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Home , Flatback sea turtle, Western swamp turtle

September | October 2016 the Tortuga Gazette Volume 52, Number 5 California & Club founded in 1964 and dedicated to Turtle & Tortoise Preservation, Conservation and Education

Nesting female Australian flatback turtle, Natator depressus, photographed in in Bowen, , . Photo © 2009 by Stephen Zozaya. Reprinted with permission from the photographer. Flatback , Natator depressus

The Australian Flatbackby M. A. Cohen he Australian flatback is a mem- covers the carapace of the flatback tur- museum specimens that went undiscov- ber of the , the tle. Ordinarily, keratinized scutes cover ered for decades. superfamily of sea , which the carapace of sea turtles . In the 1980s, Rainer Zangerl and Colin Tis collectively the most endangered fam- The species was first described by Limpus concluded, through indepen- ily of turtles on the planet. Least studied American ichthyologist/herpetologist dent studies, that the Australian flatback of the seven living sea turtle species, the Samuel W. Garman (1843-1927) in 1880. was a unique species and not a relative Australian flatback turtle, Natator depres- Originally Garman assigned the Aus- of C. mydas (Spotila, 2004). sus, is unusual in several respects. tralian flatback to the Chelonia, The flatback was officially described It is the only sea turtle that is endemic, thinking it was a type of green turtle, and as a separate species in 1988 (Flatback, i.e., restricted to a certain area (Flatback, he gave it the name C. depressa. n.d.). Consequently, it was assigned to n.d.). The Australian flatback is the only Historically, there have been differ- the genus Natator, the name which was sea turtle that does not migrate extensive ences of opinion about how to classify first given it by McCulloch in 1908. Its distances in the open ocean. Moreover, the species. In 1908, Allan R. McCulloch species name was modified and became it does not venture into the deep ocean thought he had discovered a new spe- depressus. This name is now accepted by waters, but prefers the relatively shallow cies of sea turtle, and he named it Natator the scientific community. ocean waters near the Australian coast. It tessellates. Notwithstanding, in 1913, D. The word “natator” means “a swim- occasionally journeys to favored feeding B. Fry examined the skeletal material mer,” a fitting name for a sea turtle, grounds in southeast Asia. and life history stages of the species and the most pelagic of turtle species. The Like the carapace of the leatherback reverted to the name C. depressa, but species name depressus means “flat- turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), fleshy skin he made mistakes when preparing his tened” and refers to the carapace of 2 the Australian flatback, able of Contents which is noticeably less T domed than that of oth- Turtle of the Month er sea turtle species. Identification Natator depressus The Australian flatback 1 The Australian Flatback by M. A. Cohen is a medium-to-large sea turtle species that reaches 4 Raine Island: the World’s Largest Green a mature carapace length Turtle Rookery by M.A. Cohen of 114.7 centimeters (45.2 5 Educating Hungry Ravens with 3D Printed inches) at maturity, aver- Tortoise Shells by Hannah Rose Mendoza aging 90 centimeters (35. A flatback hatchling makes its way from its nest to the ocean. Photo © 2010 by 4 inches). The average Purpleturtle57; source: CC-BY- SA-3.0 6 Herpetology 2016 - Chicago Herpetological Society weight of adults is 73 kilo- the Torres Strait area on the coast of 8 The Turtle’s Garden: Mulberry by M. A. Cohen grams (161 pounds) (Arkive, n.d.). Adult Papua New Guinea, and occasionally females are larger than adult males; on the . the females have smaller tails than the in every issue : The Australian flatback has the longer, thicker tails of the males (Ernst, Table of Contents most limited range of any species of 2 et al., n.d.). sea turtle. As a result of its restricted Mike’s Turtle Net Picks by Michael J. Connor, PhD The adult flatback turtle possesses 7 range, the species is less endangered a relatively flat carapace that is oval s Meetings and Programs than other sea turtle species that in shape, and olive to gray to pale travel greater distances in the open 9 Classified Advertisements green in coloration. Fleshy hide that ocean. This does not mean that the is somewhat “slimy” to the touch cov- s Membership Information species is not threatened by external ers its carapace (Ernst, et al, n.d.). The pressures. See the section on conser- carapace narrows at both the front vation for more information. and rear of the oval, and its edges are Following nesting, females some- slightly upturned. times migrate hundreds of miles to The plastron of the flatback is cream- favored feeding grounds in the Ara- colored to pale yellow. The head and fura Sea of Indonesia. Nesting female neck are olive-gray above and pale flatbacks tagged in Australia have yellow below, while the flippers of the been recaptured in feeding grounds adult flatback are olive-gray on the top over 800 miles from the nesting beach. and cream-colored on the underside Follow CTTC on Facebook (Spotila, 2004). Feeding Hatchling flatback turtles are the Omnivorous in its feeding habits, N. largest of any sea turtle species, in- depressus consumes a variety of marine California Turtle & Tortoise Club: a Society Dedicated to Turtle & Tortoise Preservation, Conservation and creasing their chances of survival. The invertebrates, including bryozoans, Edu-cation Since 1964. Promoting and Facilitating the average carapace length at hatching is jellyfish, molluscs, sea cucumbers, Care, Rehoming, and Adoption of Native and Nonnative 6.1 centimeters (2.4 inches), with an av- sea pens, shrimp, and others (Spotila, Turtles and . erage weight is 43 grams (1.5 ounces). 2004). The species also consumes sea- The Tortuga Gazette (ISSN 1073-1334) is owned by the Cal- The hatchling carapace is gray with grasses and soft corals (GBIF, n.d.). This ifornia Turtle & Tortoise Club Executive Board, which is each scute outlined in black. The edg- diet renders its flesh less palatable to incorporated in the State of California as a Not-for-Profit es of the carapace and the plastron of humans than that of herbivorous sea Corporation and is tax-exempt under IRS code 501(c)(3). the hatchling are white (Arkive, n.d). turtles, so humans rarely take flatback All material is copyright © CTTC unless otherwise attrib- turtles for food (Ernst et al., n.d.). uted. CTTC policy permits reproduction of articles by Range other not-for-profit groups and educational institutions N. depressus inhabits the conti- Reproduction when permission is requested. Permission is granted on a nental shelf of tropical northern and The Australian flatback breeds and case-by-case basis and CTTC must be cited as the source of the material. eastern Australia, from the Kimber- nests throughout its range off the Views expressed in the Tortuga Gazette are those of the ley region in the state of Western coast of northern Australia as well contributors and not necessarily those of the Editor or the Australia, across the Northern Ter- as “patchily along the Great Barrier California Turtle & Tortoise Club. ritory to the Torres Strait between Reef” (Cogger, 1992). The Torres Strait region between Cape York Penin- Is your email address changing? the Cape York Peninsula and Papua New Guinea. Cape York Peninsula is sula in Queensland and Papua New Update your email address through your on the northern tip of the state of Guinea is the area with the greatest MailChimp account, or send address Queensland. The flatback turtle also concentration of flatback nesting changes and corrections to this address: inhabits coastal regions off eastern sites. The largest single flatback nest- [email protected] Queensland. The species is found in ing colony occurs on in

