Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta), Dalyan Delta, Turkey
Loggerhead turtles are sparsely distributed in the warmer oceans worldwide. The carapace of adults is about 90 cm long. They are long-lived; one estimate suggests they can live from 80 to 100 years, although females are no longer fertile after about age 33.
One of their most important breeding sites in the Mediterranean is Iztuzu Beach, which fronts the Dalyan river delta in southwest Turkey. Breeding females haul themselves up this and other Turkish beaches at night during the summer months. They excavate a pit in the sand, into which they deposit some 50 to 200 eggs, and then cover them with sand. The hatchlings are nidifugous -- they are able to survive independently from birth without any parental assistance. They instinctively dig themselves out of their pit and make for the sea.
Conservation measures are in place to protect the nests: beaches are out of bounds at night; dogs are not permitted in case they dig up the eggs or predate the young. Known nest locations are protected with a cage and a warning sign.
230614 085
Karettschildkröte
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All images are the property of the photographer and may not be reproduced, copied, downloaded, transmitted or used in any way without the written permission of the photographer who may be contacted by registering with flickr and using flickrmail
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Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta), Dalyan Delta, Turkey
Loggerhead turtles are sparsely distributed in the warmer oceans worldwide. The carapace of adults is about 90 cm long. They are long-lived; one estimate suggests they can live from 80 to 100 years, although females are no longer fertile after about age 33.
One of their most important breeding sites in the Mediterranean is Iztuzu Beach, which fronts the Dalyan river delta in southwest Turkey. Breeding females haul themselves up this and other Turkish beaches at night during the summer months. They excavate a pit in the sand, into which they deposit some 50 to 200 eggs, and then cover them with sand. The hatchlings are nidifugous -- they are able to survive independently from birth without any parental assistance. They instinctively dig themselves out of their pit and make for the sea.
Conservation measures are in place to protect the nests: beaches are out of bounds at night; dogs are not permitted in case they dig up the eggs or predate the young. Known nest locations are protected with a cage and a warning sign.
230614 085
Karettschildkröte
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All images are the property of the photographer and may not be reproduced, copied, downloaded, transmitted or used in any way without the written permission of the photographer who may be contacted by registering with flickr and using flickrmail
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