The Latest Record of the Leatherback Sea Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) from Eastern Taiwan

臺灣東部海岸革龜之最新記錄

張鈞翔(Chun-Hsiang Chang) ； 章晨玫(Chern-Mei Jang) ； 程延年(Yen-Nien Cheng)

《Collection and Research》 16期 (2003/12) Pp. 17-27

https://doi.org/10.6693/CAR.2003.16.4

摘要

A latest record is described herein of a female leatherback sea turtle, Dermochelys coriacea, stranded on the northeast coast of Ilan County, Taiwan, on May 17, 2001. The leatherback sea turtle is the largest species in the world among living sea turtles. However, they rarely appear in the waters around Taiwan. Although the reasons that caused her to be stranded and die still require further investigation, scientists have inferred that it was most likely due to feeding behavior. This giant leatherback sea turtle was a sexually mature female with hundreds of eggs in her abdominal cavity, and those eggs were nearly ready to be laid. Herein we present a report with a detailed characteristic description and morphological measurements from this precious gift from the sea.

關鍵字

Dermochelys coriacea ； Leatherback sea turtle ； Taiwan

並列摘要

本文記錄於2001年5月17日發現於臺灣東部宜蘭海岸之革龜，革龜屬於現生海龜中體型最為龐大的種屬，在臺灣周圍海域並不常見。本文描述該革龜標本之型態與骨骼之特徵，並詳細記錄各項型態測量資料。該革龜為雌性年輕個體，腹腔內含有上百顆成熟龜卵，推測正值準備產卵階段。由於革龜上岸產卵地區多集中在熱帶海域，因此本標本可能因為追逐獵物而抵達臺灣附近海域。該革龜並無明顯的外傷，死亡原因有待進一步研究。

並列關鍵字

Dermochelys coriacea ； 革龜 ； 臺灣