Cheloniidae and Dennochelyidae - Marine Turtles
Limpus CJ. 1993. Cheloniidae and Dennochelyidae - Marine Turtles. Pages 202 - 204. In Mather P and Bennet I (ed). A Coral Reef Handbook: A Guide to the Geology, Flora and Fauna of the Great Barrier Reef. Chipping Norton, NSW; Surrey Beatty & Sons,
Marine turtle populations worldwide have declined dramatically in the last two centuries. The Great Barrier Reef, however, remains a refuge for some of the few remaining great breeding aggregations for four species of the family Cheloniidae, viz. flatback, Natator depressus; green, Chelonia mydas; hawksbill, Eretmochelys imbricata; and loggerhead, Caretta caretta. An additional species from the family Cheloniidae (olive ridley, Lepidochelys olivacea) and the sole representative of the family Dermochelyidae (leatherback, Dermochelys coriacea) also occur within the Great Barrier Reef but at very low density compared to the other species. The flatback turtle is indigenous to the Australian continental shelf while the other species have a worldwide distribution throughout tropical and temperate waters.
- Type
- Book Chapter
- Authors
- Limpus, C
- Units
- SFCN
- Keywords
- Behavior, Description, Hatchlings, Instinct, Nesting, Range