Multiple paternity proven
We’ve probably all wondered if turtles can have multiple paternity clutches like cats do, and now our questions have been answered. Work coming from the University of Western Australia by researcher Jamie Tedeschi shows that in at least one species, Caretta caretta (Loggerhead Sea Turtle), multiple paternity is common. However, during the research, she also found no males that mated with multiple females, so promiscuity in annual Loggerhead mating seems to be only common in the females of the population. Most likely this is not limited to Caretta caretta and hopefully work will be done with other species to find out. This same researcher is doing a lot of neat work with this species, including research on turtle embryos being genetically programmed to withstand hotter summers.
Turtle News From Around the World
Conservation
A group of students from University of Maryland spent their spring break doing sea turtle conservation in Topsail, North Carolina.
Nesting season begins at Chambal Sanctuary, where more than 12 species of freshwater turtle and tortoise are found.
Another Leatherback Sea Turtle was rescued.
U.S. Court upholds government approval of solar plant near tortoise habitat.
This letter to the editor of The Des Moines Register is good reminder.
Crime and Punishment
Man jailed after being convicted of animal cruelty for his treatment of turtles and tortoises in his care.
An 80-pound tortoise stolen from Long Beach home.
Did You Know…
Caretta caretta (Loggerhead Sea Turtle) is the largest hard-shelled turtle species, only surpassed by Dermochelys coriacea (Leatherback Sea Turtle) for the biggest overall.
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Photo by C. Lathe.
