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Description: |
x, 227 pages : color illustrations, maps ; 29 cm |
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Bibliography Note: |
Includes bibliographical references (pages 221-224) and index. |
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Contents Note: |
Contents: Introduction : the seven swimmers -- Life cycles : from sand to sea -- Biology : under the shell -- History : the ancient lineage -- Conservation : an uncertain future -- Green turtles : the grass eaters -- Hawksbills : the sponge eaters -- Olive ridleys : a phenomenon of nature -- Kemp's ridleys : the rarest of all -- Loggerheads : a crushing jaw -- Flatbacks : Australia's turtle -- Leatherbacks : the giant mariner -- Conclusion : dreaming of Eden. |
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Summary, Etc. Note: |
Summary: Presents a vivid description of the natural history and life cycle of the seven species of sea turtles, including diets and mating habits, the environmental dangers that threaten their survival, and current conservation efforts. For more than a hundred million years, sea turtles have been swimming in the world's oceans. These magnificent, long-lived creatures spend their lives in the water, coming ashore to lay their eggs. Upon hatching, the baby turtles leave the nest and enter a dangerous world of storms and predators. The females will return to the same beach to lay their own eggs when they reach maturity a decade later. Today, there are seven species of sea turtle: the grass-eating green turtle, the sea sponge-eating hawksbill, the olive ridley, the Kemp's ridley, which is the smallest species, the loggerhead, the flatback of Australia, and the giant leatherback. Having escaped the mass extinction that wiped out the dinosaurs, these ancient reptiles today face new dangers that threaten their survival: pollution, hunting, and the destruction of their nesting grounds. Will this century be the last to witness their majesty? Will succeeding generations live in a world devoid of their graceful presence? |
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Elect. Loc./Access: |
Table of contents http://catdir.loc.gov/catdir/toc/ecip0417/2004008935.html |
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Contributor biographical information http://catdir.loc.gov/catdir/bios/jhu051/2004008935.html |