Tortuga Gazette Volume 52, Number 5 3 the northeastern Gulf of Carpentaria in from their nests. flatback populations to be at significant Queensland (Spotila, 2004). Once they reach the sea, flatback hatch- risk from predation.” The Australian gov- The nesting season varies by locality, lings and juveniles become the prey of ernment does protect nesting beaches, as and is likely linked to the local climate. various species of fish and sharks that pa- well as protecting turtles at sea through On the southern Queensland coast, for trol the shallow waters of the continental the required use of Turtle Excluder De- example, flatbacks nest mainly between shelf awaiting the arrival of the hatchlings vices on many shrimp trawlers (Spotila, October and January, whereas on Crab Is- (GBIF, n.d.). Sea turtle biologists estimate 2004). However, incidental capture in gill land in the Gulf of Carpentaria they nest that, in general, only one out of every 100 nets and other types of fishing gear also year-round. In some areas, flatbacks nest sea turtle hatchlings lives to maturity. poses a risk to flatbacks in coastal waters. from March to October during the dry sea- The IUCN Red List finds that the species son, while in others, the turtles nest from Predation and Conservation is “data deficient” but notes the need for Nest predators include the native din- October to February during the rainy sea- an update to that finding. The flatback is goes (Canis familiaris dingo) and monitor son (Spotila, 2004). Nesting typically takes in danger of extinction in coastal Western lizards [goannas] (Varanus gouldii, V. pan- place on undeveloped, isolated beaches. Australia, and faces imminent threats off optes), and the introduced (Vulpes Mating occurs in the shallow coastal the northern Kimberley coast due to in- vulpes) (GBIF, n.d.). Many avian species waters of the continental shelf shortly dustrial development (GBIF, n.d.). Ω prey on flatback hatchlings, including ru- before nesting. According to researchers, eferences fous night herons (Nycticorax caledonicus), R most nesting takes place in the early Alderton, D. (1988). Turtles & tortoises of the world. New Australian pelicans (Pelecanus conspiculla- evening on the tops of sand dunes or on York, NY: Facts on File. tus) and numerous others (Spotila, 2004). steep seaward slopes (Ernst et al., n.d.). Arkive. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.arkive.org/flat- The primary predator of the adult In proportion to its body size, the flat- back-turtle/natator-depressus/image-G32810.html. flatback is the saltwater crocodile Croco( - back lays the largest eggs of any sea turtle Accessed on 13 July 2016. dylus porosus), which preys on the adult species (Spotila, 2004). A clutch typically Cogger, H. G. (1992). and Amphibians of Australia. flatback over much of the turtle’s nesting Ithaca, NY: Comstock Cornell. consists of 50 to 70 eggs that are about range (Flatback, n.d.). “Salties,” as these Ernst, C. H., Altenburg, R. M., & Barbour, R. W. (n.d.). Nata- the size of billiard balls, each egg weigh- crocodiles are sometimes called, will ac- tor depressus. Retrieved July 1, 2016, from http://wbd. ing 70 to 80 grams (2.5 to 2.8 ounces). tually emerge from the sea to prey on etibioinformatics.nl/bis/turtles.php?selected=beschri Females typically reproduce every two jving&menuentry=soorten&id=191. nesting female flatbacks. to four years, laying two to three clutches Flatback. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://seaturtlestatus.org/ N. depressus is not endangered to per season (Flatback, n.d.). learn/turtles/flatback. Accessed July 16, 2016. the extent of other sea turtles, primar- Incubation takes 48 to 66 days, de- Global Biodiversity Information Facility Secretariat: GBIF ily because of its relatively limited range. Backbone . (n.d.). doi:10.15468/39omei. Ac- pending on the temperature of the nest. However, humans and human activities cessed via http://www.gbif.org/species/2442173 on According to Dr. James Spotila, “The piv- pose the greatest threat to the Australian 2016-07-13. otal temperature for sex determination flatback. Coastal development and pollu- Red List Standards & Petitions Subcommittee. 1996. Nata- is 29.5°C (85°F)” (Spotila, 2004). This is tor depressus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species tion pose increasing threats to flatbacks. the temperature at which an equal ratio 1996: e.T14363A4435952. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/ Accordingly, the Australian govern- of males and females occurs among flat- IUCN.UK.1996.RLTS.T14363A4435952.en. Downloaded ment lists the species as “Vulnerable,” on 13 July 2016. back hatchlings. Below this temperature, and “the Australian Marine Turtle Recov- Spotila, J. R. (2004). Sea Turtles. Baltimore, MD: Johns hatchlings are predominantly male, while ery Plan considers northern Australian Hopkins University Press. above this temperature, hatchlings are predominantly female. Hatchlings typi- cally emerge from the nest at night (Ernst et al., n.d.). When they hatch, N. depressus hatch- lings are roughly twice the size of green turtle (Chelonia mydas) hatchlings. Their size at hatching provides a distinct surviv- al advantage to the flatback hatchlings. On many nesting beaches, they are less likely to become the prey of two species of ghost crabs (Ocypode cordimana, O. ceratophthalma) and silver gulls (Larus novaehollandiae) than the smaller green turtle hatchlings (Alderton, 1988). The rate of hatchling survival is general- ly high on many isolated beaches, as high as 70 to 95%, with larger clutches gener- ally having a higher survival rate (Spotila, Dorsal (left) and ventral (right) views of a new species of sea turtle received by the Australian Museum in 1908. The 153-millimeter (6-inch) specimen is a juvenile was that examined and described by zoologist Allan Riverstone McCulloch who named the turtle Natator tessallates. 2004). However, many prey on McCulloch’s description was published in Records of the Australian Museum, 7(2): 126–128, plates xxvi–xxvii [11 September 1908]. These im- flatback hatchlings once they emerge ages are photographs that were taken by H. Barnes, Junr.

