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The three turtles in these photographs were observed 31 July to 21 August 1998. The largest turtle marked on scute L1, tag number A16, named Clonia. The second marked on scute L2, tag number BB004, named Echo. The third no markings on the carapace or tag but had a chip on the marginal scute on the left side (just opposite scute L3,) named Ino. All turtles were observed in Akumal Bay and reported to the Centro Ecologico Akumal. The Director of the Center, Michael J. Mulgrew, and, the Director of the Turtle Project, Luis Manuel Ortiz, requested names for the turtles. Ortiz said the turtles were tagged and marked at birth near Akumal Bay. The research to date concerning these turtles indicated that they should not be living in this area but further away. As a result of the observations and photographs, a videotape project had been planned to study these turtles (see note #5).
1.
Ino (chip on the marginal scute opposite L3) raising vertical with flippers
tucked.
2.
Ino swimming horizontal with open front flippers.
3.
Ino raising for air, vertical position with extended flippers.
4.
Clonia (marked scute L1, tag, A16 ) dusting sand with left flipper. Small
Remora visible.
5.
Clonia vertical raising with front flippers extended, rear flippers open.
6.
Clonia and Ino grazing.
7.
Echo (marked on scute L2 and tagged BB004) swimming across meadow.
8.
Echo pausing to select a blade of grass.
9.
Echo coming out of the thick grass to graze at the edge of the meadow.
10.
Echo grazing at the edge of the meadow.
11.
Echo going up for air.
12.
Clonia and Echo coming out of the thick grass meadow to feed.
13.
Clonia and Echo at the edge of the meadow.
14.
Echo in a vertical position preparing to raise.
15.
Echo raising with extended flippers.
16.
Echo with flippers back.
17.
Echo with flippers back on the raise.
18.
Ino swimming toward surface above the turtle grass at the edge of the meadow
19.
Echo's head and front flippers as it returns to feed.
20.
Echo's head.
21.
Clonia raising in vertical position, flippers back, Remora tails visible beneath
shell.
22.
Clonia breaking surface for air.
23.
Clonia starting to descend, Remora visible.
24.
Clonia returning to surface in front of women 4' 11".
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