Body Temperature of the Loggerhead Sea Turtle Caretta Caretta and the Leatherback Sea Turtle Dermochelys Coriacea During Nesting
Open Access
- 1 January 1978
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Taylor & Francis in Zoologica Africana
- Vol. 13 (1) , 63-69
- https://doi.org/10.1080/00445096.1978.11447606
Abstract
Body temperatures of loggerhead and leatherback turtles recorded during nesting excursions were found to be greater than sea temperatures. Leatherback turtles exhibited greater temperature differentials (5,3 - 6,25°C) than loggerhead turtles (1,9 - 3,22°C). The possibility that leatherback turtles may have a preferred temperature range (30 - 32°C) as is the case in terrestrial chelonians is discussed. Recordings of exhaled air temperatures suggest that leather-back turtles may employ a countercurrent heat exchange system in the nares in order to conserve body heat.This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: