Sea Turtles

Testudines

A group of reptiles commonly known as turtles, characterized by a protective shell.

Carapace

The top half of a turtle's shell.

Plastron

The bottom half of a turtle's shell.

Scutes

The bony external plates that cover the shell of a turtle.

Leatherbacks

The largest sea turtle species, can reach up to 8ft in length, distinguished by a cartilaginous shell.

Flatbacks

A medium-sized sea turtle that reaches approximately 3ft, known for its flattened shape and smooth shell.

Green sea turtles

Sea turtles that can grow up to 4ft and are known for their wide color variation and herbivorous diet.

Hawksbill

A sea turtle species characterized by its sharply pointed beak and reliance on reef sponges.

Loggerheads

Sea turtles that grow up to 4ft, known for their large heads and powerful jaws, common in NC beach nesting.

Olive Ridley

A small sea turtle that feeds on benthic invertebrates and is known for its mass nesting behavior called arribada.

Kemp’s Ridley

The most endangered sea turtle species, up to 2ft long, also known for its mass nesting behavior.

Apnea

The state of holding one's breath, observed in diving marine creatures.

Peripheral Vasoconstriction

A physiological response where blood flow is redirected to vital organs during a dive.

Bradycardia

A decrease in heart rate that occurs during diving to help maintain blood pressure.

Aerobic Dive Limit

The maximum time an animal can dive without producing excess lactic acid.

Hemoglobin

An oxygen-binding protein in blood that carries oxygen to tissues.

Myoglobin

An oxygen-binding protein in muscle tissue that helps store oxygen.

Magnetoreception

The ability of turtles to perceive magnetic fields for navigation.

Cold stunning

A condition resulting from rapid decreases in water temperature, leading to lethargy in sea turtles.

Countercurrent heat exchangers

Adaptations in leatherbacks that help retain heat in their flippers.

Vascularized fat layers

Thick layers of well-vascularized fat in leatherbacks that aid in heat retention.

Diving behavior

The physiological and behavioral adaptations of turtles that allow them to dive efficiently.

Seasonal migration

The movement of turtles to warmer waters during colder seasons to avoid low temperatures.

Benthic invertebrates

A primary food source for several sea turtle species, found on the ocean floor.

Circumglobal distribution

The worldwide range found in Leatherback sea turtles.

Juvenile habitats

Areas where juvenile sea turtles commonly live, such as NC inshore waters.

Tropical to subtropical latitudes

The primary distribution range for many sea turtle species.

Turtle shell structure

The unique anatomical feature of turtles made up of the carapace and plastron.