September | October 2016 Tortuga Gazette 4 Raine Island: the World’s Largest Green Turtle Rookery by M. A. Cohen The Great Barrier Reef, located off has been an active nesting site for at the eastern coast of Queensland, least 1,000 years, meaning it is the old- Australia, is the largest coral reef est known green turtle breeding colony system in the world, extend- in the world as well as the world’s largest. ing over 2,300 kilometers (1,400 The Raine Island Beacon miles) to the south in the Coral Convicts constructed the Raine Island Sea. This is about the length of Beacon was on the eastern end of Raine the west coast of North Amer- Island in 1844, to assist navigators travel- ica from Vancouver, Canada to ing north from Australia to Asia through the California-Mexico border. the Outer Passage. Extending from the It comprises nearly 3,000 coral GBR through Torres Strait, the Outer reef systems, 600 islands, 300 Passage was infamous for shipwrecks. Ac- coral cays, and about 150 inshore cordingly, the beacon’s builders actually mangrove islands. Moreover, it is used timber from one such shipwreck in the only living organism on the the construction of the beacon. planet that is visible from space. Green turtle, Chelonia mydas, surfacing for a breath of air near Lady Elliot Island in It is the oldest European structure in The Great Barrier Reef (GBR) the Great Barrier Reef. Photo © 2008 by Holobionics. Source: Creative Commons; northern tropical Australia. The beacon is was designated as a World Heri- license CC-BY-SA-4.0. 12 meters (39.4 feet) high with a 9-meter tage Site in 1981. Accordingly, (30-foot) base diameter. It is visible for a the Great Barrier Reef Marine personnel only in to protect the distance of 13 nautical miles (15 miles). Park protects much of the Great Barrier environment and wildlife of the island In 1992 the Queensland Heritage Reg- Reef, limiting the negative impact of hu- (Raine Island National Park, n.d.). ister listed the Beacon as a state heritage man activities such as commercial fishing The Raine Island Rookery archaeological site. In 1988 one of several and tourism. The term “rookery” refers to a breeding restoration projects was undertaken to The GBR is a biodiversity hotspot, colony of animals. The term is often used shore up the beacon, which had suffered home to 1,625 species of fish, 624 species with reference to seabirds, but is also used from undermining, weathering, and light- of hard coral and six of the seven species for breeding colonies of marine mammals ning strikes. Subsequently, the Australian of sea turtles. It is home to the dugong, such as seals, as well as for breeding colo- government conducted repair and res- an endangered sea mammal, as well as 30 nies of sea turtles. toration projects to protect this heritage species of whale and dolphin. 215 species Raine Island is the largest known green site from the damage by the elements. Ω of birds, both seabirds and shorebirds, turtle rookery in the world. More female inhabit the GBR, as well as 133 species green turtles return annually to nest on of sharks and rays. Many other life forms Raine Island than to any other known site inhabit the GBR, including jellyfish, mol- worldwide. Some 41,000 females may luscs, marine algae, sea pens and sponges come ashore to nest on the island in a typ- (Great Barrier Reef, n.d.). ical nesting season. During a high-density Climate change seriously impacts nesting season, that number could rise as the Great Barrier Reef through coral high as 131, 000 females nesting (Raine bleaching, which is due to rising ocean Island National Park, n.d.). temperatures. Consequently, scientists Green turtles travel significant distanc- estimate that the Reef has lost over half es to nest on Raine Island. They migrate of its coral cover in the past two decades. from northern Australia, Indonesia, New The location of Raine Island is the east- Caledonia, New Guinea and Vanuatu, ern edge of the Great Barrier Reef. It is 620 migrating up to 2,600 kilometers (1,616 Raine Island Beacon, as photographed in 1983 by the Heritage kilometers (390 miles) north-northwest of miles) to nest on the island (Raine Island branch staff of the Queensland Heritage Register Cairns, Queensland, Australia. It is a small National Park, n.d.). References island, occasionally called an islet, that is The green turtle population on Raine only 32 hectares (79 acres) in total area. Allaby, M., ed. (1994). The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Island fluctuates due to the El Niño– Ecology. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press. Geologically, the island is a vegetated cor- Southern Oscillation, a periodic change Great Barrier Reef. (n.d.). Retrieved July 20, 2016, from al cay. The definition of a cay is “a small, in ocean winds and surface temperatures http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/about-the-reef/facts- flat marine island formed from coral ma- in the eastern Pacific Ocean that affects about-the-great-barrier-reef terials or sand” (Allaby, 1994). tropical and subtropical areas. Raine Island Beacon. (n.d.). Retrieved July 22, 2016 from The cay received the name “Raine Is- The green turtle (Chelonia mydas), an https://environment.ehp.qld.gov.au/heritage-regis- ter/detail/?id=600432. land” since its shape is similar to that of a ancient mariner with an extensive range raindrop when viewed from above. Access spanning great distances and many tropi- Raine Island National Park. (n.d.). Retrieved July 22, 2016, from http://www.nprsr.qld.gov.au/parks/raine- to Raine Island is strictly limited to scien- cal oceans, nests throughout its range. island/culture.html tific studies and essential maintenance The green turtle rookery on Raine Island

