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Marine Reptiles

Marine Reptiles. Class Reptilia. Order Chelonia - Turtles Order Squamata – Snakes and Iguana. Marine Turtles 7 Species. Leatherback Loggerhead Flatback Green Hawksbill Kemp’s Ridley Olive Ridley. Characteristics of Marine Turtles. Larger then land relatives

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Marine Reptiles

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  1. Marine Reptiles

  2. Class Reptilia • Order Chelonia - Turtles • Order Squamata – Snakes and Iguana

  3. Marine Turtles 7 Species • Leatherback • Loggerhead • Flatback • Green • Hawksbill • Kemp’s Ridley • Olive Ridley

  4. Characteristics of Marine Turtles • Larger then land relatives • Cannot retract their heads completely into their shells • Compressed streamlined shell and broad flattened forelimbs to paddle • Weight over 500 kg • Forelimb span over 3m • Amniotic Egg

  5. Behavior of Marine Turtles • Breathe air but spend as much as 3 hours submerged • 6 of 7 species are carnivores feeding on jellyfish, squids, crabs, sponges and fish • Green turtles are herbivores • Generally solitary except for courtship and mating • Found worldwide

  6. Reproduction • Mate at sea • Breeding occurs in cycles that vary from 1-5 years • Female return to the beach they hatched from to lay their eggs • Oviparous • Females usually lay several batches of eggs at 2-3 weeks intervals

  7. Nesting • Occurs at night • Females excavated with hind flippers • Clutch sizes 80-150 eggs • Covers eggs with layer of sand and returns to the sea • Incubation time 2 months • Infants hatch at night and dash for the sea

  8. Migration • Sea turtles migrate hundreds and sometimes thousands of miles from their feeding grounds to their nesting grounds.

  9. Sea Turtles In Danger • Most species are endangered • Beach erosion after commercial development and alteration of beaches for improved boat access has destroyed nesting sites. • Turtles killed when trapped in fishing nets • Hunted for meat, eggs, leather, and shells

  10. Sea Snakes • Snakes are descendants of lizards that have lost their limbs as an adaptation to a burrowing lifestyle. • 50 species that live in marine environment • Most remain close to shore in shallow waters.

  11. Adaptations for Marine Life • Streamlining the body • Scales absent or reduced • Tail is laterally compressed and used as a paddle • Nostrils are higher on the head to aid in breathing while drifting, special valves in nostril to prevent water from entering while submerged

  12. Adaptations for Marine Life • A single lung reaches almost to the tail • Gas exchange through skin when underwater • Lower metabolic rate to consume less O2 while submerged

  13. Feeding • Sea snakes mainly feed on fish and eels • Most species have venomous fangs • Rely on ambush to capture prey • Swallow prey more than twice their diameter • Eyesight is the most highly developed sense • Feed during the day

  14. Reproduction • Only 3 oviparous species (coming to land to lay eggs) • The rest are viviparous (females retaining their eggs within their body until they hatch) • Young can swim and feed immediately • Congregate in enormous numbers

  15. Behavior • Live in the tropical and subtropical Pacific and Indian Oceans • Toxin adapted to killing fish • Timid by nature and rarely bite humans

  16. Dangers • Eaten by humans • In Japan the consumption of sea snakes is so large that it supports a major fishery. • Hunting of skins has led to their near extinction in some areas.

  17. Marine Crocodiles • Several species of crocodile (American & Nile) venture into the marine environment to feed. • Feed on fish, birds and mammals • Saltwater Crocodile best adapted for marine ecosystem lives in India, Asia and Australia • Oviparous – eggs laid in nest on land

  18. Marine Iguana • The only marine lizard • Endemic to the Galapagos Islands • Eats Seaweed (algae) • Oviparous (eggs laid in nest on land)

  19. Characteristics • Average length 1.3m • Black or gray in color except when males are near mating season when they turn shades of red or green • Dark pigment shield them from UV radiation • Long sharp claws permit the lizard to hold fast to lava • Can live up to 30 years

  20. Feeding • Herbivores (algae) • Consumes large amounts of seawater while feeding • Specialized tear and nasal glands to excrete salt

  21. Behavior • Nasal spraying • Good swimmers • Females reach sexual maturity 3-5 years old • Males reach sexual maturity 6-9 years

  22. Reproduction • Females mate once per season • She chooses a site digs a hole and deposits eggs • Guards the nest for 16 days • Incubation takes 89-120 days • Infants hatch and run bipedal to the nearest cover.

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