Cruzan

Loggerhead (Caretta caretta)

(ST05123)

Age Class Subadult
Gender Unknown
Date Stranded August 19, 2005
Location of Stranding Casey Key, FL
Date of Arrival August 19, 2005
Number of Days of Care 10 days

Final Disposition

Died August 29, 2005

lateral view of sea turtle covered in algae and barnacles

This turtle was found stranded on Casey Key.  It is very lethargic, emaciated, and covered in algae and barnacles.  It does not appear to be primarily red tide related, although it may be a factor.  Treatment has been initiated. 8/25 Turtle is slowly responding to treatment.  It is showing symptoms of both red tide and lethargic loggerhead syndrome.  It is still too weak to be placed in the water. 8/28 Turtle had been slowly improving, but seems weaker today. 8/30 Turtle died last night.  Necropsy revealed gastric ulcer with rupture and associated peritonitis.

Happening at Mote

Fin Fact

Manatees make sounds—in fact, they make five different calls: squeaks, high squeaks, squeals, squeak-squeals, and chirps. They even have “graded” calls, meaning they can adjust a single call to convey more nuances of what they’re doing or how they’re feeling. Think of how a cat adjusts its “meow” when startled, happy, or excited. Mote scientists study manatee vocalizations to better understand the behavior of these imperiled mammals.

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