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21 June 2022 Juvenile Hawksbill Turtles, Eretmochelys imbricata, in the Jardines de la Reina Archipelago, Cuba
Félix Moncada, Ohiana Revuelta, Gonzalo Nodarse, Yosvani Medina, Anyell Caderno
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Abstract

Immature hawksbill turtles were studied in Jardines de la Reina Archipelago, the principal area of distribution for this species in Cuban waters. Hawksbill areas of occurrence, size composition, scope of movement range, and somatic growth rates are presented. A total of 496 individuals were caught while diving or with nets at depths of 0.5–2.5 m. Differences in size distribution were observed among survey areas within the Jardines de la Reina Archipelago. Mean curved carapace lengths were 35.6 ± 9.6 cm and 59.6 ± 7.7 cm for hawksbills captured in the external and internal cays, respectively. Forty-two individuals were recaptured between 1 and 4 times at intervals averaging 554.9 d. For recaptured turtles, 91% were encountered within < 1 km of their original capture location. Our findings indicate that the benthic habitats of Jardines de la Reina Archipelago are favorable for the recruitment of juvenile hawksbill turtles transitioning from pelagic habitats. The data also show that hawksbills are distributed throughout the Jardines de la Reina Archipelago study region, and that coastal foraging areas within this region host small, postpelagic juveniles as well as larger immature hawksbills that have been resident for extended periods.

© 2022 Chelonian Research Foundation
Félix Moncada, Ohiana Revuelta, Gonzalo Nodarse, Yosvani Medina, and Anyell Caderno "Juvenile Hawksbill Turtles, Eretmochelys imbricata, in the Jardines de la Reina Archipelago, Cuba," Chelonian Conservation and Biology 21(1), 20-27, (21 June 2022). https://doi.org/10.2744/CCB-1504.1
Received: 16 April 2021; Accepted: 16 October 2021; Published: 21 June 2022
KEYWORDS
Caribbean
conservation
Coral reef
foraging ground
hawksbill sea turtle
somatic growth rate
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