turtles

Why climate change is creating more female sea turtles and crocodiles

As the world gets warmer, animals whose sex is determined by temperature are finding cool ways to control their own fate. But can they adapt in time?




turtles

Evolutionary insights in Amazonian turtles (Testudines, Podocnemididae): co-location of 5S rDNA and U2 snRNA and wide distribution of Tc1/Mariner [RESEARCH ARTICLE]

Manoella Gemaque Cavalcante, Cleusa Yoshiko Nagamachi, Julio Cesar Pieczarka, and Renata Coelho Rodrigues Noronha

Eukaryotic genomes exhibit substantial accumulation of repetitive DNA sequences. These sequences can participate in chromosomal reorganization events and undergo molecular cooption to interfere with the function and evolution of genomes. In turtles, repetitive DNA sequences appear to be accumulated at probable break points and may participate in events such as non-homologous recombination and chromosomal rearrangements. In this study, repeated sequences of 5S rDNA, U2 snRNA and Tc1/Mariner transposons were amplified from the genomes of the turtles, Podocnemis expansa and Podocnemis unifilis, and mapped by fluorescence in situ hybridization. Our data confirm the 2n=28 chromosomes for these species (the second lowest 2n in the order Testudines). We observe high conservation of the co-located 5S rDNA and U2 snRNA genes on a small chromosome pair (pair 13), and surmise that this represents the ancestral condition. Our analysis reveals a wide distribution of the Tc1/Mariner transposons and we discuss how the mobility of these transposons can act on karyotypic reorganization events (contributing to the 2n decrease of those species). Our data add new information for the order Testudines and provide important insights into the dynamics and organization of these sequences in the chelonian genomes.




turtles

Sea Turtles Might Be Eating Old Plastic Because It Smells Like Shrimp

Over time, trash that has been floating in the ocean gets covered in algae and other micro-organisms




turtles

Eight Arrested in Puerto Rico on Charges of Illegal Trade in Endangered Sea Turtles for Human Consumption

Federal authorities arrested eight people in the cities of Arroyo and Patillas, Puerto Rico, yesterday on felony and misdemeanor charges for the illegal take, possession and sale of endangered sea turtles and their parts for human consumption as well as aiding and abetting violations of the Endangered Species and Lacey Act, announced Robert G. Dreher, the Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division and Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico.



  • OPA Press Releases

turtles

Almost 1,000 smuggled turtles found in luggage at Thai airport

Some people want pet turtles, and they don't care where they're from or whether they are endangered species.




turtles

Peru releases 500,000 at-risk baby turtles into the wild

Peruvian environmental authorities make a big statement with tiny turtles.





turtles

Watch baby Olive Ridley turtles take their first steps into the Arabian Sea


Baby Olive ridley turtles all set to embrace the sea in Velas.

Turtles - female Olive ridley turtles in particular - have a phenomenal memory. In their lifespan of about 50 years, where they swim for thousands of miles in the underwater world, they never forget one route. The females return to the same beach where they hatched to give birth to new life. The creatures are also communal in nature - they arrive at their native beach in thousands to lay eggs. The phenomenon, which makes for a stunning sight, is called Arribada.

Inhabitants of warm waters, the species has two haunts on the Indian coastline: Rushikulaya in Odisha and Velas in Ratnagiri. Over the years, Olive ridley turtles have borne the brunt of human activities and are now recognised as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List. Conservation measures have been underway to ensure the eggs hatch in a conducive environment and the hatchlings safely take their first steps to the sea. If Arribada has piqued your interest, a two-day eco-tour organised by Mumbai Travellers will take you to the Velas beach where you can watch the phenomenon unfold before your eyes.

"The baby turtles trek to the sea in early mornings and evenings, so we take travellers straight to the beach as soon as we arrive in Velas," shares Karishma Joshi, eco-tours division head of the travel group. The trip includes a visit to the Bankot Fort and Harihareshwar. "In the evening, travellers will be taken to conservationist Mohan Upadhye's home, where they will watch a documentary on the turtles. This will be followed by a skit presented by local children on turtle conservation," shares Joshi.





turtles

Four men are arrested after being caught smuggling over 5,000 baby turtles

Border agents found a total 5,255 red-ear slider baby turtles kept in small baskets from the luggage of two Indian nationals who flew in from Guangzhou, China to Kuala Lumpur airport.




turtles

Jeb Bush keeps toy turtles in his pocket to give to children along campaign trail

At a campaign event in New Hampshire on Wednesday, Jeb Bush gifted a 13-year-old boy named Zacharie a tiny turtle, which he apparently keeps in his pocket for such occasions.




turtles

Guardians of Sea Turtles


The destinies of the people of Kolavipalam village in North Kerala and the endangered Olive Ridley turtles are bound together. M P Basheer explores.




turtles

Watch: Hundreds of Baby Olive Ridley Turtles Make Their Way to Sea in Odisha amid Lockdown

Videos of a huge number of baby Olive Ridley turtles moving towards the sea after a few days of hatching has taken the internet by a storm.




turtles

Environment Legislation Amendment (Protecting Dugongs and Turtles) Bill 2019 / The Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee

Australia. Parliament. Senate. Environment and Communications Legislation Committee, author, issuing body




turtles

Captive-bred rare species of turtles to be released in Sunderbans

After successfully hatching critically endangered Batagur turtles in captivity, officials at the Sunderbans Tiger Reserve (STR) would release a batch of the hatchlings in the Sunderbans mid-2014.




turtles

206 turtles seized at Sinthi bus depot

Kolkata police Thursday seized 206 turtles, belonging to an endangered species, from a bus depot at Sinthi in North Kolkata.




turtles

Angry Nerd - Reboots We Need Way More Than "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles"

The upcoming Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles remake is completely unnecessary. Instead of fixing flicks that ain't broke, why not reboot the films that can actually be improved upon?




turtles

Design FX - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Facial Animation FX

Mike Seymour breaks down the tech behind the latest Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles flick, including the facial animation effects. Plus, find out how an improvised, off-camera moment turned into one of the funniest scenes in the movie.




turtles

Turtles and Tortoises For Dummies


 




turtles

Sweet-smelling study aids, and why stinky plastic is a trap for turtles




turtles

Green turtles, Key West, Fla




turtles

Fountain of Turtles at Ringling Art Museum, Sarasota, Florida




turtles

Two men fishing for green turtles on a pier in Key West




turtles

Food finding using olfaction by scorpion mud turtles (Kinosternon scorpioides)