Several weeks ago our class went to the South Carolina Aquarium. This was a very interesting and exciting trip because we were able to go to the sea turtle hospital within the aquarium. There were quite a few sea turtles in the hospital getting the TLC that they greatly need. There were Kemp's ridley turtles (Lepidochelys kempii), green turtles (Chelonia mydas), as well as loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta). To the right is a picture of a Kemp's ridley turtle that I was able to get a picture of. Kemp's ridley turtles have five costals on each side of the carapace with the first touching the nuchal. With a size ranging from 23-27.5 inches, they are the smallest of the Atlantic sea turtles.
We were also able to see a spiny softshell turtle (Apalone spinifera) after the sea turtle hospital. Spiny softshell turtles have strongly patterned feet, projections on the upper carapace and a ridge in each nostril. Softshell turtles have a fleshy snout that acts as snorkel in their aquatic habitat. Below is a picture of the spiny softshell turtle from the aquarium.
( Alexis Kocher, SC)
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