Turtle and Terrapin population

TURTLE

Turtle is an animal unique reptile that existed over 100 million years ago that since the time of the dinosaurs. It has features typical of reptiles, which are scaly skin, lay eggs, breathe through the lungs and body temperature changes according to ambient temperature. Turtle has a hard shell on his back, known as "karapas. They swim with fins foot forward and back.

Male turtles live in the sea during its life without coming to shore, while the female turtles migrate up to several thousand kilometers of waters in which they obtain their food from the beach to lay their eggs. Female turtles return to the beach where he was born to lay eggs and often produces 100 to 140 eggs each time they spawn. Although capable of laying up to eight times a year, most of the female turtle will lay eggs normally once in two years only.
At present, there are seven types of sea turtles living in the waters of the world and four of them landed and lay their eggs in certain beaches in Malaysia.
Turtles are an important component of biodiversity due to its role as an indicator of the state of coastal resources.

Turtles in Malaysia

Four types of sea turtles found in Malaysia are 'Agar' turtle , hawksbill turtle, leatherback turtle and Cockroach Turtle.

1. 'Agar' Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
Turtles are most abundant and commonly found in Malaysia.Penyu To eat seaweed and algae, making it the only sea turtles that are herbivore.

2. Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys Meranti)
It is among the most endangered turtle in the world. It is hunted for its shell is beautiful. It is also known as the turtle shell as the shell has a shell which pierced com. It is categorized as a small turtle. The food is soft and strong compositions.

3. Cockroaches turtle (Lepidochelys Olivaceae)
Like to eat fish, squid crab and shrimp. It is the smallest sea turtles, and also among the most endangered turtle in the world.

4. Leatherback turtles (Dermochelys Coriacea)
It is the most endangered turtles in Malaysia. It is the largest turtle in size and also the fastest swimmer compared to turtles, other turtles. They like to eat the torch-the torch. A unique feature of this turtle has a shell that is not hard, different from other turtles, sea turtle.

Turtle Setiu

Sandy beach is an important Setiu for turtle landings order. At one time, and hawksbill turtles have also been reported cockroach landed Setiu coast. There are six locations around the offshore Setiu identified as the main sea turtle landings. As part of turtle conservation efforts in Setiu, two central Hatchery for incubation and hatching turtle eggs and was built in the area and managed by the Fisheries Department in collaboration with the State Fund for Nature Malaysia (WWF-Malaysia)
The threats to the turtles
Greatest threat to the survival of turtles are the human activities. The number of turtles landed in Australia has declined dramatically since 30 years ago.

1) Of the eggs that are not controlled and continues after a long time whether to eat and sell.
2) The development of coastal and offshore.
3) Development of coastal areas to remove or destroy the landing place of the turtle.
4) tourist activities that disrupt or prevent the turtles from landing or eggs
5) Turtle trapped and drowned in fishing gears.

TERRAPIN

Terrapin is herbivour animals that eat fruit, roots, leaves, flowers and plants along the river bank. Terrapin has a smaller size compared to marine turtles. It will only come ashore to lay eggs or to balance the body temperature by sunning on the banks, branches, trees or wood-wood floats.

Terrapin species inhabiting the rivers in Malaysia are Sea Terrapin (Batagur Borneoensis) and River Terrapin (Batagur affinis).


Sea Terrapin

Sea Terrapin (Batagur borneoensis) has a hard shell and lay eggs in sandy beaches near the mouth of a river.Terrapin size of adult females are larger than males Terrapin. Terrapin has a five foot claw foot pool in front. Long terrapin karapas 50sm while females can reach a length of male terrapin karapas usually not more than 40cm. Terrapin adult male sea change color during the mating season.

Sea Terrapin can be found in Southern Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra and Borneo. In Peninsular Malaysia, the population is pleased to lay the Setiu River and the River Paka in Terengganu and Sungai Linggi at the Negeri Sembilan and Melaka. Nesting populations in river likely Setiau is the world's largest population.

Terrapin nesting season for sea usually reaches its peak between June and August in Peninsular Malaysia. Terrapin nesting sea usually at night during low tide. Marine Terrapin female can produce between 15 to 20 eggs are oval in shape every time they spawn.

New born children usually come out of the nest after 70 days. Once out of the nest, the children Terrapin will continue to go to sea and swim quickly led to the river mouth. Terrapin children have arrived in the area of brackish water at the mouth of the river as soon as possible because there are resistant to long periods in sea water with high salinity levels.

River Terrapin

River Terrapin (Batagur affinis) is listed among the 25 animals in the world who face the threat of extinction. Terrapin species now found only in some countries such as Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Sumatra (Indonesia) and Malaysia.

In Malaysia, following the threats we face, decreasing the number of River Terrapin and is only available in some states, such as Kedah, Perak and Terengganu. Terrapin in Terengganu species found in Sungai Setiu , Sungai Terengganu, Sungai Dungun, and other rivers.

Variation of Sea Terrapin and River Terrapin

Significant difference between the sea terrapin and river terrapin is a physical characteristic in the legs and shell. River Terrapin fingers four and shell-shaped gray and flat black. In contrast, five-fingered hand Sea terrapin, the shell is light brown color from a convex shape.

Terrapin at Setiu

Sea and River Terrapin both can be found in the River Setiu. In fact, the population of the largest Marine Terrapin in Malaysia in Sungai Setiu.

Threat to the Terrapin

Terrapin populations of sea and river at Sungai Setiu now believed to be on the verge of extinction. Development projects in large-scale negative impacts that may threaten the survival Terrapin, and was therefore not suitable and not recommended on sandy river beaches and sandy islands in the lagoon which is home Terrapin nesting.

As the fate of the turtle, Terrapin has not escaped the threat caused by human activities such as fishing tools that are not friendly Terrapin (eg gill rays and boat engines), river pollution due to disposal of waste and toxic materials and activities to suck the sand river.