Rare occurrence of the leatherback sea turtle, Dermochelys coriacea, in Izmir Bay, Aegean Sea, Turkey
Abstract
Leatherback sea turtle, Dermochelys coriacea, is a pelagic and circumglobal species and listed Vulnerable in IUCN Red List. Although the species mainly inhabits the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and occasionally enters the Mediterranean Sea. Most of the sightings have been made in the western part of the Mediterranean. More than a decade after the species’ first record in the Aegean coasts of Turkey, the recent specimen were found stranded dead on the coast of Izmir Bay on October 28, 2011. The mature turtle was a female with 148 cm of curved carapace length and 198 kg of weight. Two deep transversal cuts which seem to be caused by a boat propeller were observed on carapace.
Keywords
Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
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Journal Section
Research Article
Authors
Ertan Taşkavak
Salim Can Akçınar
Çağlayan İnanlı
Publication Date
December 7, 2015
Submission Date
December 7, 2015
Acceptance Date
-
Published in Issue
Year 2015 Volume: 32 Number: 1