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Observations of Green Sea Turtles in
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Due to the number of hurricanes during 2005 this observer did not venture to Akumal. These sightings and notations were made in May of 2006. This is the first time this observer carried out his activities in Akumal during the month of May, the traditional start of the mating, nesting and hatching period for turtles in Akumal Bay.
The location of the observation base in Akumal was the same as in 2004. La Casita #7 and the stairs directly in front the Casita into the Bay was the start of all observations: two other points of reference were used to create a triangulation to place where turtles were observed.
May 04
5:30 to 6:15 PM two young turtles were seen approximately 35 feet off shore from Casita #7 and about 75 feet from the beach in front of the beach stairs in about three to five feet depth. These turtles were about 16” in carapace and one was tagged on the front left flipper and the other on the front right. The turtles were not grazing but swimming in circles above a sandy clearing surrounded by turtle grass. They came up for air every two to four minutes. Then they would dash off into the grass and return chewing a single blade of grass.
The sea floor of the bay is much changed since last observed. According to local reports the hurricanes of last season did enormous damage, which will take hundreds of years to correct. One major change is the passage through the coral out to the sea which used to be opposite the Hotel Caribe and Lo Ha restaurant is now located to the north east and off the point south west of the Cannon House. In addition, there are now thirty-three motorboats of various sizes in the bay. Several of these are sight seeing and sport fishing vessels that are constantly riving their engines as the move about. This motor activity disturbs the turtles and clearly churns up the water making visibility difficult.
There are still plenty of fish in the bay and on an exploratory swims sighting were made of Angel, Parrot, Wrasse, Porgy, Jacks, Grunts, Blue Tang, Barracuda, as well as several variety of grasses, urchins, and coral. Visibility, in general, was not as clear as it had been in the past and cold currents were appeared to move in more areas than before.
May 05
9: 10 AM
From Las Casita #7 steps swimming south 30 to 50 feet beyond the beach turtle grass is visible, some tiny fish in schools, some grunts, puff fish but all in diminished numbers as the boat activity appears to keep the fish away no turtles were sighted during the survey swim. Upon returning, 10: 00 AM, the same two turtles observed the previous day were sighted in the same general location. Upon following them about they appeared to be circling a sandy area surrounded by wide blade turtle grass. Every few minutes one of the two would dart off into the grass on the seaward side and return with a mouth full of grass as opposed to the single blade of grass noted on the previous day.
As the observer was preparing to leave two additional turtles, unmarked, both about 16” carapace appeared and proceeded to act in the same manner as the other two. These two, however, tended to stay closer together and appeared to select blades of grass and eat the blade as the moved about. At 10:30 AM the observation was terminated as a Sport fishing boat and a sight seeing boat came directly into the area and the turtles moved off into deep water to the south.
Later in the day at 12:00 Noon and at 4:00PM two turtles could be seen swimming close to stairs of La Casita #7 as the came up for air.
According to several local people and Paul Sánchez-Navarro from CEA these four young turtles have been sighted many times and appear to have made this location their particular area.
May 06
This afternoon the swim started at 3:10 PM off the steps in front of casita #7. At approximately four-foot depth, 35’ off shore, between the beach steps and beyond the rocks and coral wall two of the young 16” carapace turtles were observed. This is the area where these young turtles have been seen many times.
3:19 PM 3:20 PM
There is a haze in the water due to the angle of the sun and the water activity. The first photo was taken over the southern side of the sandy area just prior to the return of a sight seeing boat from a tour. The second photo was taken a minute later closer to the turtle grass and about ten feet closer to the mooring of the boat, which had rived its engines several times. The second photo is of the other turtle observed at this time that moved into the shadow of the grass as the boat rived its engines.
May 07
12: 28 PM: These turtles were observed moving south from beyond the catamaran at about ten foot depth and mid way out toward the coral wall. It was clear that the turtles were moving away from beach and boat activity.
The first photo is of an unmarked turtle that appears to be 20” + in carapace with girth. After its air intake it jetted into deep water. The second photo is of a younger turtle about 16” carapace who passed beneath the observer and continued with speed into deep water. Although the sun is high in the sky there is an additional water haze from sand and water activity. In the past during midday observations at close range with in five feet the water was usually clearer.
May 08
10:15 AM
Swim started from the steps in front of La Casita #7 and the observer moved out on an angle beyond the moored catamaran toward south
The first turtle observed at 10:54 AM moving over sand near the edge of a meadow of turtle grass had an odd marking on R 3 which continued into R4. It also had a number of smaller dots on L3. Those dots on R3 were somewhat similar to the living tag and appeared as if it was a series of dots. The carapace of this turtle was about 15” and its lower outer scutes terminated in somewhat of a point. This turtle moved toward the turtle grass and proceeded to eat grass stalks that it carefully selected from the base up.
The second turtle photographed at 10:55 AM was about the same size but its carapace was more curved and this turtle had more girth. It was first observed moving toward the grass, which it then proceeded to eat.
A third turtle about 15” carapace was in the process of eating a selected blade of grass in the grass meadow. This turtles had a rectangular slightly curved black mark on R3. As this turtle chewed the blade of grass his head moved from side to side as if to shift the grass from one side of his mouth to the other. See the following photograph taken at
10:57 AM.
Then off in the distance yet another turtle was observed moving over semi grassed area in rapid spurts of movement into deep water. Photo taken at 10:59 AM indicates the grayness of the water and the poor visibility at this time and distance from the subject.
A few minutes later, 11:02 and 11: 03 AM, having returned to the coral and plant life mound, another turtle was observed. This one was about 16’ carapace and had just completed eating in the turtle grass out from the Wind Surfing Hut and was moving up for air.
While waiting for this turtle to surface and attempt a photograph the observer noticed an oddly marked turtle moving off the coral mound. This was a Hawks Bill and the first such turtle observed by this observer in
11:03 AM 11:04AM
11:05 AM
After noting the presence of Hawk’s Bill turtles for the first time the observer return to shore.
Approximately an hour later observation continued in the area between the Windsurf Hut, the Hotel Caribe and more than two thirds out toward the coral and opposite the Canon House. Water depth varied from about eight feet to sixteen feet. A young turtle with carapace about 16” was seen at 12:27 PM moving rapidly from a grass meadow over a sandy area and out toward the new cut in the coral. This turtle was tagged on the front right flipper. Its movements indicated a large circular pattern and the observer proceeded to turn toward shore.
12:27 PM
As the observer moved toward shore, there was a line from a buoy visible, at 12:33 PM a 16” carapace turtle was sighted moving over semi vegetated sand and approaching a grass meadow where it eventual stopped to graze. This was different the one just observed as it to the south of this grass meadow. At the same time the same turtle seen at 12:27 PM, tagged on the right front flipper appeared and moved to the grass to graze.
12:33 PM a 12:33 PM b
With in moments another turtle about 15” carapace with no markings but with a slightly pointed rear shell
came across the sand to join foraging and grazing in this meadow.
12:35 PM
Two minutes later over the turtle grass meadow in about 5five feet of water a larger turtle with some girth appeared. 12:37 PM. This turtle was tagged on the front Left flipper and would select blades of grass as it moved about the meadow in a continuously increasing circle.
12:37 PM
At the edge of this meadow several smaller turtles were eating in close proximity to each other. A new arrival approached at 12: 40 PM. This turtle had a small white dot on R1 and C3, and looked like small versions of the living tag.
At 12:41 PM two turtles about 14” to 16” carapace were observed at the edge of the meadow. There was some water activity from two sightseeing boats and several people entered the water to see the turtles. As a result the water appeared to become somewhat cloudy and visibility diminished as can be seen in image “b”.
a b
Within minutes of the additional people entering the observation area the turtles separated and took off to parts unknown in deeper water and in turtle grass. The observer followed one of the turtles into the grass as noted in image 12:43 PM “a” and as he lost sight of this turtle he saw a turtle carapace 18” resting in a sandy patch in the center of the meadow 12:43 PM “b”.
12:43 PM 12:43 PM “b”
Several feet away from this turtle was another with some girth eating near a semi sandy patch within the grass meadow. Water depth was approximately six feet. This unmarked turtle was rather still and sand had settled on its carapace, but it just continued to eat blades of grass.
12:53 “a” 12:53 “b”
It appears that on this day between 10:54 AM and 12:53 PM twelve different turtles were observed in the area from south of the Wind Surfing Hut two thirds out from the beach toward the coral and then closer in toward the Hotel Caribe. In previous years turtles had been observed in this general area and in close proximately to each other as the grazed in the turtles grass.
MAY 11
First sightings of the day were from the terrace in front of La Casita #7 as two young turtles could be seen coming up for air in the sandy area surrounded by turtle grass about thirty-five to forty-five feet off shore.
At 11:52 AM one of the young turtles seen early was observed en situ in the sandy area and then within a minute to the edge of a meadow of turtle grass and then raising for air.
11:52 AM 11:53AM “a”
11:53AM “b”
This turtle was about 15” carapace and had tight clipped tag on the right front flipper. As this turtle returned to its place in the center of the sandy area the observer noticed another young turtle with some mass/girth in the grass meadow with a loose clipped tag on its right front flipper, a distinct black mark on its right rear flipper and a tiny white dot on C1.
The observer followed this turtle for several minutes noting its movements from turtle grass to sandy area to air intake. It seemed that the turtle was following a pattern as it repeated the grass selection process, eating as it reached the sandy area and then its angular trajectory to air intake and its circular movement away from the surface back to the grass.
This observation started relatively close to the initial observation point at 11:56 AM but moved south beyond the moored catamaran and ended up opposite the Lol Ha Restaurant. Water depth varied from a few feet to over sixteen feet.
11:56 AM 11:57 AM
11:58 AM 11:59 AM
12:10 PM
Later in the day [01:15 PM] the observer ventured along the coral starting from the steps near the Cannon House and moving south toward the Hotel Caribe. It was reported that a three flippered turtle was grazing in this general area. The observer wanted to see this turtle and compare it the three flippered turtle he saw two years ago [2002 & 2003]. However, although there was plenty of sea life, and fish were in and about the coral this turtle was not seen.
Upon returning to the steps by La Casita #7 off the beach area and near where the partial hull of a vessel lays in about twelve feet of water the observer saw the Hawks Bill turtle previously reported. The turtle had been swimming near the sea floor and then moved upward to take air. This is a rather busy area and several sports boats were about and the turtle jetted out of sight in the turtle grass.
02:02 PM 02:03 PM
The observer did not follow the turtle but continued to return to the steps of La Casita #7. As he pasted the rocky point where the sports fishing boats are moored he moved over the carcass of a partially filleted fish.
02:07 PM
May 13
By 10:00 AM the water near the steps to La Casita #7 and the beach to the east was churned up by boat activity making visibility limited in this area. Further off shore is deeper water beyond the moored catamaran visibility was better and at 10: 17 AM a 18+” carapace turtle was observed foraging over and across a field of turtle grass. This turtle had light coloration around its periphery starting on R 2 and moving to R3, R4 and so on up to L1. Its carapace was also more oval and pointed than other turtles. Markings can be seen in the two following images. This turtle eventual came to rest in the field and was joined by a younger turtle with a living tag on C3 who proceeded to place its head under the larger turtle see image 10:18 AM. “a”.
10:17 AM “a” 10:17 AM “b”
While these two were together eating grass and “nuzzling” each other a third and larger turtle 10:18AM “b” appeared in the grass arriving from deeper water. This turtle had some girth, was approximately 20”
10:18 AM “a” 10:18 AM “b”
carapace and appeared to have rather large front flippers. This turtle did not eat grass but seemed to observe the observer prior to swimming to the surface for air [10:21 AM]. It then moved close to observer and proceeded to move to an adjacent field of grass where it commenced to graze [10:22 AM & 10:23 AM] in an area with less wide blade grass and more thin grass, although there was less grass in general.