Tortuga Gazette Volume 52, Number 5 5 Educating Hungry Ravens with 3D Printed Tortoise Shells by Hannah Rose Mendoza You may not have noticed but Hardshell Labs is ready to the declining number of respond to whatever the ra- desert tortoises in the vens might bring. Southwestern US in recent Tim Shields, the founder of years, but it hasn’t escaped Hardshell, described the type the attention of a team of of information to be gathered conservationists who have as part of the perfection of come up with a high-tech these lures: way to use 3D printed shells “We hope to use these lures to educate their predators to assess predation frequency to leave them alone. by recording attacks (beak The initial image that marks made in soft ’tissue’ came to mind was of a series of the lure), videotape and of slowly marching herbi- photograph raven behavior vores, lazily munching on as they approach and attack vegetation while fending the lures, experiment with off areal attacks via lasers 3D printed artificial carapace of a ( agassizii) in a desert environment. robotic versions adding the that had been fitted to their element of motion to the shells. Apparently, however, more data about the predator’s behavior equation, and experiment that is both impractical and unnecessary and to paint a picture of any improve- with marking, trapping, and aversively and so for some reason has not been fully ments that need to be made. The initial training the birds. As we gain experience, explored as an option. In the meantime, phase of testing is underway, with three we will probably find other combinations the conservationists have been work- lures having been placed by conservation of predator and prey with whom this for- ing to create a series of 3D printed decoy researcher William Boarman. He hopes mula will work. We may ultimately be able shells to fool the hungry ravens who are to be able to conduct a larger scale test to add an olfactory element by accurately all too often targeting the youngest of involving as many as 50 shells along with ‘scenting’ the lures for species that iden- these tortoises as their meal of choice. motion-triggered cameras to collect data tify prey both by sight and smell.” The thing about ravens though is that about the predator interactions. So, short of lasers, shell mines, and ex- they are surprisingly clever. So, instead of Boarman described the development tensive training in the art of taekwondo, simply creating decoy shells to distract of this unique approach to conservation these clever fakes seem to be an excellent the ravens, they are using these artificial and the contribution made by 3D print- way to engage in a non-damaging bit of carapaces as part of a raven re-education ing: conservation. And even if the tortoises program. The plan is to place these decoy “About 15 years ago, we used styro- don’t know it, their chances of survival shells after having sprayed them with a foam models of juvenile tortoises that are looking a whole lot better. Tell us your non-toxic substance that the ravens find were nowhere near as authentic-looking thoughts on this re-training system in the highly unappealing. It shouldn’t take too as the 3D models are. Nearly 40% of those 3D Printed Tortoises forum over at 3DPB. long for the ravens to realize that they are models were attacked by ravens, so we com. Ω pecking at something awful smelling that are confident the more realistic 3D ones Reprinted with permission from the Editor-in-Chief of the doesn’t yield any reward and they may will work. We are testing to see if other 3DPrint.com web site. begin to simply discount tortoise hunting tortoise predators, such as coyotes and kit Visit 3dprint.com, the voice of 3D Printing Technolo- as a worthwhile expenditure of energy. foxes, respond to the lures. If so, we could gy, for the latest news and information on 3D printing. The key here is that the ravens aren’t possibly use the models to train them harmed, there’s no need to hunt them with taste aversion not to eat tortoises. down or poison them, instead just fill The applications [of this technology] to them with a strong sense of doubt about conservation are so broad they are only the cost/benefit ratio of attempting to limited by conservationists’ creativity.” eat a small tortoise. It’s the same sort of Just how good are these fakes? Au- aversion therapy that I wish would work todesk’s Tatjana Dzambazova thinks for cockroaches or talkative children, I’d fooling the ravens is a sure bet. She’s rather not squish them, but instead have showed them to colleagues and found them convinced that they must be in the that even when they know one of the wrong place and leave. shells they are looking at is fake, they Hatchling desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii), “a federally listed The faux-shells were created as part of can rarely distinguish which is which. threatened species only found in the Mojave Desert. Young tor- a collaboration between Hardshell Labs This means the unsuspecting ravens are toises are especially prone to predators like dogs and ravens, and Autodesk and are also equipped even less likely to spot the fake. Of course, whose numbers can increase around areas of human activity and structures.