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Species Identified
Chelonia mydas Linnaeus 1758 (Green Turtle)
Green turtles are long-lived and may take up to 59 years to reach sexual maturity Undertaking tremendous feats of navigation, adults return to the same beach to breed each season, part of the population in Brazil astonish...
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Green turtles are long-lived and may take up to 59 years to reach sexual maturity Undertaking tremendous feats of navigation, adults return to the same beach to breed each season, part of the population in Brazil astonishingly migrates around 2,250 kilometres across the open ocean to breed on the Ascension Islands . Mating tends to occur just offshore of the nesting beaches; using a curved claw on each front flipper and a flat nail at the end of the tail, males are able to grip their mates . Females haul out onto the beach at night and dig large nests with their back flippers beyond the high tide mark, they typically lay between 100 and 150 eggs in one nest and then proceed to cover the eggs with sand; the whole process takes around two hours . A single female returns to breed only once every two to five years but will lay up to nine nests in that one season . Incubation takes between 45 and 70 days, and temperature has been shown to determine of the sex of hatchlings; with females being produced at warmer temperatures . Breaking open their eggs with a special hooked 'egg tooth' that will subsequently be lost; hatchlings use their powerful front flippers to reach the surface, and then proceed to the sea . The soft-bodied juveniles are particularly vulnerable at this time from a variety of predators, such as ghost crabs and gulls on the beach to sharks and dolphins in the water . Unlike other marine turtles, adult green turtles are almost exclusively herbivorous, grazing on seagrasses and algae ; it is assumed that juveniles are more omnivorous although the exact composition of their diet is unknown
Dasyatis americana Hildebrand and Schroeder, 1928 (stingaree)
The southern stingray is an active swimmer that feeds primarily at night, on a diet of invertebrates and small fishes. They feeding by flapping their wing-like pectoral fins to disturb the sand, and expose their prey . T...
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The southern stingray is an active swimmer that feeds primarily at night, on a diet of invertebrates and small fishes. They feeding by flapping their wing-like pectoral fins to disturb the sand, and expose their prey . This bottom-dwelling species is often found singly or in pairs, except in the summer months when it migrates in schools to higher latitudes . Very little is known about the natural mating behaviour and reproductive biology of the southern stingray. Mating stingrays are rarely encountered in the wild; during one such rare occasion, the male was observed closely following the female, and then biting her before grasping the female's pectoral fins with his mouth, and then copulating. It is thought that southern stingrays are polyandrous, as a female was observed mating with two males in quick succession . The southern stingray is ovoviviparous, a method of reproduction in which the egg develops within the female's brood chamber. The pups hatch from their egg capsules inside the mother, and are born soon afterwards . In captivity, gestation lasted 135 to 226 days, after which a litter of two to ten young were born .
Narcine brasiliensis (Olfers, 1831) (Brazilian electric ray)
Inhabits coastal waters, on sand or mud bottoms . Common along sandy shorelines, sometimes near coral reefs . Buries itself with only eyes protruding . Nocturnal, moves to shallow bays at night to feed; prefers worms, b...
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Inhabits coastal waters, on sand or mud bottoms . Common along sandy shorelines, sometimes near coral reefs . Buries itself with only eyes protruding . Nocturnal, moves to shallow bays at night to feed; prefers worms, but may take juvenile snake eels, anemones, and, small crustaceans . Produces broods of 4 to 15 young . Can discharge between 14 and 37 volts. Contact with the skin can produce a severe electric shock. In addition to the main electric organ, this species possesses a bilateral accessory electric organ speculated to have a possible role in social communication . Reported to taste good, but not fished commercially. Traded as an aquarium fish at Ceará, Brazil .
Acanthostracion polygonius Poey, 1876 (honeycomb cowfish)
Occurs in clear water around coral reefs. Feeds on sponges, alcyonarians, tunicates, and shrimp. Uncommon and wary . Consumed fresh, generally roasted .
Occurs in clear water around coral reefs. Feeds on sponges, alcyonarians, tunicates, and shrimp. Uncommon and wary . Consumed fresh, generally roasted .
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Jason Smith
Mexico
Date: 2012-08-02 - 09:30
Max Depth: 15m Duration: 45mins
Dive on the reef a few 100m off of our hotel, The Grand Sirenis Riviera Maya. To be honest, you’re better off snorkelling off the beach where I’d seen turtles, different rays, barracuda, loads of parrotfish, wrasse, etc