10:21 AM 10:22 AM
10:22 AM
In an area with thin turtle grass and further off shore from the previous observations was a young turtle, carapace 15”, with living tags on C3 and C5 [10:24 AM “a”] busy carefully selecting a single blade of
10:24 AM “a” 10:25 AM “b”
grass. Once it had selected the blade it chewed it as it rouse for air intake [10:25 AM “b”].
This turtle with the living tags was quick to perform evasive actions when several people jumped into the water from a sight seeing boat. Moving closer to shore on an angle toward the steps from La Casita #7 but still out beyond the catamaran and the moor of the yacht which visited the bay several times another young un marked turtle was visible moving along the sand toward a field and meadow of turtle grass. This turtle about 14” carapace was eating thin turtle grass blades as it moved. Although the sun was overhead and approaching its zenith the water at about twelve feet had little disturbance and was relatively clear.
10:26 AM “a” 10:26 AM “b”
The semi vegetated area this turtle was crossing lead to a meadow with both thin and wide blade grass
located closer to the shore and nearer the catamaran and a large turtle. The carapace of this unmarked turtle was about 24” with girth as well as large front flippers similar to the larger turtle seen early during this period. As the 10:32 image reveals the visibility is diminishing as the observer moved closer to shore.
10:32 AM
There were no other turtle sighting this day although attempts were made between 01:45 PM and 02:30 PM
then again at 04: 15 PM to 05:00PM. During these swims coral, plant life, Grunts, Yellow Snapper, Blue Tawny, Parrot Fish, Puff Fish, Rays, Barracuda, Sergeant Major and other fish were seen.
May 14
The sighting for the day occurred off the steps from La Casita #7 and beyond the mooring of the majority of boats near the public beach. This would be on a line south of the cannon house just the Akumal Beach Resort main building. Swimming to this area over turtle grass small schools of French Grunts, Yellow Striped, Blue Tawny, Wrasse, etc were visible. The water depth varied and the sightings were in about twelve feet. First turtle observed [12:36PM] was about 20” carapace and had an oddly shaped dark blackish mark on L2 and R1, it was surfacing for air.
12:36 a PM 12:36 b PM
This turtle, 12:36 b PM, as seen from behind once it had taken air had girth. Typical of turtle behavior the turtle circled about in evasive movements and the settled on a sandy area with some thin turtle grass near a wide blade turtle grass meadow. As can be seen in 12:37 PM the two blackish marks are visible in L2 7 R1 but have a gray tint in the light and depth. When the turtle moved into the meadow the observer was able to dive toward it and take image 12:40 PM where the marks are a little easier to see.
12:37 PM 12:40 PM
Closer to shore just of the meadow, about 30 feet from the turtle seen above a larger turtle [12:42 PM] was busy selecting blades of grass. This turtle had mass, girth and a carapace about 24”. There were no tags or distinct other distinguishing markings except that its scutes all seemed to be lighter around the edges.
12:42 PM 12: 43 a PM
As the observer moved over the turtle [12: 43 a PM] he was noticed and the turtle proceeded to rise for air [12: 43 b PM] at which point a small white dot [living tag?] could be seen in C1. As this turtle was being photographed another turtle 12:44 PM who had just arrived. The close up [12: 45 PM] of the neck, carapace and left flipper is of the large turtle 12: 42 PM. It was noticed that the turtle had a dark [brown] ring of little growths, which appeared somewhat similar to the lumps seen on turtles several years ago.
12: 43 b PM 12: 44 PM
As the observer was completing this observation period he moved on a direct angle toward the steps of La Casita #7. Just to the south of the Catamaran opposite the Lol Ha snack bar he saw at 12: 48 PM a turtle with about 20” carapace. It had a tiny white mark on L2 [possible the remains of a living tag]. It was selecting thin grass as it moved toward the shadow of the catamaran.