“ Photo from 2012 by K. Kristina Drake, Western Eco- with sensors that track the ways in which there’s always the chance that they will logical Research Center, US Geological Survey. Source: Creative the ravens interact with them to provide detect the trickery using other means, Commons; license CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication. September | October 2016 Tortuga Gazette 6 Chicago Herpetological Society: Herpetology 2016 Abstracts of recently published herpetological papers prepared by the editorial staff of the CHS Hawaiian Green Turtle Illinois. Continuously collected Demographics activity data were paired with G. H. Balazs et al. [2015, Chelonian Con- meteorological data collected servation and Biology 14(2):119-129] from the site to determine summarize all existing data and knowl- factors influencing turtle be- edge of the demographic variables and havior. Temperature, relative their stochasticity 1 of Hawaiian green humidity, rain, year, month, turtles (Chelonia mydas). The population time of day, and reproductive numbers roughly 4,000 breeding females status affected activity levels. today, having rebounded from its near Increased activity levels corre- sponded with rain events, and extinction in the early 1970s, with most , punctata. Photo © 2008 by L. Shyamal; photo- of the nesting restricted to French Frig- males were generally more ac- graphed at the Bannerghatta Rehabilitation Centre in Bangalore, Kamataka, India. ate Shoals in the remote and geologically tive than females, especially Source: Wikimedia Commons; license CC-BY-SA-2.5. ancient Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. A during spring and late summer. timeline is provided of the scientific mon- Overall, turtles were less active Forest and adjacent areas, from 2011 to itoring for this population and associated during an uncharacteristically warm and 2015. During the survey, they obtained data streams relating to morphometrics 2, dry year compared to a year with condi- specimen-based records of 8 species: maturity, nest dynamics, sex ratio, as well tions that were closer to the long-term ( depressa), as population growth and viability. average. Bimodal daily activity patterns Asian brown tortoise ( ), have been reported in more southerly keeled (Cuora mouhotii), § § § populations, and this study found similar ( elon- Ornate Box Turtles in North- patterns near the species’ northern range gata), Sylhet roofed turtle ( west Illinois limit, indicating that thermal constraints sylhetensis), Asian leaf turtle ( C. R. Tucker et al. [2015, Copeia 103(3):502- may limit activity of this species across its sp.), ( or- 511] note that activity patterns of range. Activity comparisons between a nata), and Indian flapshell turtle Lissemys( ectothermic3 animals are affected by year with normal meteorological condi- punctata). The H. weather, time of day, and season, but tions and an abnormally warm and dry depressa and the endangered C. mouhotii quantifying these effects can be logisti- year provide insight to the effect that fur- are recorded from Bangladesh for the first cally challenging. An automated radio ther onset of climate change may have on time, and the endangered P. sylhetensis is telemetry system was used to quantify the activity of ornate box turtles. recorded from CHT for the first time. Two isolated populations of M. emys were (Terrepene ornata) ac- § § § tivity patterns for two years in northern documented in the Sangu-Matamuhri Bangladesh Turtles and Reserve Forest. No evidence was found Tortoises of large-scale, commercial turtle har- S. C. Rahman et al. [2015, Chelonian vesting in the survey area. Subsistence Conservation and Biology 14(2):130- hunting is probably the most immediate 135] note that the Chittagong Hill threat to chelonians in this region. With Tracts comprises an extensive ex- no intervention, subsistence hunting will panse of hills located in the far likely cause large-scale local extirpation southeast of Bangladesh, bordered of extant, low density populations. Con- by India and Myanmar. The Chit- sidering the species diversity and the tagong Hill Tracts cover more than opportunities for long-term conservation, 10% of the total land area of Bangla- the Chittagong Hill Tracts may be consid- desh and lies within the Indo-Burma ered to be a priority site for these species Biodiversity hotspot. Because of in danger. To mitigate turtle hunting, the political instability and the gener- authors recommend a bottom-up, com- Ornate box turtle, ornata. Photo © 2013 by Patrick Feller. Source: Creative Commons; license CC-BY-SA-2.0. ally remote nature of this region, munity-based conservation model, the it remains as the least explored foundation of which should be based on 1 stocasticity: lacking predictability; stocastic area in Bangladesh. Very little is trust, traditional ecological knowledge, systems employ one or more variables to ac- known about the chelonian fauna of the community participation, and ecological count for unpredictability or randomness. Chittagong Hill Tracts. The authors in- science. 2 morphometrics: classification analysis of the vestigated the occurrence, conservation Originally published in the Chicago Herpetological Society forms of animals. status, and exploitation of chelonians in Bulletin 50(2)38-41, 2016. Reprinted with permission from 3 ectothermic: an that depends on the southern part of the Chittagong Hill the Editor. external sources to regulate its body heat; commonly termed “cold-blooded.” Tracts, in Sangu-Matamuhuri Reserve

