Glossary Of Sea Turtle Terms

ARRIBADA- when sea turtles nest "in mass", unique to the Olive ridley and on a smaller scale, the Kemp's ridley

BASKING- exposing the body to the warmth of the sun

BYCATCH- species caught secondary to the target species being fished for such as sea turtles being caught in longline swordfish fisheries

CARAPACE- the upper shell of a sea turtle (on the dorsal or upper surface)

CARUNCLE- a temporary "tooth" located on the snout of a hatchling that aids them in breaking out of their shell

CLUTCH- a single batch of eggs laid by a sea turtle

DISORIENTATION- when sea turtle hatchlings are attracted away from the water by artificial lighting from beachfront buildings, street lights, cars, campfires etc. 

ECTOTHERMIC- an organism that's body temperature is determined by it's environment and not regulated internally

ENDANGERED SPECIES- a species that is considered to be facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild

ENDOTHERMIC- an organism that's body temperature is regulated internally (birds and mammals)

EPIBIONT- one organism living on another, such as a barnacle attached to a sea turtle  

EXTINCTION- the end or dying out of a species

FALSE CRAWL- an adult female sea turtle attempts to nest but returns to the water without laying eggs

FORAGE- to seek out and obtain food

GELATINIVORE- an animal that eats primarily gelatinous prey like jellyfish

HATCHLING- a newly hatched sea turtle

HERBIVORE-  an organism that consumes only plant material

INVERTEBRATE- an animal without a backbone

JUVENILE- an immature, non-reproducing turtle 

MIGRATION- the movement from one area to another for the purpose of feeding, breeding, etc. 

OMNIVORE- an organism that consumes both animals and plants

PELAGIC- an organism that lives in the open ocean

PIPPING- the process of a hatchling breaking out of their egg shell

PLASTRON- the shell of the ventral or lower (belly) surface of a turtle

PREDATOR- an animal that preys upon other animals

PREFRONTAL SCUTES-  the scutes (scales) located between the eyes

SCUTES- a horny plate on the shell of a turtle

SEXUAL DIMORPHISM- when males and females of a species exhibit different physical characteristics

SEXUAL MATURITY- the age at which a sea turtle begins mating and reproducing

SPONGIVORE- an animal that eats primarily sponges

SUBTROPICAL- the region bordering the tropics, usually between ~20 and 40 degrees latitude in both hemispheres

THERMOREGULATION- the regulation of body temperature

THREATENED SPECIES- a species likely to become endangered throughout all or a portion of its geographical range

TURTLE EXCLUDER DEVICE (TED)- a device used in shrimp trawling nets that allows sea turtles to escape if accidentally caught

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Other Glossary Links

seaturtle.org Sea Turtle Glossary

WIDECAST Glossary of Sea Turtle Terms