The Ol ive
Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea), also known as the Pacific Ridley, is one
of the smallest species of sea turtle. It is named for the olive-green
color of its heart-shaped shell.These lightly-built turtles have an
average weight just over 100 lb (up to 50 kg.). They have a high-domed
shell, with a carapace length of only 30 inches (70 cm). The carapace
is made up of five pairs of coastal scutes, with occurrences of up to 6
to 9 divisions per side. The margins are smooth. The carapace is a dark
olive green in color with a yellowish underside. The head is large.
Distribution
It is usually found in the Indo-Pacific and Atlantic oceans. The
common name in Spanish is tortuga golfina, del golfo o lora.
The beaches of Orissa, India provide one of the last nesting grounds
of the Olive Ridley turtles in the world. In addition, trawling and
offshore drilling for oil and gas has been blamed for the death of more
than 20 Olive Ridley turtles, which have washed ashore in the last ten
years.
Though listed by the US Endangered Species Act, populations in the
Atlantic Ocean continue to dwindle, while the populations found in areas
around the Pacific Ocean seem to be on the rise. Furthermore, their
ability to reproduce in the Red Sea was thought impossible, however,
recent evidence suggests that they do indeed hatch in Eritrea amongst
other places in the Red Sea.
In Costa Rica is the one of the most ìmportant nesting of this
turtle. Ositonal Beach in Guanacaste Province has the mayor
concentration of this turtles monthly, where the "arribadas" occur every
month. In october and november is when Olive Ridley turtle nest in mayor
quantity in this place (aproximately 200 turtles per hour). Nancite
Beach and Camaronal Beach in the same province of this Central American
country receive a lot of Olive Ridley Turtle, but less than Ostional.
In the Indian Ocean, a major nesting ground for the species can be
found in the Indian state of Orissa. Beaches in Devi, Gahirmatha and
Rushikulya are known nesting sites for the L. olivacea Indian Ocean
population. In 2007, around 130,000 turtles nested on the beaches of
Gahirmatha.
Lepidochelys olivacea distribution map. Red circles are major nesting
grounds. But the construction of Dhamra Port by TATA Group is supposed
to be a major threat to these turtles.Yellow circles are minor nesting
beaches.
They are common in the Bay of Bengal, seen especially along parts of
the Tamil Nadu coastline, including within the main city, Chennai. Olive
Ridleys are seen frequently in laying eggs in the shore of Saint
Martin's Island in Bangladesh.
It is believed that Olive Ridley turtles return to nest on the same
beach they are hatched. If this is the case, then on these beaches where
efforts are made to protect the eggs and hatchlings there should be
rises in the numbers returning to nest in future.
Ecology and life history
Olive Ridleys are omnivorous, feeding on crabs, shrimp, rock
lobsters, sea grasses, algae, snails, fish, sessile, pelagic tunocates
and small invertebrates. They are sometimes seen feeding on jellyfish in
shallow waters. These turtles forage offshore in surface waters and can
dive to depths of at least 150 meters (500 feet). |
