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Herpetological Review Herpetological Review - Doczine

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Booderee National Park, Jervis Bay Territory, Australia, I observedone obvious and two apparent instances of terrestrial drinking behaviorduring a rainfall event (44.2 mm) on 20 February 2005 inthe austral summer. All three turtles (2 male, 1 female; carapacelengths 170.0–215.5) had been inactive and completely buriedunder leaf litter in the forest near a wetland that had been dry for93 days, but between 1649–1655 h during heavy rainfall at 20°C,all three were observed on the surface within one meter of theirrefuge sites. Two turtles were in a sprawled posture with legs andneck fully extended, while the third was actively drinking waterthat had pooled in a shallow natural depression in the litter. Theturtles were buried in their previous refuge sites the following day.During drought, terrestrial tortoises are well known for their abilityto drink pooled water during rainstorms (Medica et al. 1980.Herpetologica 36:301–304), but this is apparently the first reportfor drinking in a freshwater turtle while in natural terrestrial aestivation.Such behavior may in part replace respiratory and evaporativewater losses incurred throughout aestivation and allow formore extended periods of survival out of water.Submitted by JOHN H. ROE, Institute for Applied Ecology,University of Canberra, Bruce, Australian Capitol Territory 2601,Austrália; e-mail: roe@aerg.canberra.edu.au.CHELONIA MYDAS (Green Sea Turtle). HABITAT AND OC-CURRENCE. Of the seven recognized sea turtle species, five areknown to visit the coastline of Brazil to feed and nest (Marcovaldi1999. Marine Turtles of Brazil: The History and Structure of ProjetoTAMAR-IBAMA. Biological Conservation. 35 pp.). The regionof Cananéia, at the southernmost part of the state of São Paulo,southeastern Brazil, is a complex of conservational units visitedby marine turtles year round, particularly the Chelonia mydas,which uses this region to feed and grow (Bondioli et al. 2005. In IIJornada de Conservação de Pesquisa de Tartarugas Marinhas doAtlântico Sul Ocidental, Praia do Cassino, Rio Grande do Sul.Livro de Resumos. 53 pp.). In this area, there are artisanal fishingtraps called “cerco-fixo” or permanent fencing. These traps incidentlycapture the turtles, maintaining them alive. Since 2003,monitoring of the region’s beaches, as well as the “cerco-fixo”distributed along the entire estuary, has allowed us to register theoccurrence of 222 marine turtles. Of these, 216 were Green SeaTurtles (1% adults, with a curvilinear length of the top shell > 70cm, and 99% juveniles), one subadult Leatherback Turtle(Dermochelys coriacea), two subadult Hawksbills (Eretmochelysimbricata), five Loggerhead Sea Turtles (Caretta caretta, two subadultsand three adults), and the carcass of an adult Olive RidleySea Turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea). Of the 222 turtles, 177 (alljuvenile Green Turtles) were collected in the “cerco-vivo,” therefore,alive. Remaining turtles were found dead along the beachesin the region. Aside from these data, informal reports as well asshells displayed in homes, museums, and local restaurants (in approximatelythe same proportions registered in this study) confirmthe presence of these species in this region. Based on thesedata, we can conclude that, besides being characterized as a feedingarea for Green Sea Turtles, the Estuarine Complex Lagoon ofCananéia is visited by all the species of marine turtles which visitthe Brazilian coastline. Because this region is characterized bydifferent conservation units, its preservation also helps assure thepreservation of the marine turtles that spend at least one phase oftheir lives in the region.Submitted by ANA CRISTINA VIGLIAR BONDIOLI (email:anabondioli@yahoo.com.br), SHANY MAYUMINAGAOKA (e-mail: shanynagaoka@yahoo.com.br), andEMYGDIO LEITE DE ARAÚJO MONTEIRO-FILHO (email:kamonteiro@uol.com.br), Instituto de Pesquisas Cananéia-IPeC, CEP11990-000, Cananéia, São Paulo, Brazil.DERMOCHELYS CORIACEA (Atlantic Leatherback Sea Turtle).REPRODUCTION. Dermochelys coriacea is reported to nestalong the entire eastern coast of Florida, with highest concentrationsin southern Florida (Meylan et al. 1995. Sea Turtle NestingActivity in the State of Florida. Florida Marine Research, Pub.No. 52). Herein, we provide support for these findings along witha first county record voucher. At ca. 1645 h on 26 June 2007, afemale (ca. 340 kg) D. coriacea (UF photographic voucher 151367)came ashore on Vilano Beach ca. 4 km N of the St AugustineInlet, St. Johns County, Florida (29.950575°N, 81.3034694°W, datumWGS84, elev.

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