Book Fauna Palaestina 4 Year 2014 By Prof Dr Norman Ali Bassam Khalaf von Jaffa ISBN 978-9950-383-77-7

egg clutches and then become quiescent, producing no eggs for
two to three years. The loggerhead reaches sexual maturity within
17–33 years and has a lifespan of 47–67 years (Wikipedia).
The loggerhead sea turtle is omnivorous, feeding mainly on
bottom-dwelling invertebrates. Its large and powerful jaws serve
as an effective tool for dismantling its prey. Young loggerheads
are exploited by numerous predators; the eggs are especially
vulnerable to terrestrial organisms. Once the turtles reach
adulthood, their formidable size limits predation to large marine
animals, such as sharks (Wikipedia).
Loggerheads are considered an endangered species and are
protected by the International Union for the Conservation of
Nature. Untended fishing gear is responsible for many
loggerhead deaths. Turtles may also suffocate if they are trapped
in fishing trawls. Turtle excluder devices have been implemented
in efforts to reduce mortality by providing an escape route for the
turtles. Loss of suitable nesting beaches and the introduction of
exotic predators have also taken a toll on loggerhead populations.
Efforts to restore their numbers will require international
cooperation, since the turtles roam vast areas of ocean and critical
nesting beaches are scattered across several countries (Wikipedia).
Description
The loggerhead sea turtle is the world's largest hard-shelled
turtle. Adults have an average weight range of 80 to 200 kg (180 to
440 lb) and a length range of 70 to 95 cm (28 to 37 in). The
maximum reported weight is 545 kg (1,200 lb) and the maximum
carapace length is 213 cm (84 in). The head and carapace (upper
shell) range from a yellow-orange to a reddish-brown, while the
plastron (underside) is typically pale yellow. The turtle's neck and
sides are brown on the tops and yellow on the sides and bottom
(Wikipedia).
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