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Common name: Green Sea Turtle Hawaiian name: Honu Latin name: Chelonia mydas Status: Protected & Threatened |
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Common name: Hawksbill Turtle Hawaiian name: ‘Ea Latin name: Eretmochelys imbricata Status: Protected & Endangered |
Comparison of the Green turtle and the Hawksbill turtle:
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Green Turtle
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Hawksbill Turtle
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Hawaiian Name
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Honu
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‘Ea
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Status
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Threatened
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Endangered
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Distribution
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Common
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Not common, mostly Maui and Big Island
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Adult Weight
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Up to 500 lbs.
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Up to 200 lbs.
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Adult Shell Length
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3-4 ft.
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2-3 ft.
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Diving Depth
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Up to 1500 ft.
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Up to 1500 ft.
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Breathing Cycle
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Resting up to 3 hours
Normal – every 15 to 30 mins.
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Up to 3 hours
Normal – every 15 to 30 mins.
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Diet
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Limu, seagrass and invertebrates
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Sponges, algae & invertebrates
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Sexual Maturity
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25-35 years
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20-29 years
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Lifespan
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80-100 years
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30-50 years
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Hawaii Nesting Activity
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500-800 per year
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20-25 per year
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Basking
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Yes
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No
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Carapace (Shell)
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High domed
Non-overlapping scutes
Smooth edge
Olive to black color
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Flatter, more colorful
Overlapping scutes
Jagged edge
More colorful
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Claws
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1 per flipper
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2 per flipper
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Nesting Frequency
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2 to 8 years
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4 years
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Intervals of Nesting
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4 nests / 14 days apart
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1 to 6 nests / 20 days apart
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Eggs/Clutch & Incubation
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~100 eggs / ~2 months
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~180 eggs / ~2 months
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