INSIDE COASTA RICA (San José) 12/13/10
Scientists in Costa Rica are studying the death of at least 10 and 12 more ailing turtles in the southern zone. Universidad Nacional (UN) told the press that the environmental organization MarVia found the 22 turtles floating near Matapalo beach.
Ten of the Kemp's Ridley turtles died within days of bringing them to shore and biologists and veterinarians have no ida of what caused their deaths.
According to Widecast Network, this occurs when creatures have been floating adrift in the water for a prolonged period.
Widecast diretor, Claudio Quesada, told the La Nación that the turtles could have been at sea for more than two months, as they showed dehydration and lack of feeding for weeks.
Chemicals from nearby drainage from crops of palm, rice and pineapple, given their concentration of agrochemicals, could be the reason as some of the substances could affect the turtles.
So far this year another 41 Kemp's Ridleys were found in the biological reserve on Caño Island in a similar state as those of Matapalo.
Kemp's Ridley (Lepidochelys kempii) is a critically endangered species of sea turtle. It is one of two living species in the genus Lepidochelys, the other one being L. olivacea, the Olive Ridley. It is also the rarest sea turtle. Kemp's Ridley is the smallest living sea turtle species, reaching maturity at 2-3 feet (61-91 cm) long and averaging only 45 kilograms (99 lb).
It is typical of a sea turtle, having a dorsoventrally depressed body with specially adapted flipper-like front limbs. Like other sea turtles, it possesses a horny beak.
From: Herp Digest,
Volume # 10 Issue # 55
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