Western Pond Turtle Could Join The Endangered Species Act Protection
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced that the Western Pond Turtle could join the Endangered Species Act protection next year. They need to conduct a one-year review prior to decide. This species faces a declination of 99% in some areas. This species needs protection more than ever. Even though it is listed as state endangered in Washington, critical in Oregon and species of a special concern in California, its population is still declining in the northernmost and southern third of its range. “Threats like habitat destruction from urbanization and agriculture are driving western pond turtles toward extinction”. This decision is a response to the largest ever petition focused on protection of amphibians and reptiles signed in 2012 by the Center for Biological Diversity and several renowned scientists and herpetologists. The Fish and Wildlife Service must next issue a “12-month finding” on the turtle that will either offer protection of the species under the Endangered Species Act or reject protection under the Act. The Egyptian Tortoise will be undergoing the same review period.
Turtle News From Around the World
Conservation
Another species of tortoise may join the list of Endanegered species in the USA.
Babies green sea turtles rescued from the unusual cold Cape waters.
Ecology
As opposed to what we used to think, even young sea turtles are very active swimmers.
Media
An Astrochelys radiata shown on KMTV.
Australian Andrew Ucles catches an alligator snapping turtle using his bare hands.
Medical/Health
Boat strikes becomes an increasing problem now.
When food is the key to weight Aldabra giant tortoises without having to lift them.
Miscellaneous
A tortoise club created by a young 14-year-old reptile keeper.
Did You Know…
There are 2 kind of sex determination in turtles: TSD (Temperature-dependent Sex Determination) and GSD (Genetic Sex Determination). The TSD type is made of 2 patterns: pattern I and pattern II. The pattern I is itself divided into two sub-patterns: IA and IB.
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Photo from Biological Diversity
We’d like to apologize for the lack of a post/newsletter on April 10th, as internet service problems prevented it’s publishing.
