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differences of the atlantic and the pacific subspecies of hawksbill sea turtles

Started by IslandAnimals, December 25, 2013, 01:05:48 AM

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IslandAnimals

can you tell what are the differences between the atlantic and the pacific subspecies of hawksbill sea turtles?


stemturtle

Quote from: IslandAnimals on December 25, 2013, 01:05:48 AM
can you tell what are the differences between the atlantic and the pacific subspecies of hawksbill sea turtles?

The Indo-Pacific subspecies, Eretmochelys imbricata bissa,
is solid black on the dorsal surface of the flippers and head,
and the carapace is more heart-shaped.

The Atlantic hawksbill, E. i. imbricata
is less black on the dorsal surface of the flippers and head,
and the carapace is more straight-sided and narrowly tapered posteriorly.

Reference: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/pdfs/recovery/turtle_hawksbill_pacific.pdf



LizzyLong

These are the only two recognized subspecies of the hawksbill sea turtle. Differences between these two subspecies largely depend on their area of distribution as the mating seasons and time of maturity vary from one to another. The Atlantic subspecies reproduces between the months of August and November while the Pacific hawksbills are known to mate a little later, in November-February. Some differences have also been identified in the dietary behavior of the adult turtles.
You can find out more about these two subspecies in these sites:
http://www.californiaherps.com/turtles/pages/e.i.bissa.html
http://www.animalspot.net/hawksbill-sea-turtle.html
http://www.nwf.org/wildlife/wildlife-library/amphibians-reptiles-and-fish/sea-turtles/hawksbill-turtle.aspx

stemturtle

Quote from: LizzyLong on June 23, 2014, 08:47:00 AM
These are the only two recognized subspecies of the hawksbill sea turtle. Differences between these two subspecies largely depend on their area of distribution as the mating seasons and time of maturity vary from one to another. The Atlantic subspecies reproduces between the months of August and November while the Pacific hawksbills are known to mate a little later, in November-February. Some differences have also been identified in the dietary behavior of the adult turtles.
You can find out more about these two subspecies in these sites:
http://www.californiaherps.com/turtles/pages/e.i.bissa.html
http://www.animalspot.net/hawksbill-sea-turtle.html
http://www.nwf.org/wildlife/wildlife-library/amphibians-reptiles-and-fish/sea-turtles/hawksbill-turtle.aspx


Hawksbill sea turtle, Eretmochelys imbrecata ssp. (Yujin, Series 2, # 14)

Welcome to the Forum, LizzyLong.  Good to have another testudophile on board.
The photo shows how the beak gives this turtle its name.