The black sea turtle (Chelonia mydas agassizii) at Lobos de Tierra Island, Northern Peru: High densities in small areas

© 2015 Brazilian Society of Herpetology. Preliminary findings regarding black turtle (Chelonia mydas agassizii) occurrence in Lobos de Tierra Island, Northern Peru showed that 95% and 5% of turtles were juveniles and sub-adults, respectively, with an overall mean curved carapace length of 57.5 ± 7 cm (26.0-74.4 cm, n = 199). A total mean density of 180.4 turtles/km2 was found with highest densities found in bays and inlets located in the southeast. Inshore densities in shallow waters (< 1.5 m) were almost one order of magnitude greater than offshore at ∼ 1.5 km. In addition, based on structured qualitative interviews with fishermen, sea turtle capture and consumption still exists in the island, though occasional and sporadic. Jellyfish (Chrysaora plocamia) and green algae (Ulva sp.) consumption plays an important role in black turtle aggregations in the island, where densities are quite high compared to other feeding grounds elsewhere. We conclude that Lobos de Tierra constitutes an important Peruvian feeding ground, with high black turtle aggregations, close to the northern limit of the cold Humboldt Current.