Hawksbill Turtle Eretmochelys imbricata in the Sultanate of Oman
Ross J. 1981. Hawksbill Turtle Eretmochelys imbricata in the Sultanate of Oman. Biological Conservation. 19(2):99 - 106
The preence of a population of hawksbill turtle Eretmochelys imbricata nesting on Masirah Island, lat. 21°N, long. 59°E, is reported. A maximum of 124 adult females nested in 1978 and 109 in 1979. Details of adult size and clutch sizes are given. The presence of subadult hawksbills around Masirah suggests that there is a resident population there. Those on Masirah Island are smaller and lay fewer eggs than hawksbills from Costa Rica, Guyana, or the Seychelles. The annual cold upwelling along the South Arabian Coast may be the causal factor. The only threat to this population is the of removal eggs by people, which is insignificant at present but requires control for the future.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Ross, James
- Units
- SFCN
- Keywords
- baby, Clutch, Count, Nesting, Population, Survey