Study of reproductive characteristics and distribution of the hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) on Hendorabi Island, Hormozgan Province

Askari Hesni, Majid; Iranmanesh, Mahdi; Zangiabadi, Somayeh; Hashemabadi, Mohammad; Akbarpour, Morteza; Sinaei, Mahmmood; Talebi Matin, Mohammad; Bolouki-Kourandeh, Mehdi; Sadegh-Saba, Mohammad; Zare, Nasrin

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Study of reproductive characteristics and distribution of the hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) on Hendorabi Island, Hormozgan Province

Majid Askari Hesni ^*

, Mahdi Iranmanesh

, Somayeh Zangiabadi

, Mohammad Hashemabadi

, Morteza Akbarpour

, Mahmmood Sinaei

, Mohammad Talebi Matin

, Mehdi Bolouki-Kourandeh

, Mohammad Sadegh-Saba

, Nasrin Zare

Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman , mahesni@uk.ac.ir

Abstract: (168 Views)

Ecosystems conservation requires knowing and monitoring habitats and study on their species. This goal is achieved when there is a suitable understanding of the current state of the environment and the living conditions of the species. In the present study, the distribution and biometry of adult and hatchlings of hawksbill turtles were investigated on Hendorabi Island, from March 2017 to July 2018. After observing turtles, species identification, biometry of adults including CCL and CCW and egg biometry including diameter and weight were measured. During this study, 28 turtles were examined biometrically. Some areas in the north and south of Hendorabi were identified as high-density nesting areas, while eastern part of the island was low-density nesting area. The average of CCL and CCW of the turtles were measured 70.38±3.27 and 64.84±2.53cm, respectively. On average, 87.6±21.7 eggs were laid per nest, and the highest and lowest numbers of eggs were recorded 110 and44, respectively. The number of normal and abnormal eggs were 74.2±9.02 and 13.6±5.81, respectively. Normal and abnormal eggs have an average diameters of 38.66±2.02 and 24.87±4.43mm and weights of 32.69±4.27 and 11.21±6.26gr respectively. In conclusion the hawksbill turtles of Hendorabi are smaller than those of other parts of the world.

Keywords: Sea Turtles, Persian Gulf, Biometry, Conservation