Identifying
turtles
The Hawksbill turtle is easily distinguishable by the shape and coloration of its head and shell.
Turtles can often be spotted in Redang while snorkelling or diving and it is always an exciting experience to encounter one. Although 4 of the 7 known species of sea turtles nest on Malaysian beaches, the ones you are most likely to see in Redang are the Green and Hawksbill turtles. Once a major tourist attraction along Terengganu's coastline, the Giant Leatherback turtle is now rarely seen in the waters here due to their rapidly dwindling numbers worldwide. The Olive-ridley is also fast becoming a rare sight in Redang waters.
PROTECT OUR SEA TURTLES
- Do not grab turtles by their shells, hang on to them or lift them to the surface or out of the water.
- Avoid littering and remove plastic bags from the sea as turtles may eat them with fatal results, mistaking them for jellyfish.
Different carapace (shell) shapes of sea turtles.
Differences in the beak and shell of the hawksbill turtle (left) and green turtle (right).
There are differences among turtle species in the size, shape of the head, mouth and shell as well as shell colourations and the number of claws on the flippers. The shell (also known as carapace) itself differs in the outline shape and arrangements of the lateral and central scutes (scutes are the plate-like structures on the upper shell).
For example, adult hawksbill turtles are smaller than green turtles. The shell of the Hawksbill has a rougher appearance due to the ragged edge and overlapping scutes while the green turtle has a smoother shell. The mouth of the hawksbill resembles that of a bird's beak, is longer and protrudes more compared to the flatter mouth of the green turtle.
The Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)
Hawksbill turtle with 2 claws on its flippers.
This turtle is more colourful than others with pale yellow spots on its dark brown shell. The carapace is elongated and oval and the scutes overlap one another like roof tiles. In juveniles and hatchlings, the edges of the carapace look ragged. Each front and rear flipper has 2 claws. The hawksbill's mouth resembles a hawk's bill (that's probably how it received its name). This turtle feeds mainly on sponges and soft corals.
The Green turtle (Chelonia mydas)
Green turtle with 1 claw on its flippers.
This turtle comes with a dark olive-brown to green coloration. The shell is smooth and oval with lateral & central scutes that are more uniform in size and arranged neatly. Each flipper has one visible claw. It is primarily herbivorous, and their jaws are serrated allowing them to feed mainly on sea grass and sea weeds, and sometimes on crustaceans and jellyfish.
The Olive-Ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea)
Photo credit unknown.
This has an olive, grayish-green colour and is the smallest of the turtle species. The carapace is rounder in shape while the lateral scutes (those at the two sides) are wider and more pronounced than the central scute. It has one claw on each front flipper, while the rear flipper may have one or two claws. It feeds mainly on crabs, shrimps, other crustaceans, molluscs, jellyfish, fish and seagrass.
The Giant Leatherback turtle (dermochelys coriacea)
Photo ©Naoki Karnezaki.
This is the largest of the turtle species and is the simplest to recognize. It does not have a hard shell but possesses a leathery carapace marked by 7 longitudinal ridges. The body is often dark with white or grey spots. The upper jaw is deeply notched like the shape of a 'w' to help them catch jellyfish, their main food, and other soft marine life.
Leatherbacks can grow up to over 2m in length and are mainly oceanic, nesting in tropical waters but moving to temperate waters to feed. Their numbers have declined so rapidly worldwide that scientists believe they may be extinct by the next decade. Only about 20,000 to 30,000 breeding females exist today.
For more information on sea-turtles, try visiting the following sites:
- Ocean Ambassadors - Turtle Islands Heritage Protected Area
- Turtle Trax
- International Year of the Ocean - Sea Turtles
- Environment Australia Marine Turtles site
- Sea Turtle Protection & Conservation - National Marine Fisheries Services, USA
- Sea Turtle Survival League - Caribbean Conservation Corporation
