Close-ups of Maltese nature (45)
Animals around us – the loggerhead turtle
Today, we shall be discovering the wonderful loggerhead turtle (fekruna komuni), known as Caretta caretta. This marine turtle has a wide geographical range and can be found in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans and within the Mediterranean Sea.
Even though the adult loggerhead turtle may reach a length of 100cm, the turtles in the Mediterranean Sea are usually smaller and only reach a length of 50 to 70cm.
This turtle has a large heart-shaped shell with an upper part (carapace) which is typically reddish-brown in colour, while the lower-part (plastron) has a pale yellow colour. The shell is composed of a number of bony plates.
This turtle has a distinctive large head and powerful jaws, uses to feed on hard-shelled crabs, sea urchins and molluscs. In addition, while in open water, this turtle also feeds on jellyfish and other animals. The females typically lay their eggs on beaches, just above the high-tide line, so as not to be reached by the waves. Interestingly, until the 1930s, this turtle used to even lay its eggs on our shores, such as at Ramla l-Ħamra.
The loggerhead turtle is an endangered species and is protected by a number of local and international legislation. MEPA’s work to preserve the species is varied such as issues guidelines to fishermen for the handling of these reptiles; the preparation of an action plan and processing of relevant applications. Additionally, MEPA is involved in, and provides the relevant assistance to the competent entities for the rescue and rehabilitation of injured turtles as well as their return into the wild. A survey has also been carried out to record the movements of two released turtles, with the hope of shedding light on their elusive migration patterns.
More information may be obtained by e-mail: nature.requests@mepa.org.mt.
The United Nations declared 2010 to be the International Year of Biodiversity. Malta, together with many other countries around the globe, is carrying out a number of initiatives to celebrate life on earth and the value of biodiversity for our lives. We are all invited to take action in 2010 to safeguard the variety of life on earth: Biodiversity.