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will be exterminated, in the process of providing material for fashionable
shoes, handbags, belts etc.
The Order Testudines includes the turtles, tortoises, terrapins and
fresh-water turtles. All tortoises and turtles are recognised by the bony
shell which encloses the body composed of the carapace dorsally and
ventrally the plastron. The carapace is immovably attached to the ribs. The
order has come down the ages with little change. Of the 29 species in the
Indian region, 9 are recorded from within the State and along its coasts.
The family Chelonidea or marine turtles distinguished by their paddle
shaped forelimbs is represented by three species. The Hawksbill turtle,
Eretmochelys imbricate (Linn.) grows to a maximum length of 850 mm.
and some specimens have been recorded weighing more than 50 Kg. This
species is uncommon along the States’ coasts.
Feeds largely on molluscs and fish. The tortoise shell of commerce is
the carapace of this animal. The Hawksbill is edible but sometimes its
flesh is believed to become poisonous after feeding on certain types of
marine weeds.
The Green TurtleChelonia rnydas(Linn.) has not apparently been
recorded from the Maharashtra coasts, but the species is known further
west and is recorded as breeding in the Karachi area. It feeds mainly on
algae but also takes molluscs, crustacea and fish. The female comes to
particular beaches when ready to lay eggs. The eggs which may number
up to 200 are laid in holes scooped out in sand above the hightide line.
After the laying of eggs, the nest hole is neatly covered with sand. The
young on hatching burrow their way out and return to the sea. Tagged
specimens have shown that turtles range over a wide area of the ocean but
return to the same beach for laying their eggs. The Green Turtle is of
commercial importance being the basis for turtle soup. This and their habit
of returning to the same beach have led to their unrestricted slaughter.
The Ridley TurtleLepidochelys olivaceareaches a maximum length of
one metre. It is more widely distributed than the Hawksbill and the Green
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