The Flatback sea turtle has an oval or round carapace and an extremely flat body. Both families are highly aquatic, and most species only … Naturally, only one or two out of several hundred eggs will make it to adulthood. Sailors for the Sea developed the KELP (Kids Environmental Lesson Plans) program to create the next generation of ocean stewards. The head of adults is a moderate size and the thick overlapping carapace scales form an oval to heart-shaped shell. Further research is needed to identify specific threats to flatbacks, determine the status of the species and develop species-specific conservation priorities. It has a flat carapace, or shell, which is unlike the curved shell of other sea turtle species. Flatback turtles are foraging predators, with adults eating a variety of soft-bodied prey, including jellyfish, sea cucumbers, and other invertebrates. Over much of their nesting range they are predated upon by saltwater crocodiles, which have also been know to attack human beings. Was previously listed as vulnerable. Other articles where Flatback sea turtle is discussed: sea turtle: Physical features and feeding habits: The flatback sea turtle (Natator depressa) occurs in the seas between Australia and New Guinea; it also feeds on a variety of invertebrates. Size: Adults measure up to 3.25 feet in carapace length (99 cm). 2. The Flatback has the smallest geographic range of the seven sea turtle species. Flatback sea turtle hatchlings, when emerging from nests, are larger than other sea turtle hatchlings; their carapace length averages 60 mm (2.4 in). We are restoring the world’s wild fish populations to serve as a sustainable source of protein for people. Seven different species of sea (or marine) turtles grace our ocean waters, from the shallow seagrass beds of the Indian Ocean, to the colorful reefs of the Coral Triangle, and even the sandy beaches of the Eastern Pacific. The eggs incubate for about 55 days. Both the scientific and common names refer to the turtle's most obvious characteristic, the shape of its shell, which has a very flat top. The Sea Turtle Conservancy® logo and logo turtle are registered trademarks of the Sea Turtle Conservancy. Researchers used to believe flatback turtles were a type of green turtle. The flatback turtle is grey or pale grey-green or olive above and creamy-yellow below. Most sea turtles migrate extremely long distances, travelling across entire ocean basins multiple times throughout their lives. In fact, flatbacks have the smallest geographic range of all their relative sea turtles. Flatback sea turtle babies are blue so this sea turtle jewelry is very unique! Sea turtles are some of the largest and … Threats to Survival: Sea turtles are threatened with capture, harvesting of eggs, destruction of nesting beaches, ocean pollution, oil spills and entanglement in fishing and shrimp nets. Coastal waters of Australia and Papua New Guinea, Order Testudines (turtles, tortoises and terrapins), Family Cheloniidae (hard shelled sea turtles). They do not have an oceanic phase or undertake long, open ocean migrations like other sea turtles, and are usually found in waters less than 200 feet in depth. 1 Australian Government Department of the Environment and Energy. Flatback turtles grow to be 31 to 37 inches (80 to 95 cm) long and weigh 220 pounds (100 kg). Flatback sea turtles, with the scientific name Natator depressus, get their name from their flattened body. We have already protected nearly 4 million square miles of ocean and innumerable sea life - but there is still more to be done. Diet: Apparently eats sea cucumbers, jellyfish, mollusks, prawns, bryozoans, other invertebrates and seaweed. Purpose. Each flipper has 1 claw. Rather than fleeing or recoiling, the flatback turtle turns its head towards the approaching shark and takes a series of aggressive biting lunges towards its attacker. These hatchlings tend to stay closer to shore as they mature into adults. They are olive gray in color and they have scales that are the front of the body by the head. Flatback turtles primarily eat soft-bodied prey, such as jellyfish, sea cucumbers and … They are about 35 inches long and they feature four pairs of costal scales which is less than other species. Flatback sea turtles were fitted with a slip-on harness (turtle girdle) with Wildlife Computer Splash tags as they returned to the water after nesting on Bare Sand Island. Visit STAT's project page for additional information. The carapace of this turtle is grayish-green or olive green like the flippers, but the rest of the body is between yellow and light green. The number of eggs in a flatback turtle’s clutch is fewer than other species of marine turtles. The Flatback sea turtle has a unique feature that differs it from other sea turtles. Habitat: Prefer turbid inshore waters, bays, coastal coral reef and grassy shallows. Further study and monitoring of flatback turtles’ population trends is crucial to ensuring that any significant threats to this species can be identified and addressed in a timely fashion. WWFs work on sea turtles focuses on five of those species: green, hawksbill, loggerhead, leatherback and olive ridley. Though this species is known to visit the waters of Papua New Guinea to feed, it nests only on beaches in Australia. After several weeks, the baby flatback turtles hatch, emerge from the sand and enter the water together. During that time, a variety of seabirds, terrestrial mammals, and other predators reduce the turtle’s numbers drastically. After mating out at sea, females will visit a sandy beach several times during the course of the nesting season, dig a burrow, and lay approximately 50 eggs each time. It is also called Australian flatback because it is native to the north coast of this country. Its carapace is found to be much thinner and this causes the shell to crack under the smallest pressures. Description: Flatback sea turtles have a single pair of prefrontal scales in front of its eyes. The most significant predation pressure on flatback turtles occurs when the eggs and hatchlings are still on the beach. When it comes to babies, healthy corals don't compromise, Watch: 9 fast facts about leatherback sea turtles, Trump Administration Withdraws Rule to Protect Endangered Species, Rising temperatures are cooking baby sea turtles in their nests. During the nesting season, flatbacks lay two to three clutches, each containing about 50 eggs.1. All other species of sea turtles face a threat of extinction, so it is likely that the flatback turtle’s status is similar. The flatback turtle (also called the Australian flatback) grows to about 3 feet in length … Sea turtle, any of seven species of marine turtles belonging to the families Dermochelyidae (leatherback sea turtles) and Cheloniidae (green turtles, flatback sea turtles, loggerhead sea turtles, hawksbills, and ridleys). Sign our petition to tell GrubHub to take shark fin off the menu now – before the ocean’s most iconic predators disappear. 3. It wasn’t until 1988 that they were recognized as a separate species.2. Weight: Adults weigh an average of 198 pounds (90 kg). Change in classification does not imply species recovery, it just indicates a lack of recent research into their abundance and distribution. The ventral (under) side, or plastron, is pale yellow. 1. Flatback turtles have the smallest geographic range of all seven marine turtle species, and do not undertake long, open ocean migrations. References. Carapace is bony without ridges and has large, non-overlapping, scutes (scales) present with only 4 lateral scutes. http://ow.ly/HoEaH, Cephalopods, Crustaceans, & Other Shellfish, Australian Government Department of the Environment and Energy, Saving the Mediterranean, one turtle at a time, Quantity or quality? Flatbacks are the only population of sea turtles listed as data deficient by the IUCN. International – Listed as Data Deficient by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. Flatback turtles belong to the Cheloniidae, or sea turtle, superfamily and are the only species found in the genus Natator. Female flatback turtles nest on Australian beaches only. Carapace is oval or round and body is very flat. Other Name (s): Australian flatback sea turtle, flatback turtle The gorgeous creature with the common name of the Flatback Sea Turtle represents one of only seven known species of marine turtle. The flatback turtle is listed by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as Data Deficient, meaning there is insufficient scientific information to decide its conservation status at present. Photo by Linda Reinhold. Flatback sea turtles, Natator depressus (Garman, 1880), aka Australian flatbacks, are named for their flattened carapace (shell). Young flatbacks are grey but develop greenish … Australian flatbacks are medium sized turtles. Sign up today to get weekly updates and action alerts from Oceana. Edge of carapace is folded and covered by thin, non-overlapping waxy scutes. These turtles are typically found shallow waters less than 60 meters in depth along the coast or continental shelf of Australia. Description. Synonym: Natator depressa. Flatback sea turtles are re… 4. This beautiful blue translucent enamel over sterling silver sea turtle jewelry has a necklace and matching earrings. The flatback sea turtle is a medium-sized sea turtle with an elliptical, flattened shell characterized by upturned edges. Flatback turtles live in the coastal waters of Australia and Papua New Guinea. There is not enough data to assess whether or not this species is at risk of extinction, but the Australian government considers the species to be vulnerable. Information About Sea Turtles: Flatback Sea Turtle. Click here or below to download hands-on marine science activities for kids. A great way to get involved in protecting #oceans: Join Oceana as a Wavemaker & sound off on important issues! Flatback Sea Turtle By: Aaliyah St. George Side Notes Major habitat type: tropical upwelling Biogeographic realm: Australasia Range states: Australia, Indonesia, and Papua new Guinea Geographical location: Central Indo-Pacific Ecological Region: Southern/Western Australian Marine Oceana joined forces with Sailors for the Sea, an ocean conservation organization dedicated to educating and engaging the world’s boating community. [3] The flatback turtle is the least endangered of all of the sea-going turtles. Flatback turtles spend most of their time in the water with females only coming to shore to lay eggs. Flatback turtles primarily eat soft-bodied prey, such as jellyfish, sea cucumbers and soft corals. Free Shipping on our Baby Sea Turtle Necklace. Flatback sea turtles, like all sea turtles, spend most of their lives in the water. The scientific name for the species is Natator depressus, and it is also sometimes called the Australian flatback. Flatback nesting beaches are monitored, but flatbacks are captured as fisheries bycatch. The flatback turtle is endemic to Australia and all known breeding sites of this species occur only in Australia. It is found only in the waters around Australia and Papua New Guinea in the Pacific. Their allocation is restricted to tropical regions of the continental shelf, and coastal waters of Northern Australia, Southern Indonesia, and Southern Papua New Guinea. The flatback turtle is named for the relative flatness of its shell, one of the characteristics that distinguish it from the other sea turtles around the world. Flatback turtles have a preference for shallow, soft-bottomed sea bed habitats away from reefs. 5. Nesting: Nests 4 times per season. As is the case with other sea turtles, the predominant threats facing flatback turtles include accidental capture in fisheries targeting other species, damage pollution of nesting beaches, and collection of eggs and meat. Their distribution is restricted to tropical regions of the continental shelf and coastal waters of Northern Australia, Southern Indonesia, and Southern Papua New Guinea. Flat and smooth shelled, the flatback sea turtle is visible on Australia’s northern beaches as well as the Indonesian archipelago, where it makes the long travel just to feed on the coast of Papua New Guinea. The flatback has the smallest geographic range of the seven sea turtle species. Carapace is olive-grey with pale brown/yellow tones on margins and the flippers creamy white. Common Name: Australian flatback – named because its shell is very flat. Sorry. Status: Australia – Listed as Vulnerable under the Australian Environment Protection & Biodiversity Conservation Act. They have only been found to live in the northern waters of Australia. You must have JavaScript enabled to fill out this form. Scientists know little about the population trends or conservation status of the flatback turtles. The findings from the video encourage the use of contemporary technology to observe sea … A flatback turtle is a sea turtle native to the northern coast of Australia and nearby waters. The plastron area (the underside part of the turtle) looks pale yellow as all the species of sea turtles. The scutes of the hatchlings form a unique dark-grey reticulate pattern, and the center of each scute is olive colored. The flatback sea turtle (Natator depressus) is a sea turtle that is endemic to the continental shelf of Australia. These turtles, which were earlier thought to be a type of green turtles before 1988 when they were identified to be separate, have been found to show some distinct behavior from the … The carapace (shell) of an adult flatback turtle can grow up to one metre long. Range: Very limited. The project studies turtle foraging behaviour in Roebuck Bay in Western Australia, in the hope of revealing the poorly understood lives of flatback turtles on their feeding grounds. Lays an average of 50 eggs at time, but these are comparatively quite large. Flatback Sea Turtle Distribution Description: Head has a single pair … Breeding and nesting only occur in Australia with the largest concentration of females nesting on Crab I… Population Estimate*: Between 20,000 and 21,000 nesting females. © 1996 - 2021 Sea Turtle Conservancy, all rights reserved. The name for the Flatback Sea Turtle is the result of the appearance of the shell which is flat. These added anthropogenic pressures on nesting beaches and juvenile and young adult turtles lessen their chance of survival. N/A. When the hatchlings emerge, they are larger than most species. The flatback’s olive gray shell is elliptical in shape with upturned edges. Description: Head has a single pair of prefrontal scales (scales in front of its eyes). The flatback sea turtle looks just like its name. Flatback turtle, Natator depressus, hatchlings on beach making their way to the ocean, Munda Station near Port Hedland, Western Australia, Australia. The flatback’s smooth, waxy shell is quite thin and easily damaged. Their feeding grounds also extend to the Indonesian archipelago and the Papua New Guinea coast. Unlike other sea turtle species, this one never spends time in the open ocean. The shells of adults of both species range from 90 … The flatback sea turtle has this unusual name for its particular oval shell that lacks ridges and protuberances, making it look flat, smooth and slightly curved down. Their shell measures between 102-125 cm long, and these turtles weigh about 84kg. In general, once sea turtles enter the water they never come back on land except to nest. They feed in the northern coastal regions of Australia, extending as far south as the Tropic of Capricorn. With large, non-overlapping scales present and only 4 lateral scutes, its bony carapace has no ridges. Scientific Name: Natator depressus. The flatback turtle, however, has a much smaller range, is the only sea turtle that does not visit the Americas, and is restricted to the coastal waters of Australia and Papua New Guinea. Supplemental information. Flatback turtle, Natator depressus, moving up beach to dig nesting hole, Munda Station near Port Hedland, Western Australia. Flatback sea turtles are native to Australia, and rarely travel far from home. Flippers have 1 claw. Saltwater crocodiles, sharks, and large bony fishes are the primary natural predators of flatback turtles after they enter the water. Flatback sea turtle (Natator depressus) images & facts - this gallery shows you our best collection of beautiful stock photos and illustrations along with interesting facts on this endemic species of sea turtle, also known as Australian flatback sea turtle. Common Name: Australian flatback – named because its shell is very flat. They do not have an oceanic phase, or undertake long, open ocean migrations like other sea turtles, and are usually found in waters less than two hundred feet in depth. Here are some flatback fast facts: These sea turtles have the smallest distribution of …
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