SURF TRIP

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

ESA Endangered - throughout its range
CITES Appendix I - throughout its range

Weight:	Adult: 100-150 pounds (45-70 kg) Hatchling: 0.5 ounces (15 g)
Length:	25-35 inches (65-90 cm)
Appearance:	top shell (carapace) is dark to golden brown, with streaks of orange, red, and/or black with a serrated back and overlapping "scutes", while the bottom shell (plastron) is clear yellow; hatchlings are mostly brown
Lifespan:	unknown
Diet:	sponges and other invertebrates, algae
Behavior:	females return to the beaches where they were born (natal beaches) to nest, which occurs every 2-3 years at night and approximately every 14-16 days during the nesting season

habitat loss of coral reef communities
harvest of their eggs and meat
commercial exploitation (historically, but still permitted in some parts of the world)
increased recreational and commercial use of nesting beaches in the Pacific
incidental capture in fishing gear
general threats to marine turtles