22
Oct2015
Turtles are famously known for their shells. This hard structure, also known as a carapace, gives them protection in the wild and can help sea turtles camouflage in the ocean. Sea turtles also provide a service with their shells for other animals in the ocean. Many animals use sea turtle shells as a home to live on and others use ... Read More
15
Oct2015
Do you remember our post on Junebug, the sea turtle with three flippers? Well, today we have a guest post all about Calypso! Calypso is also a sea turtle with three flippers that lives at the National Aquarium in Baltimore, Maryland. We were lucky enough to talk with Jackie who takes care of Calypso.
Q: What do you do at the ... Read More
08
Oct2015
Have you heard the exciting news? The first biofluorescent reptile was discovered this week! A hawksbill sea turtle! Biofluorescence is a big word meaning the ability for an animal to absorb light and then produce it (show it) as a different color. In addition to the hawksbill sea turtle being the first reptile to show this amazing ability, it is ... Read More
01
Oct2015
Nesting season is coming to a close, but not without record nesting numbers! Take a look at last summer’s nests compared with this past summer’s nests on the beaches near the Aquarium:
[table id=8 /]
In fact, Fort Fisher had 33 more nests than its previous high record back in 2012. High sea turtle nesting numbers are not just in North Carolina, ... Read More
24
Sep2015
The NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher welcomed two new hatchling loggerhead sea turtles last month! Our new additions will serve as the upcoming year’s sea turtle ambassadors and help educate visitors about their cousins in the wild.
The hatchlings came from a nest located on Fort Fisher’s State Recreation Area. The nest was laid on June 17, 2015. Forty-eight days later ... Read More
17
Sep2015
Sea turtle hatchlings that came into our care last August are now yearlings. Many of you have followed their progress and growth. Soon they will be ready for release into the wild, after receiving the all clear from Aquarium veterinarian staff.
To look back on the measurements of our 2014-2015 hatchlings, refer to the table in this post. We will continue ... Read More
10
Sep2015
This week we are interviewing Jessica, a teen volunteer at the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher, about her experience traveling to Costa Rica to study nesting leatherback sea turtles.
Q: What is your past experience with sea turtles?
A: My experience with sea turtles began in the fourth grade with a school project on endangered animals. Randomly, I chose to do it ... Read More
03
Sep2015
This week we are featuring a guest post from our Volunteer Coordinator, Dan, who traveled to Costa Rica this summer to study nesting leatherback sea turtles.
Is that a Volkswagen Beetle up ahead in the surf? Walking the beach in driving rain, the pitch black night interrupted only by the blinding strobe of lightning strikes, it is hard to distinguish shapes. ... Read More