Sea
turtles have roamed the oceans for at least 150 million years. Foraging for
jellyfish, sponges, grasses or crabs in all but the coldest waters, they nest
on scattered tropical and temperate shores. Males are most easily distinguished
by long tails (top left) which help grasp the female during mating. Biologists
are still trying to learn where hatchlings (left) grow up, when they mature,
and how they navigate. Most scientists now consider black and green turtles
to be the same species. There is one certainty: All species are at risk of extinction.
HAWKSBILL
Eretmochelys imbricata
35 inches
GREEN
TURTLE
Chelonia mydas
49 inches
LEATHERBACK
Dermochelys coriacea
74 inches
AUSTRALIAN
FLATBACK Natator depressus
39 inches
OLIVE
RIDLEY Lepidochelys olivacea
30 inches
KEMP'S
RIDLEY Lepidochelys kempii
30 inches
BLACK
TURTLE
Chelonia agassizi
39 inches
LOGGERHEAD
Caretta caretta
47 inches
Green
turtle
Black
turtle
Leatherback
Olive
ridley
Kemp's
ridley
Hawksbill
Australian
flatback
Loggerhead
SEA
TURTLES OF THE WORLD
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