Hi All,
A huge leatherback turtle washed ashore at Fort Caroline today. It was intact with no signs of ship strike or propeller scars.
Ranger Heather recorded data
while the Florida Fish and Wildlife biologist inspected the turtle and took measurements. It was about six feet long and estimated at 600 pounds.
The skin on the flippers had scraped or rotted away, revealing the bone structure below.
This closeup of the mouth shows many small pointed structures which serve to catch jellyfish as the turtle expels the water ingested along with the jellyfish. They are not teeth and softer than cartilage but stiffer than soft tissue.
The poor creature will be left in place for the scavengers (and because it is too big to move).
Love,
Sandy & Carl
Sandy & Carl
Living & Traveling in our Motorhome
Volunteering across America
617-435-8502
Photographed and sent from Carl's iPhone
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