By Annemarie Kramer
Latin name:
Natator depressus
Geographic Area:
Northern Australia
Weight:
Up to 84 kg (185 lbs)
Size:
Up to 97 cm (3 ft)
Distribution:
This sea turtle only lives in coastal seas around Australia. However, within that area they often migrate over long distances, ranging from 200 to 1300 km (120 – 800 miles). The turtles prefer to stay around deep sandy or muddy bottom, located in turbid waters and with currents, where they can find crabs and other molluscs.
Nesting behaviour:
Flatback turtles nest in the tropical part of northwestern Australia, at day and nighttime. In some areas they nest all year round while in others a certain nesting season exists. Every 1 to 3 years they come ashore on the same beach to lay an average of 52 eggs. After 6 to 8 weeks the young turtles hatch; contrary to the other sea turtles species they do not have a pelagic phase; meaning they do not swim to the open ocean, but stay close to shore.
Food sources:
Little is known about their food; they have been reported to feed on snails, crabs, bryozoans and jellyfish.
Special remarks:
This species is considered to lack a pelagic phase after hatching; meaning they do not swim and stay at the open ocean, coming back only after years, like other species of sea turtles do. The flatback turtle is only known from coastal Australian waters.
Literatur:
Lutz, P. L. & J. A. Musick (Hrsg.), 1997. The Biology of Sea Turtles. 432 Seiten. CRC Press. Boca raton, London, New York, Washington, D.C.
Lutz, P. L., J. A. Musick & J. Wyneken (Hrsg.), 2003. The Biology of Sea Turtles. Volume II. 455 Seiten. CRC Press. Boca raton, London, New York, Washington, D.C.
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