Журнал морской биологии и океанографии

Habitat of Sea Turtles

Gloria Simmons

Sea Turtles belongs to the superfamily Chelonioidea and are also known as marine turtles. They are the reptiles of the order Testudines and of the suborder Cryptodira. Sea turtle is considered one of the most majestic species of its family because of its distinguished body structure, gentle nature and long lifespan. These extraordinary creatures glide freely through the sea as reported by many swimmers, snorkelers and divers across the globe. Sea turtles have been admired by humans for millennia. In fact, tales of the world being built on the back of a sea turtle is featured in various creation stories. Unlike their freshwater relatives, the head and limbs of sea turtles are fixed outside the shell and thus they cannot retract into the shell. This distinctive feature, along with a streamlined shell, makes them more hydrodynamic in the water than their land-based counterparts, allowing them to maneuver easily through their saltwater habitat.