12:48 PM
May 15
Several exploratory swims were made near the coral off shore from the Cannon house and the new cut out of the bay. Plenty of fish, plant life and urchins were visible but no turtles were seen in the morning or late afternoon. Although it was reported to the observer that a three-legged turtle was seen near the new cut. According to the description of the three-legged turtle it appears to have the front left flipper missing and is missing part of its outer shell near R3. This turtle may very well be the same three legged turtle the observer saw a few years ago. In the early after noon the young turtles, tagged on front right flipper, seen several times about 35 feet off shore from the steps to La Casita #7 was seen at the edge of turtle grass and then over the turtle grass. This turtle tends to swim in large circles in and around this meadow and shows little fear of a single observer although it does not approach the observer as some of the other turtles. The turtle does behave cautious when several swimmers approach or when the motorboat’s engines are particularly loud.
01:41 PM 01:42 PM
May 16
Again several morning swims near the new cut revealed no turtles although sightings had been reported. Later in the day moving in line with the Cannon house south to a right angle opposite the
11:49 AM
Several minutes later, 12:08 PM, another turtle was sighted on the sand having just selected a thin blade of grass. This turtle was about 18” carapace and was not tagged. The observer continued to the large
12:08 PM
wide blade grass meadow and as he approached the area he saw coming in from the sea, another turtle [12:12 PM] perhaps 20+ “ carapace. Although this turtle was not long it had girth and mass. Image “c” shows two
12:12 a PM 12:12 b PM
12:12 c PM 12:12 d PM
larger turtle close to another who, with others, graze in the same meadow. The two photographs 12:13 and 12:14 pm of the larger turtle confirm previous noted eating and air taking observations as does 12:15 “a” and the two turtles in 12:15 “b”. The sun’s angle, depth of turtles and their activity caused poor visibility.
12: 13 PM 12:14 PM
12:15 “a” PM 12:15 “b” PM
A few minutes later, on the shore side of the meadow another large turtle was observed on a semi-vegetated field where it was eating grass and then proceeded to raise for air. The sequence 12:19 to 12:20 captures this
12:19 “a” PM 12:19 “b” PM
activity. This particular turtle, about 22”+ carapace with girth, had Remora attached to it. There were no distinctive markings [tags or living tags or irregular scuts] yet in 12:19 “d” PM & 12:20 PM one can see brown marks around the neck. This turtle had no problem observing the observer as can be seen in the distance between turtle and camera in the 12:20 PM photograph.
12:19 “c” PM 12:19 “d” PM
12:20 PM
Later in the day in approximately the same area other turtles were observed grazing close to each other and taking in air. Remora could be seen on these turtles and one, has a faded white mark the bottom of scute L3.
04:24 “a” PM 04:24 “b” PM
04:24 “c” PM 04:25 “a” PM
04:25 “b” PM 04:25 “c” PM
The two turtles in 04:24 “a’ and “b” and “c” and 04:25 “a” are about 18+” carapace. The turtle in 04:25 “b” and “c” is larger, about 24” carapace, has girth and mass as well as two Remora on it. The fourth turtle observed, 04:27, with a carapace of about 18” and a single Remora on it was circling the meadow and selecting single thin blades of grass. The last turtle observed 04:28 PM was about the same size as the turtles first seen this after noon and it too was selecting thin blades of grass from the sandy area adjacent to the large meadow wide turtle grass.
04:27 “a” PM 04:27 “b” PM
04:28 PM
This documented period of observation was from May 04 to 17, 2006. Actual turtle observations totaled four hours and forty-three minutes. During this period notes were taken only in situ as time factors were coded on the camera used in its special underwater housing. [Camera is a Canon Power Shot S200 Elph.] Most of the turtle behavior observed this time: eating, selecting blades of grass, swimming, coming up for air, evasive movements, and grazing in small herds had been documented before. No large tumors or lumps were seen but small brown circular dots were observed around several turtle’s necks. Few clearly living marked turtles were in evidence and only three tagged turtles were noted: all the other turtles seen were unmarked.
Since observations commenced in 1997 the time observing the turtles in Akumal is 113 hours, 21 minutes.
Even though this period is the start of the mating and nesting season no very large turtles were seen, none mating, and only about twelve different young turtles in total were observed at during any sighting. Although reports indicated more turtles were in the bay this observer saw relatively few. Most of the turtles seen were approximately 16” to 20” carapace and only a few had girth and mass.
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