The leatherback turtle differs from other sea turtles in having a black, leathery shell divided by seven longitudinal ridges.
Back to Chapter 7: New Horizons
Environmental impacts from snowmobiles scrutinized
By Holly Sharpless
Applying new technology to mitigate acid mine drainage in the Northeast
By Kathleen Kodish Reeder
Geoindicators: A tool for monitoring and understanding ecosystem change in parks
By Bob Higgins and Jim Wood
Implementing the National Parks Omnibus Management Act of 1998
By Carol McCoy
Prudential algebra
By Glenn Haas
The unprecedented 2000 fire season
By Tom Zimmerman
EPA asked to restore and protect air quality in parks
Zion’s new transportation system and visitor center receive accolades
Geologic Resources summit held
Utah parks water rights agreements signed
Award-Winner Profile - Redwood superintendent receives award
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Cape Hatteras National Seashore staff and volunteers located 84 sea turtle nests in the North Carolina park in 2000. Most of the nests were laid by loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta), although four green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) nests were also found. Both turtle species are classified under federal law as threatened. The most unusual sea turtle to nest on Cape Hatteras in 2000 was the leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), a federally endangered species. The leatherback is the largest marine turtle, often exceeding 1,000 pounds. It typically breeds in the tropics but is often found foraging in North Atlantic waters. Three leatherback nests were laid in the national seashore, two on Ocracoke Island and one on Hatteras Island. A fourth nest was discovered in Cape Lookout National Seashore. Leatherback nesting was first recorded at Cape Hatteras in 1998. Because adult females nest every two years and may lay several nests each breeding season, this year’s nests could have been laid by the same female. Leatherback turtles venturing far out of their normal nesting range often lay infertile eggs. However, two of the nests laid on the Outer Banks this year were fertile. The eggs at Cape Lookout only partially developed. A fertile nest, located near Hatteras village, produced 86 hatchlings. Little is known of hatchling behavior and movements. |
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This material is from Natural Resource Year in Review--2000, published by the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, in May 2000 (publication D-1459)
/YearInReview/yir/yir2000/pages/07_new_horizons/07_12_sidebar_sea_turtle.html
Last Updated: 06/17/2001
Direct comments on this website to jeff_selleck@nps.gov