sea turtle
Flippered marine reptile
Sea turtles are large marine reptiles with flippers instead of legs, found in warm ocean waters worldwide.
Unlike land turtles, they cannot retract into their shells.
Several species are endangered.
They return to beaches to lay eggs but spend most of their lives at sea, sometimes migrating thousands of miles.
Protective dorsal exoskeleton
- plastronVentral shell portion
- scutesHorny epidermal plates
- flippersFoot-worn swim aids
- keratinStructural hair protein
dome-shaped · streamlined · beak · scales · cold-blooded · oviparous · ectotherm · vertebrate
Fool or turtle species
- leatherbackLargest living turtle species
- hawksbillTropical sea turtle species
- flatbackAustralian sea turtle species
- tortoiseshellMottled brown-yellow shell material
Massive saltwater body
- coral reefCalcium carbonate marine ecosystem
- seaweedSaltwater aquatic plants
- planktonDrifting marine microlife
- currentsDirectional flows of movement
tide · kelp · depths · saltwater · waves · aquatic · seafloor · diving
Preventing waste or loss
- threatenedExpressed intent to harm
- extinctionComplete vanishing of a species
- poachingUnlawful wildlife capture
- bycatchNon-target species caught accidentally
habitat loss · wildlife protection · marine reserves · illegal trade · overfishing · pollution · biodiversity loss · conservationists
Determining position and course
- magnetic fieldsRegions of magnetic influence
- satellite trackingMonitoring orbiting objects' positions
- taggingAttaching identifying markers
- breeding groundsSites where species reproduce
hatchlings · transoceanic · ocean currents · instinct · life cycle · rookery
carapace
Protective dorsal exoskeleton
keratin · dome-shaped · streamlined · beak · scales · cold-blooded · oviparous · ectotherm · vertebrate · growth rings
loggerhead
Fool or turtle species
- leatherbackLargest living turtle species
- hawksbillTropical sea turtle species
- flatbackAustralian sea turtle species
ocean
Massive saltwater body
- coral reefCalcium carbonate marine ecosystem
- seaweedSaltwater aquatic plants
- planktonDrifting marine microlife
currents · tide · kelp · depths · saltwater · waves · aquatic · seafloor · diving · flippers
conservation
Preventing waste or loss
- threatenedExpressed intent to harm
- extinctionComplete vanishing of a species
- poachingUnlawful wildlife capture
bycatch · habitat loss · wildlife protection · marine reserves · illegal trade · overfishing · pollution · biodiversity loss · conservationists · environmentalism
navigation
Determining position and course
- magnetic fieldsRegions of magnetic influence
- satellite trackingMonitoring orbiting objects' positions
- taggingAttaching identifying markers
breeding grounds · hatchlings · transoceanic · ocean currents · instinct · life cycle · rookery
- Indian OceanBay of Bengal, Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, Strait of Malacca, coral reef
- coral reef lifecoral, fish, clownfish, shark, stingray
- Island Naturecoconut palm, hibiscus, coral reef, atoll, volcano
- lagoon ecosystemcoral lagoon, coastal lagoon, tidal lagoon, mangrove, coral reef
- Mexican Wildlifejaguar, ocelot, axolotl, vaquita, Mexican wolf
- Oceania Wildlifekangaroo, koala, platypus, echidna, emu
sea turtletortoise
Land-dwelling shelled reptile
desert tortoise · Galápagos tortoise · box turtle · gopher tortoise · snapping turtle