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Leatherback Sea Turtles

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 The Leatherback Sea Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) Species Description Leatherback sea turtles are the largest turtles in the world  Leatherback sea turtles grow to be 750-1000 pounds  Leatherback sea turtles are 5-6 feet long Leatherback sea turtles lay clutches of around 110 eggs Leatherback sea turtles migrate about 10,000 miles per year from foraging grounds to breeding grounds  Leatherback sea turtles can dive deeper than any other sea turtle at 4,000 feet  Leatherback sea turtles lack a traditional shell and have as the name implies a thick leathery skin with interwoven bones underneath  Leatherback sea turtles can hold their breath for 85 minutes  Habitat and Range  Leatherback sea turtles given their incredible amount of migration have a very large range mostly following food  Leatherback sea turtles primarily nest in tropical and subtropical beaches  Leatherback sea turtles have an average distance of 3,700 miles between foraging grounds and breeding grounds Ecosystem Niche  L
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Whale Shark

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The Whale Shark  Rhincodon typus Species Description Whale sharks are the largest fish in the world  Whale sharks can grow up to 40 feet in length   Whale sharks can live up to 150 years  Whale sharks are an endangered species  Current population estimates range from 125,000-200,000 individuals  Whale sharks are sharks and not whales  Whale sharks have thousands of tiny teeth  Habitat and Range Whale sharks inhabit any water form 70-77 degrees  Seasonally they congregate in the dark blue areas these are thought to be breeding grounds  They migrate 1000s of miles but only at speeds of up to 3 miles per hour  Ecosystem Niche Whale sharks are marine filter feeders  Whale sharks eat plankton and some small fish  Whale sharks are limited in the size of food they can eat by their tiny teeth  Whale sharks are top predators keeping the population of the animals they eat in check  Cause of Decline Whale sharks are hunted for their meat, fins, and oil  Whale sharks are frequently victims of byca
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Blue Whale

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The Blue Whale  Balaenoptera musculus Blue Whale Description and Fun Facts  Blue whale is the largest animal in the world. They can weigh up to 200 tons.  Blue whales can get up to 100 feet long. Blue whales eat up to 8,000 pounds of krill per day! Blue whales are the loudest animals on earth with calls up to 188 decibels, and can be heard from 100s of miles away.  Blue whales live 80-90 years on average. Blue whales can swim at speeds of up to 50 miles per hour! Blue whales are mammals and breath air.  Blue whales have a heart that weighs 400 pounds and beats at around 2 beats per minute.  There are thought to be 10,000-25,000 individuals left in the wild.  Habitat and Range  Blue whales inhabit almost all of the worlds oceans.  They are migratory with summer feeding grounds and winter breeding grounds.  They go wherever there are concentrated krill to eat.  Blue whale range Ecosystem Niche Blue whales feed primarily on krill consuming 10s of thousands per day.  They play an important
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Bluefin Tuna

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Physical description: The bluefin tuna is the most endangered of all tuna species.  They are a marine fish species.  They can grow up to 10 feet long and weigh up to 1,500 pounds.  Bluefin tuna have a nearly circular cross second giving them the ability to swim massive distances efficiently. They can swim up to 50 miles per hour and can cross oceans in just weeks.  Habitat: They are a highly migratory species.  For example most Atlantic bluefin tuna spawn in the gulf of Mexico and significant harvesting of these tuna is done in the Mediterranean Sea.  Bluefin tuna live in the North Atlantic, South Atlantic, and Pacific oceans. Niche: Bluefin tuna are a top predator within the marine ecosystem. They feed on smaller fish and crustaceans. They are hunted by killer whales and sharks. The primary cause of the decline of the bluefin tuna is overfishing. Bluefin tuna are prized for the making of sushi in Japan.  Cause of Decline: Approximately 1.6 million bluefin tuna remain approximately 3%
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