Tortuga Gazette Volume 52, Number 5 7

Mike’sRoad Turtle Threatens Net Red Picks Cliff byDesert Michael J. Connor, Ph.D. CTTCMeetings and Programs Reserve Road Threatens Red Cliff A varied selection of recent articles, stories and sites on the Web that some of you may find as Cen-Val: 8 September; 13 October interesting as I did. This list isDesert also posted Reserve at tortoise.org/turtlenetpicks. Chino Valley: 16 September; 21 October Road Threatens Red Cliff Desert Reserve Breaking Bad and Fake Eggs Politicians in St. George, Utah are plotting to build Police put GPS devices on barrels to try to track Foothill: 23 September; 28 October the “Northern Corridor” – a proposed road through down the meth lab in Breaking Bad - inspiring High Desert: 12 September; 10 October Red Cliffs Reserve that would eliminate a good pro- conservationists to put GPS devices in fake sea portion of the desert tortoise habitat the preserve turtle eggs to try to catch poachers. Inland Empire: 2 September; 7 October was supposed to protect. Kern County: 12 September; 10 October Turtle Power: Hatching Together Is Good China Sentences Smugglers Study shows green turtles hatching en masse from Low Desert: 3 October In a welcome pro-conservation move, China sen- their nests “swamp” predators, allowing more Orange County: 9 September; 14 October tenced seven people involved in an international individuals to reach the safety of the sea. ring smuggling radiated tortoises. Ridgecrest: 12 September; 10 October Mydas’s Day Antananarivo’s Secret Tortoise Sanctuary A day in the life of King Mydas, a Santa Barbara-Ventura: Contact the chapter Only you and I (and the BBC) know about this living in the 400,000-gallon Gulf of Mexico exhibit for meeting information. top secret sanctuary for Madagascar’s radiated at Audubon Aquarium. Santa Clarita Branch: 17 September tortoises... Translocations Silicon Valley: 16 September; 21 October Israel’s Imperiled Tortoises Two new colonies of Australia’s endangered TOOSLO (San Luis Obispo): 14 September; Overview of spur-thighed and Negev tortoises. western swamp tortoise, Pseudemydura umbrina, 12 October are being established 250 km south of their known Peter Pritchard - The Movie range. TTCS (Long Beach): 16 September – Tom Roach; Tribute video honors Dr. Peter C. H. Pritchard, the 21 October world renowned author of Living Turtles of the Evolution World. New fossil study suggests that burrowing was a Valley: 16 September; 21 October driver for the evolution of turtle shells. Unlucky Sea Turtle’s Last Moments Docu- Executive Board: 8 October. Meetings are held at the Los Angeles County Arboretum, Arcadia, mented in Video Buried With Turtles While on a boat trip around the Galapagos Islands 12,000 years ago an elaborate funeral was held for CA. a tour guide filmed this amazing video of an orca a Shaman. She was buried with 86 turtle shells. tossing a sea turtle! CTTC on Facebook Check your Chapter web site for the latest program For breaking news updates, visit and “like” us on information. Programs may be scheduled after the Facebook! newsletter is published.

Chicago Herpetological Society: Herpetology 2016, continued Desert Tortoise Thermal En- between November 1 and February 15. similar to those described here or as pro- vironment With the use of multivariate regression jected in the future. Ω tree analyses, it was found that cover-site J. S. Mack et al (2015, J. Herpetology 49(3): Originally published in the Chicago Herpetological Society 405-414) note that Agassiz’s desert tor- temperatures were influenced largely by Bulletin 50(3)54, 2016. Reprinted with permission from the toise (Gopherus agassizii) spend >95% of tunnel length and subsequently opening Editor. their lives underground in cover sites that width and soil cover. Linear regression - serve as thermal buffers from tempera- models further showed that increasing tures, which can fluctuate >40°C [104°F] tunnel length increased temperature on a daily and seasonal basis. They moni- stability and dampened seasonal temper- tored temperatures at 30 tortoise cover ature extremes. Climate change models sites within the Soda Mountains, San Ber- predict increased warming for southwest- nardino County, California, from February ern North America. Cover sites that buffer 2004 to September 2006. Cover sites var- temperature extremes and fluctuations ied in type and structural characteristics, will become increasingly important for including opening height and width, survival of tortoises. In planning future soil cover depth over the opening, as- translocation projects and conservation pect, tunnel length and surficial geology. efforts, decision makers should consider Analyses were focused on periods of ex- with terrain and underlying sub- treme temperature: in summer between strate that sustain cover sites with long July 1 and September 1, and winter, tunnels and expanded openings for tor-

toises living under temperature extremes Adele the desert tortoise burrows beneath a fallen Joshua Tree in Josh ua Tree National Park. Photo by Kristen © 2015 Lalumiere, National Park CC-BY-2.0 license Commons; Service. Creative Source:

