Turtles - the elders of the fauna world who survivedmany similar animals. They belong to the same ancient order of animals, the class of reptiles (reptiles). During the last 200 million years, the turtles have not changed much. These creatures of different sizes and ages are surprisingly viable: some species up to five years old can live without food, stay alive in atmospheric layers deprived of oxygen for up to 10 hours.
So the biggest turtle in the world - leathery, or Dermochelys coriacea.They reach striking sizes - the length can be about two meters, the width of the front flippers - up to 5 m, and the weight of giants - up to 900 kg. Being the largest, at the same time they are also long-livers: some are 23 years old.
These turtles can hold body heat.constant nutrition. They dive excellently and can stay under the water for a long time. These giants are listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the owners of the perfect achievement in speed among reptiles: 35.28 km / h.
The largest turtle is different from its contemporaries. Its shell is covered with thick skin, having a thickness of about 4 cm.
Waters of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans- Habitat of these giants. The most popular nesting sites are the coasts of Mexico and Guiana, West Malaysia, Indonesia and Australia. Masonry occurs during the late spring and early summer. The process of laying two groups of eggs (conventional and sterile) lasts about 10-20 minutes, while the remaining 40 minutes go on digging, ramming and masking the nest. The world's largest turtle comes out of the egg after 2 months and immediately rushes into the sea. The turtle returns to its place at intervals of 2–3 years at night.
The world's largest turtle feeds on jellyfish, fish, sea worms, crustaceans and aquatic plants.
Currently, these sea giants have becomemeet less and less. The main reason is the reduction in the number of egg laying sites. This is due to mass tourism and the intensive construction of resorts with equipped beach areas.
A significant impact on the number of provide fishingeggs and the popularity of adults as food. More than one creature was destroyed by fishing nets and plastic trash. The world's largest turtle has the most valuable material. - grease, used to seal the seams in the boats.
Another tragedy is the high valuethe material, "tortoise horn" - a layer that covers the skeleton of a tortoise. In its composition stand out beautiful in color, pattern and shape of the plate - shields, for which turtles hunters hunt.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature developedmeasures to protect the laying of turtle eggs. These laws should help ensure that the world's largest turtle will increase its numbers. For example, in Malaysia (in the state of Terengganu), a 12-km-long section of the seaside promenade is recognized as a protected area. Every year, up to 1,700 female turtles arrive on its territory for laying eggs.
