Sea Turtle … (+ one air bubble) [SOOC] by rhoing

Sea Turtle … (+ one air bubble) [SOOC]

This turtle was swimming directly at Suzanne when she saw it. It is probably a green sea turtle, the most common around Maui. As awkward as these creatures are on land, they are graceful and seemingly-effortless swimmers in water.

From National Geographic, http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/green-turtle/
“The green turtle is a large, weighty sea turtle with a wide, smooth carapace, or shell. It inhabits tropical and subtropical coastal waters around the world and has been observed clambering onto land to sunbathe.

“It is named not for the color of its shell, which is normally brown or olive depending on its habitat, but for the greenish color of its skin. There are two types of green turtles—scientists are currently debating whether they are subspecies or separate species—including the Atlantic green turtle, normally found off the shores of Europe and North America, and the Eastern Pacific green turtle, which has been found in coastal waters from Alaska to Chile.

“Weighing up to 700 pounds (317.5 kilograms) green turtles are among the largest sea turtles in the world. Their proportionally small head, which is nonretractable, extends from a heart-shaped carapace that measures up to 5 feet (1.5 meters). Males are slightly larger than females and have a longer tail. Both have flippers that resemble paddles, which make them powerful and graceful swimmers.

“Unlike most sea turtles, adult green turtles are herbivorous, feeding on sea grasses and algae. Juvenile green turtles, however, will also eat invertebrates like crabs, jellyfish, and sponges.

“While most sea turtles warm themselves by swimming close to the surface of shallow waters, the Eastern Pacific green turtle will take to land to bask in the sun. Occasionally seen sunbathing alongside seals and albatrosses, it is one of the few marine turtles known to leave the water other than at nesting times.

“Green turtles, like other sea turtles, undertake lengthy migrations from feeding sites to nesting grounds, normally on sandy beaches. Mating occurs every two to four years and normally takes place in shallow waters close to the shore. To nest, females leave the sea and choose an area, often on the same beach used by their mothers, to lay their eggs. They dig a pit in the sand with their flippers, fill it with a clutch of 100 to 200 eggs, cover the pit and return to the sea, leaving the eggs to hatch after about two months. The most dangerous time of a green turtle’s life is when it makes the journey from nest to sea. Multiple predators, including crabs and flocks of gulls, voraciously prey on hatchlings during this short scamper.

“Green turtles are listed as an endangered species, and a subpopulation in the Mediterranean is listed as critically endangered. Despite this, they are still killed for their meat and eggs. Their numbers are also reduced by boat propeller accidents, fishnet-caused drowning, and the destruction of their nesting grounds by human encroachment.”

Dinner: Mama’s Fish House
Tomorrow: Ferry trip and tour to Molokai.

1 year ago (“Vanessa”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2013-09-30
2 years ago (“Up before dawn…”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2012-09-30
3 years ago (“Stained glass”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2011-09-30

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Great photo! And surprisingly good for a SOOC underwater shot!
October 13th, 2014  
@laetitiapetrussa Thank you! The water was clear; she was near the surface so the light was good and she was so close to us that everything worked for a good SOOC post!
October 13th, 2014  
@rhoing yeah, the elements have to collaborate... I just saw there's a bite taken out of its flipper :-(
October 13th, 2014  
Amazing shot Thom - so you're in Maui?? Have a blast!
October 13th, 2014  
They are the most amazing creatures. A really fabulous capture.
October 13th, 2014  
Great sooc shot. Our book club read a novel about Molokai so will look forward to photos from your tour.
October 14th, 2014  
lovely
October 14th, 2014  
Love how it appears to be free floating.
October 14th, 2014  
@genealogygenie Do you want (a) a coming-or-going seascape, (b) a panorama of sorts of the leper colony area, (c) something from the macadamia nut farm, or (d) other?
October 14th, 2014  
@tara11 We were and it *was* a blast!!!
October 14th, 2014  
I bet that was thrilling
October 14th, 2014  
Oh, you were THERE? You took THIS? Lucky! I did some scuba diving for a while and wanted to see a turtle. Never did. This is a gorgeous pic! WOw.
October 28th, 2014  
Is his flipper damaged?
October 28th, 2014  
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