September | October 2016 Tortuga Gazette 8 the Mulberry: Morus species Turtle’s Garden planting for chelonians by M. A. Cohen epending on the authority con- with pollen allergies, and may even sulted, there are anywhere from trigger asthma in susceptible in- 10 to 16 species of mulberry dividuals. Consequently, some Dworldwide. Mulberry species, members of communities in the United States Leaves and fruit of Morus alba (white mulberry). Photo © 2007 by Andre the genus Morus, hybridize freely, adding have banned the planting of male Abrahami. Source: Creative Commons, license CC-BY-SA-2.5. to the potential for confusion. Mulberry mulberry trees. trees belong to the Moraceae , is unwise to plant fruit-bearing mulberry commonly known as the mulberry or fig Leaves trees near walkways. The ripe mulberry Mulberries are deciduous trees, mean- family. fruit is very attractive to birds. ing they shed and regrow their leaves Most mulberry species are native to the Adding mulberry fruit for your turtle’s annually. Leaf color during the shedding Asian subcontinent, but became natural- diet depends on the species of turtle. Box process may range from muted yellow to ized in Europe and elsewhere centuries turtles and forest tortoises, for whom fruit bright yellow. ago. American colonists introduced white is a part of the natural diet, should have Mulberry leaves are relatively thin, and mulberry, M. alba, which is native to Chi- no problem with a moderate amount of lobed or simple (unlobed) in shape. The na, to America for silkworm culture in the mulberry fruit. Conversely, arid-region leaf margin is blunt-toothed. The color early colonial times. After its introduction, grazing tortoises such as desert tortoises of the leaves when the trees leaf out in M. alba naturalized in the environment. (Gopherus species) should not eat mul- spring is a light, bright green, and the Additionally, it hybridized freely with the berry fruit due to its high sugar content. leaves may vary considerably in both size American native M. rubra (red mulberry) and shape even on the same tree. Mulberry culture (Mulberry, n.d.). Mulberry leaves are edible and nutri- The mulberry tree needs full-sun Several species of mulberry are com- tious. Tortoises and other herbivorous exposure in order to thrive. Being a deep- monly grown in California, according to reptiles readily accept mulberry leaves as rooted tree, it will not grow well in shallow California Rare Fruit Growers, Inc. These part of their diet. soils. Once established, it is somewhat are Morus alba (white mulberry), Morus drought-tolerant, but looks best with nigra, (black Mulberry), Morus rubra (red, Fruit regular watering. The tree is relatively or American mulberry) (Mulberry, n.d.). Female and monoecious mulberry wind-resistant, and it tolerates both pol- Hybrids between M. alba and M. rubra trees bear fruit of various colors, rang- lution and a variety of soils. occur naturally. Plant breeders develop ing from white to pink to red to purple, White mulberry needs ample room to many cultivars (named varieties) for spe- depending on the species and the stage grow, as the upright form of the tree can cific qualities such as fruit flavor or growth of maturity. In appearance, the mulberry reach a height of 15.24 meters (50 feet). habit. fruit resembles the blackberry (the genus Mulberry trees are quite pest– and Rubus). The mulberry is not, botanically disease–resistant, although they can Male and Female Trees speaking, a true berry, but rather a collec- Mulberries are either monoecious or develop canker disease and dieback. tive fruit (Mulberry, n.d.). dioecious. Monoecious species bear both Mulberries need a minimal amount of Mulberry fruit is edible and juicy, and male and female flowers on the same fertilizer. In California, mulberries usually the Sunset Western Garden Book describes tree, while dioecious species bear male need only nitrogen (Mulberry, n.d.). it as sweet “but rather insipid,” that is, flowers and female flowers on separate flavorless (Brenzel, ed. 2012). Opinions “Weeping” mulberry trees. differ on the best-tasting fruit, some say- There are commercially available M. Female trees and monoecious species ing M. rubra, red mulberry, which is native alba cultivars with a pendant growth are the fruit-bearing members of the ge- to the eastern and central United States, habit. Weeping forms have branches nus. Female trees bear inconspicuous has better-flavored fruit, while others that grow down rather than up, making flowers called catkins, which are slender, claim M. nigra (black mulberry), native to harvesting leaves (and fruit) much easier. pendulous clusters of flowers. These cat- western Asia, tastes best. Moreover, many Weeping forms typically grow to a mature kins give rise to the mulberry fruit. cultivars bear fruit that is superior in taste. height of about 3.7 meters (12 feet). Ω Male trees do not bear fruit, and are The fruit of the mulberry will stain hard- References often called “fruitless” mulberries. Male scape (pavement, stepping-stones, etc.), Brenzel, K. N. (Ed.). (2012). The New Sunset Western trees do, however, produce flowers con- Garden Book. New York, NY: Time Home Entertain- as well as clothing and other fabrics with ment Inc. taining copious quantities of pollen that which it comes in contact. Accordingly, it Mulberry. (n.d.). Retrieved July 7, 2016, from http://www. may induce allergy attacks in persons crfg.org/pubs/ff/mulberry.html

Tortuga Gazette Volume 52, Number 5 9

Updating your Contact information Every CTTC member on this mailing list has a MailChimp account that s/he can update as need- ed. When you receive your newsletter notification, there is a link at the bottom of the page titled “up- date your preferences.” Simply click on this link to jump to your account page and update your email address and other information. Thank you!

Batagur ( formerly Callagur ) borneoensis, the painted river terrapin. Photo © 2008 by Santa Clarita Chapter Jason Pratt. Source: Wikimedia Commons. Life Members w Abigail DeSesa “... the current position of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife is that it is illegal to breed captive w Donald Friese Family [desert] tortoises.” [The Desert Tortoise Council’s Answering Questions e-pub is w Frank Kaufman currently offline in revision.] “CTTC will not place desert tortoises (Gopherus agassizii) in situations where captive breeding may occur. CTTC works Classified Advertisements with California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) to place desert tortoises. Both CDFW and CTTC discourage the Classified advertisements run for one issue at $500 for four lines or less or $3000 for ¼ page. They are accepted at the discretion of captive breeding of desert tortoises.” the Editor. Classified ads are available to members and subscribers – tortoise.org/cttc/adoption.html only. Advertisements are run as a service to our members. Cali- fornia Turtle & Tortoise Club is not responsible for merchandise placed for sale in the Tortuga Gazette. The California Turtle & Tortoise Club is a non- profit 501(c)(3) corporation. Contributions Please make your check payable to the California Turtle & CTTCMembership are tax deductible to the full extent of the Tortoise Club. law. Please pay by USA funds only (US bank check, money order, or Please send ad fee to: CTTC Tortuga Gazette, attn Treasurer, P. O. International Postal Order. Your Chapter and renewal date (month/ Box 7300, Van Nuys, CA 91409-7300. year) are printed on your address label. Mail your new or renewal Mail fee with ad copy to the Tortuga Gazette mailing address; membership/subscription to the Chapter of your choice. OR mail fee to the postal address above, and email the ad copy to Annual membership in the California Turtle & Tortoise Club and the Gazette Editor. subscriptions to the Tortuga Gazette are handled through the CTTC Chapters. Members are free to join any Chapter. Many members in FOR SALE: Radiated tortoises hatched in 2015. $1,000.00 California choose to join a nearby Chapter to participate in Chapter each. CA residents only. Email [email protected] (3) meetings and other activities. Print membership forms from the FOR SALE: 5- and 6-month-old Red Foot tortoises (Geo- CTTC website and mail to the Chapter of your choice. chelone carbonaria). Please send an email to Linda Membership fees [email protected] (2) w Individual/family...$2500 w Canada/Mexico...$2500 w Foreign...$4000 w Life membership...$50000

September | October 2016 Tortuga Gazette 10

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Tortuga Gazette Volume 52, Number 5 11

September | October 2016 Tortuga Gazette the Tortuga Gazette CTTC Online: tortoise.org September | October 2016 2016 CTTC Show Schedule Follow CTTC on Facebook Volume 52, Number 5 17 September – TOOSLO (San Luis Obispo) Turtle of the Month show at the Veterans’ Memorial Building, 801 Grand Ave., San Luis Obispo, CA. 10 am to 3 pm. Australian Flatback Turtle Natator depressus

Lawsuit Launched to Protect Blue Whales, Other Endangered Animals From Offshore Fracking in California Federal Government Authorized Fracks From Oil Platforms Without Analyzing Threats to Rare Whales, Sea Otters, Turtles, Birds or Fish

Santa Barbara, California—17 August pipeline that ruptured last year near some common fracking chemicals to be 2016—The Center for Biological Diversity Santa Barbara spilled more than 140,000 among the most toxic in the world to ma- today filed a notice of intent to sue the Bu- gallons of crude, killing hundreds of ma- rine animals. reau of Ocean Energy Management and rine mammals and birds. Oil platforms in the Santa Barbara the Bureau of Safety and Environmen- But the bureaus failed to consult with Channel have federal permission to dump tal Enforcement for approving fracking the expert wildlife agencies on the risks up to 9 billion gallons of produced water in federal waters off the California coast these activities pose to threatened and per year — including fracking chemicals without evaluating the dangers to blue endangered coastal wildlife as required — into the ocean. whales, sea otters, and other threatened by the Endangered Species Act. The federal environmental assessment and endangered wildlife. The Center’s notice seeks to compel the was issued as part of a legal settlement “Every offshore frack puts California’s bureaus to suspend approval of all off- resolving a prior Center lawsuit over wonderful coastal wildlife at risk from shore fracking and other well stimulations the federal government’s approval of toxic chemicals or another fracking from offshore deadly oil spill,” said Kristen platforms in the wildlife- Monsell, a Center attorney. rich Santa Barbara Channel “It’s disturbing to see the fed- without complying with eral government ignore its the National Environmen- legal responsibility to carefully tal Policy Act. consider the dangers of off- Today’s 60-day notice of shore fracking and prolonged intent to sue is required be- drilling to whales, sea otters fore a lawsuit can be filed and other species already to compel the bureaus to struggling to survive.” comply with the Endan- The bureaus decided to al- gered Species Act for their low offshore fracking in May, new decision to authorize after releasing a cursory envi- offshore fracking. ronmental assessment of the “Offshore fracking practice. The federal assess- doesn’t belong off the ment acknowledged potential California coast, and the threats to imperiled wildlife, federal government cer- including toxic risks to sea tur- Image of a Blue Whale’s tail fluke with the Santa Barbara Channel Islands in the background. Photo captured by tainly has no right to let the tles and seabirds from fracking Shulman in 2007. Public domain. oil industry frack in these chemicals and the danger that waters without fully ana- fracking support vessels could run over off California’s coast until completion of a lyzing the risks this toxic technique poses sea turtles and whales. A recent study comprehensive analysis of the impacts on to imperiled marine animals,” Monsell by Oregon State University researchers imperiled species under Section 7 of the said. Ω collision with ships as a reason blue Endangered Species Act. — Center for Biological Diversity press release whales have not recovered. At least 10 fracking chemicals used in The federal assessment also admitted offshore fracking in California could kill or that offshore fracking will prolong off- harm a broad variety of marine species, shore oil and gas activities, extending the including sea otters and fish, Center sci- life of aging infrastructure and increasing entists have found. The California Council the risk of yet more oil spills. A coastal on Science and Technology has identified