Biological and Reproductive Characteristics of Hawksbill Turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) in Hormoz Island

Document Type : Original Articles

Authors

1 Department of Marine Biology, Faculty of Marine Sciences, University of Chabahar Maritime and Marine Science

2 epartment of Marine Biology, Faculty of Marine Sciences, University of Khoramshahr Marine Science and Technology

3 Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Gorgan Agriculture Sciences and Natural Resources

4 ranian National Center for Oceanography- Indian Ocean and Gulf of Oman, Chabahar

Abstract

During the reproductive season from mid-March to June 2006 the biological importance of reproductive aspects of 41 individuals e.g. straight carapace length and width, weight, carapace curve length and width, plastron length, tail length, number of eggs, number of normal and abnormal egg, weight and diameter of egg were recorded. Only 49% of individuals’ biometry leads to successful nesting. Grain size analysis in the egg laying area is between 2 to 0.063 mm and in some areas with maximum successful nesting it reaches 0.25 to 0.125mm. The average weight and straight length of hawksbill turtles were 44.45 kg and 65.22 cm in comparison with other Iranian Islands and the Persian Gulf which have a similar average rate and, when compared with other parts of the world, have the minimum length and maximum weight. The length and weight distribution showed that hawksbill turtles that are coming to these shores are of a different age group. Out of 41 hawksbill turtles, the average egg diameter and weight were 30.45g; similar measurements have been shown in other parts of the Iranian Islands and Persian Gulf but, in comparison with other parts of the world, it represents a minimum of total eggs that have a maximum average diameter and weight. Finally, in conclusion, the turtles of Hormoz Island and the Persian Gulf region have shown a smaller body size and the minimum number of eggs compared with other parts of the world. But the egg size was bigger and this could influence the survival rate for hatchlings.

Keywords

Environmental Sciences
Volume 7, Issue 2
January 2010

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