[Julian Bell]

If anyone can help me pin a specific name on the turtle or the squid on the following page I would much appreciate it.

http://www.naturalbornbirder.com/offshore/australia.php

The area is off NW Australia, further details are given on the page.

Thanks in advance!

[Gavin Goodyear]

G'day Jules,

not a 100% sure but turtle could be a Flatback Turtle (Natator depressus). No idea on the squid sorry

Cheers
Gavin

[Isurus]

Originally Posted by Julian Bell

If anyone can help me pin a specific name on the turtle or the squid on the following page I would much appreciate it.

http://www.naturalbornbirder.com/offshore/australia.php

The area is off NW Australia, further details are given on the page.

Thanks in advance!

This link should help cure your turtle dilemma:

http://www.reef.org/data/TurtleID.pdf

for my money there are 5 lateral scutes on that puppy and its head says loggerhead to me but its hard to make out. They're much easier to id if you jump in
http://static.flickr.com/33/44630805_e157953ac2_m.jpg

[Julian Bell]

Originally Posted by Isurus

This link should help cure your turtle dilemma:

http://www.reef.org/data/TurtleID.pdf

for my money there are 5 lateral scutes on that puppy and its head says loggerhead to me but its hard to make out. They're much easier to id if you jump in
http://static.flickr.com/33/44630805_e157953ac2_m.jpg

There's so no way I was jumping in there - I saw several Bronze Whaler and one Hammerhead shark along with a bunch of sea snakes that the locals assured me were highly venomous!

[Isurus]

Originally Posted by Julian Bell

There's so no way I was jumping in there - I saw several Bronze Whaler and one Hammerhead shark along with a bunch of sea snakes that the locals assured me were highly venomous!

You're viewing wildlife in the land of Steve Irwin, Julian. Its supposed to be highly dangerous!

[Gavin Goodyear]

Thanks for the link to the turtle id's Isurus

Cheers
Gavin

[Isurus]

Originally Posted by Gavin Goodyear

Thanks for the link to the turtle id's Isurus

Cheers
Gavin

Its a handy card that one Gavin - I keep a copy in the abck of my dive logbook folder all the time - Handy for solving id q's on the boat. Still not 100% sure whether thats flatback or loggerhead though.

[Julian Bell]

Originally Posted by Isurus

You're viewing wildlife in the land of Steve Irwin, Julian. Its supposed to be highly dangerous!

Well, the boat is 90m long and 15+m wide so I reckon I was safe unless I went in after them - the water looked so good it was slightly tempting. So clear except last night when there was a full moon and there was a massive coral spawning (?) - loads of pale brownish stuff floating on the surface.

[screaming piha]

Reckon it's a flatback with that, erm, flat back. Loggerhead has a domed back that is highest at front with a ridge to it (as per pic).

John