Sea turtles have been in existence for millions of years and have evolved over many different environments and times. For example, sea turtles have evolved throughout the Earth’s history, surviving and flourishing in cold or warm water as well as rocky or sandy seas. In most cases, sea turtles only live in temperate and warm waters of the globe, although some species may only be found in a very few locations. The most dominant species are the Galapagos Islands, which contains numerous islands dedicated to breeding sea turtles. These turtles are also found in North and South America, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
To accurately label this creature, the scientific name of this sea turtle is the Spiny Backed Shelled Sea Turtle. This species is one of two representative species of the genus Squamata, which includes all of the approximately eight hundred species of these animals in the genus Squamata. The first species, which has the smallest shell, is known as the Galapagos Solitaire. It is believed that the first recorded specimens of this type of sea turtle were collected at the Devil’s Crown Marine Park in 1846 by Captain James Cook. The first two species of this genus are now widespread all over the world.
Sea turtle SVG, or semi-spiny soft-shelled turtle, is a member of the family Acrocanidae. As with other members of this family, they have varied colour patterns and can grow to an average of twenty pounds in weight. They can live up to a year in the wild but are typically only found living in shallow waters around the shores of the Pacific Islands countries of South and Central America. The species name, semi-spiny, came about because of the way these sea turtles look more like a tiny turtle than a sea turtle. However, they can grow to about twenty feet long when fully mature and are often found swimming along with the coastal areas where they would normally lay eggs.
The green sea turtle SVG is the most popular of all species of the family Acrocanidae, with over thirteen million acres of green sea turtle habitat located off the coast of Costa Rica. It is also the second most endangered turtle species in the world. The green sea turtle’s diet consists mainly of crabs and shrimp, but they are not known to eat fish. Because of their size and because of their vulnerability, this species of turtle is often hunted for its meat. The meat of a green sea turtle is also particularly difficult to find; consequently, they are rarely seen in the wild.
One of the first attempts to breed this species occurred in the 1970s; it was a hit with environmentalists because of its rarity and its bold colouration. In addition to bringing in more revenue for the country’s turtle breeding industry, it also increased awareness of the species and led to an increase in sightings and tracking efforts. More recent attempts have attempted to breed them in captivity. These attempts have not been successful, however, and the species has become extinct in the wild. It was thought that the low reproduction rate and rapid death in captivity resulted in the low population numbers; however, it has since rebounded in the wild due to an increased breeding population.
Scientists believe that it was due to a rise in prey attraction in response to the presence of the sea turtle. There has been no evidence to suggest that prey may have been lessened due to the increase of turtle populations. It is possible that a massive tsunami could have lead to the decline; though this seems unlikely. Over the past few decades, the sea turtle has also become a threatened species in its native habitat, primarily due to increasing shore pollution and erosion.
The future of sea turtle conservation depends largely on preserving the wild populations. Between five and eight million sea turtles are estimated to exist in the wild, with only around half of them currently living in areas where they can be protected. The main threats to these populations include illegal fishing, beachside development, shipping lines, coral reefs and changing weather patterns.
SVG can be reduced by making changes to current practices that result in greater harvesting of turtle meat, turtle eggs or nesting locations; reducing the use of fishing lines, which entrap the turtles and cause them to be carried out of their natural habitat; protecting sandy beaches and islands from erosion by excessive development or ships passing through; and decreasing human interaction with the animals. There is a growing body of scientific knowledge that indicates that sea turtles can recover through conservation. A combination of conservation planning and science-based practices can help to conserve the species and to ensure that future generations enjoy a healthy sea turtle population.
