Loggerheads turtle - Caretta caretta
Carolus Linnaeus gave the loggerhead its first binomial name, Testudo caretta, in 1758. Thirty-five other names emerged over the following two centuries, with the combination Caretta caretta first introduced in 1902 by Leonhard Stejneger. The English common name "loggerhead" refers to the animal's large head. The Loggerhead sea turtle belongs to the family Cheloniidae, which includes all sea turtles except the leatherback sea turtle.
The name Caretta is a latinized version of the French word “caret”, meaning turtle, tortoise, or sea turtle
Adult size varies geographically in Mediterranean residents rarely exceeding 200 lb. Typical adult carapace length ranges from 30-42 inches. The relatively large head is diagnostic, and it supports powerful jaw muscles that enable this turtle to effectively feed on hard-shelled prey. The carapace is slightly heart-shaped, the scutes do not overlap one another, and the nuchal scute is in direct contact with the first costal scute on each side. Carapace color is reddish-brown, while the plastron is generally a creamy yellow color. The posterior portion of the carapace is thickest; given its relatively slow swimming speed when compared to other sea turtles, this may provide for additional protection against shark predation. Each limb bears two claws. More than 50 species of invertebrates (such as barnacles, tunicates, sponges, and crabs) have been found associated with the loggerhead’s shell!
Where this turtle live
The Mediterranean is a nursery for juveniles as well as a common place for adults in the spring and summer months. Almost 45% of the Mediterranean juvenile population has migrated from the Atlantic. Loggerheads feed in the Alboran Sea and the Adriatic Sea. Greece is the most popular nesting site along the Mediterranean with more than 3,000 nests per year. Because of this, Greek authorities do not allow planes to take off or land at night in Zakynthos due to the nesting turtles. In addition to the Greek coast, the coastlines of Cyprus and Turkey are also common nesting sites. However, small numbers of loggerhead nests have been recorded in Egypt, Israel, Italy, Libya, Syria, and Tunisia. Based on the recorded number of nests per year in Cyprus, Greece, Israel, Tunisia, and Turkey, loggerhead nesting in the Mediterranean ranges from about 3,300 to 7,000 nests per season.
Ecology and biology
Water temperature affects the sea turtle's metabolic rate. Lethargy is induced at temperatures between 13–15 °C (55–59 °F). The loggerhead takes on a floating, cold-stunned posture when temperatures drop to approximately 10 °C (50 °F). The loggerheads' migration help prevent instances of cold-stunning. Higher water temperatures cause an increase in metabolism and heart rate. A loggerhead's body temperature increases in warmer waters more quickly than it decreases in colder water.
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