Turtles are found in warm and temperate seas worldwide.
Habitat
Most adult turtle species are found in shallow waters, coastal areas, bays, lagoons, and estuaries. Some also venture into the open sea. Juvenile turtles of some species can be found in bays, estuaries, and the sea.
Migration
Migration habits vary not only between species but also between different populations of the same species. Some turtle populations nest and feed in the same general areas, while others migrate from very distant locations.
Satellite Map of Turtle Migration
- Green turtle populations primarily migrate along the coast from nesting sites to feeding areas. However, some populations travel 2,094 km (1,300 miles) across the Atlantic Ocean from Ascension Island’s nesting sites to feeding grounds in Brazil.
- Loggerhead turtles migrate along the coast from breeding areas to feeding grounds between the extreme northern and southern parts of their distribution range.
- Leatherback turtles leave feeding areas to migrate and breed, with their range varying from a few kilometers to thousands of kilometers.
- Kemp’s Ridley turtles follow two main routes in the Gulf of Mexico: one to the north to the Mississippi area, and the other to the south to Campeche Bank, near the Yucatán Peninsula.
- The population of Olive Ridley turtles has been observed traveling in large groups between feeding areas and nesting sites in the Eastern Pacific and the Indian Ocean.
- Migration studies of hawksbill turtles are limited. Evidence suggests that some hawksbill populations follow nesting migration cycles. Other researchers have documented populations of hawksbill turtles that do not migrate or migrate short distances.
- Flatback turtles move from their nesting sites on the northern coasts of Australia and islands to feeding areas in the shallow waters of northeastern Australia. The distances covered range from 215 to 1,300 km (134–807 miles).
- Leatherback turtles have the longest migration of all sea turtles. They have been found to migrate over 4,831 km (3,000 miles) from their nesting beaches.
Migration habits differ between turtle species. Migration distances can range from a few to thousands of kilometers. The most common method for tracking free-roaming sea turtles is flipper tagging (metal tags, PIT tags). While this method provides information about migration destinations, it does not reveal the travel routes. Recently, radio, sonic, and satellite tracking have successfully monitored turtle movements. The Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute has developed a radio transmitter harness for leatherback turtles. The design allows for the safe attachment of the transmitter without affecting the turtle’s mobility. The harness is designed to break off after a few months.
Telemetry Equipment Installed on Leatherback Turtles
