Weight and Length Relationships of Some Adult Marine Turtles

The weights and lengths of marine turtles were analyzed. Significant weight-carapace length relationships were found in 17 of 19 populations of adult sea turtles, representing six species. The sizes of nesting green turtles (Chelonia mydas) at Ascension Island, Europa Island and Scilly Atoll are somewhat distinctive. No significant weight-length differences were uncovered between male and female green turtles within a feeding population, but there were significant differences between males in different feeding populations and between females in different feeding aggregations. Significant weight-length relationships were also found in hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), loggerhead (Caretta caretta), olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) and Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempi) nesting populations and among a worldwide sample of leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea).