breeding grounds.

Loggerhead mating takes place between the months of March to June. The clutch range from 70 – 150 eggs and the egg size is approximately the same as of the Ping-Pong balls. The eggs after 60 days and like other sea turtles it emerge usually during night time since most of the predators at night are asleep. Finding the best nesting beach for Loggerhead sea turtles is not a big issue they just follow the brightest light to oceans edge. But due to number of powerful human lights this could lid to some turtles to astray. Scientist is still on the study as how Loggerhead sea turtle immunes the toxins brought by the Portuguese Man o’ War jellyfish. The cycle of Loggerhead turtles and other sea turtles lies on their survival on hatchling. As you can see hatchlings are left to travel at their own from their nest to the ocean. This will serve as their starting ground interfering or helping them to reach the ocean will increase the risk of their survival. Have you figure out that everything is made with purpose.

Loggerhead mainly feeds on the bottom of the sea dwelling invertebrates. They eat crabs, shell, mussels and other invertebrates. Humans are the most curious living creature on earth, this push human to try Loggerhead turtles meat and eggs. The turtle’s fats are use in cosmetics and medication as its proven effective on most cosmetic surgeries. The shells of Loggerhead turtle are also use in the production of comb.

The massive hunting of sea turtles endangered the Loggerhead and is now on strict protection program to preserve to prevent them from extinction. Habitats of Loggerhead sea turtles are mainly on bays, lagoons and even on the mouth of large rivers. Coral reefs and shipwreck are mostly use as feeding grounds for the Loggerhead turtles.

The balance of Eco System is very important factor to prevent extinction of some endangered species. Take the sea turtle hatchlings as an example. If you interfere their journey to the open sea, you have just tampered their vulnerability when they fight for survival mainly in the ocean. They look futile when they crawl down to the sea but serves as foreground for their survival. Just if everyone understands the importance of other specie then we can maintain the balance of nature.