This little guy was part of the "late litter" of loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) laid on Folly Beach, SC in November. The nest was located, extracted and relocated by the lovely members of the Folly Beach Turtle Watch Program. When the hatchlings emerged, they were guided to the water by volunteers (including me!). This nest had a very low hatch and emergence rate, presumably due to the off-season brood and abnormally cold ground temperatures.
I arrived at the hatching site as the baby turtles were making their way to the shore, flanked on both sides by Turtle Team volunteers. Each loggerhead hatchling appeared to be approx 2-3 inches long and have the appearance of tiny loggerheads (same features as adults, just itty-bitty). I have no idea of the sex of this particular turtle, but I would guess male due to the chilly inclubation temperature. As far as observed behaviors....this little one and his/her siblings pulled themselves toward the shoreline with their tiny flippers and disappeared once they reached the foamy water. I wish I could report on the texture of the tiny turtles but, for some reason, our Turtle team members would not let me carry the turtles to the water (crazy huh?). The baby loggerheads had quite a journey ahead of them --> after making it across the beach to the shoreline, the tiny turtles must traverse the shore tides in order to reach open ocean, where they will feed and grow and play :) until they reach maturity. How long do they live you ask? I will site Crush (Finding Nemo) for that answer: "150 dude!"
Other than not being allowed to keep a hatchling for a pet (if you can tell, I am NOT an ideal volunteer), watching the sea turtle hatching experience was incredible and I will absolutely be part of the Folly Turtle Team for the 2011 hatching season.
If anyone is going to be in town and wants to volunteer --> www.follyturtles.com
(Cat Harpe, SC)
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