Functional autonomy of land and sea orientation systems in sea turtle hatchlings

Abstract:

Hatchling leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) and green (Chelonia mydas) sea turtles released offshore consistently swam toward approaching waves and oceanic swells. A crawl across the beach was not a prerequisite for wave orientation, indicating that hatchling sea turtles possess 2 separate orientation systems, each based on different sensory cues and capable of functioning autonomously. One guides hatchlings on land to the sea; the 2nd based on wave detection, functions during ocean migration. -Authors

Año de publicación:

1990

Keywords:

Fuente:

scopus