A very rare specimen of green turtle Chelonia mydas was found dead on March 24th on the beach in Lido di Camaiore, in the province of Lucca, at the Venusta II bathhouse. The report, made to ARPAT by the Port Authority, is part of the monitoring activities of stranding and accidental capture of large marine vertebrates in the Tuscany Region.
He is about to end up run over, his mother saves him
A very rare example of Tartaruga verde Chelonia mydas was found dead on 24 March on the beach in Lido di Camaiore, in the province of Lucca, at the Venusta II bathing establishment. The reporting, carried out at ARPAT by the Port Authority, is part of the monitoring activities of stranding and accidental capture of large marine vertebrates in the Tuscany Region.
This turtle differs from the much more common Caretta caretta for some unmistakable details: the darker color of the carapace (green or brown), the oval and more elongated shape of the carapace (instead of heart-shaped), the smaller and elongated head and the presence of 4 lateral dorsal plates on the carapace instead of 5.
The specimen, been dead for a few days, is a turtle of approx 15 kg in weight and a total length of 65 cm (see photo below). The animal was recovered for study and scientific research purposes: the IZSLT sect. of Pisa will carry out a complete necropsy to search for possible causes of death and to carry out bacteriological, virological, parasitological investigations, etc.
The University of Siena, on the other hand, will carry out ecotoxicological analyzes, while the Sea Sector of ARPAT will carry out investigations on the stomach contents for the determination of the diet of this species. Furthermore, together with the University of Siena, any ingested marine debris (especially plastics) will be searched and analyzed, as per the ISPRA protocol, as part of the monitoring activities envisaged by the MSFD.
The Tuscany Region now has a fairly long and important series of data, relating precisely to the period 1990-2013, which counts more than 560 animals. Among these, however, were registered only 5 specimens of green turtle and 9 specimens of the equally rare leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea). While the leatherback turtle is considered only occasional and accidental for our Mediterranean Sea (where it does not nest), the green turtle reproduces in this sea basin exclusively along the coasts of Turkey, Cyprus and Israel but is considered extremely rare in ours. latitudes.
The first report of this species in Tuscany dates back to 1997, when a specimen was accidentally caught in the waters of the Secche della Meloria, in Livorno, by a longline. The specimen, still alive, was released in November of the same year after a period of hospitalization and observation at the former Municipal Aquarium of Livorno. After this exceptional find they were registered 4 specimens died in the period 2001-2004. Since then, until today, there have been no more reports and finds of this species.
Roberta Ragni
Photo Credit
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