Whatshot

2026
All
September
2025
All
November
All
2024
All
June
All
April
All
2023
All
March
All
2022
All
2021
All
2020
All
March
All
February
All
2019
All
December
All
November
All
October
All
September
All
August
All
July
All
June
All
May
All
April
All
March
All
February
All
2018
All
December
All
November
All
October
All
September
All
August
All
July
All
June
All
May
All
April
All
March
All
February
All
2017
All
December
All
November
All
October
All
September
All
August
All
July
All
June
All
May
All
April
All
March
All
February
All
January
All
2016
All
December
All
November
All
October
All
September
All
August
All
July
All
June
All
May
All
April
All
March
All
February
All
January
All
2015
All
December
All
November
All
October
All
September
All
August
All
July
All
June
All
May
All
DHS
April
All
March
All
February
All
January
All
2014
All
December
All
November
All
October
All
September
All
August
All
July
All
June
All
KZN
May
All
April
All
March
All
February
All
January
All
2013
All
December
All
November
All
October
All
September
All
August
All
July
All
June
All
May
All
April
All
March
All
February
All
January
All
2012
All
December
All
November
All
October
All
September
All
August
All
July
All

Sea Turtles

Sea Turtles

Date: 2019-02-01

Ever wonder about the barnacles on a turtle Sea turtles may carry a variety of hitch-hikers such as barnacles, crabs, shrimps, algae, oysters, bristle worms and brittle stars. Most of these gain benefit from the turtle through transportation and habitat, while the turtle gains less, but most often camouflage. There are 29 species of barnacles found on turtles. A few barnacles on a turtle is regarded as 'normal' but a heavy load of barnacles can cause drag when the turtles swims and in most cases, the barnacles themselves are not the problem but, they are a symptom of some other ailment. The carapace of a sea turtle is relatively soft and removal of barnacles must be undertaken by a professional during rehabilitation, scrapping and removing barnacles from a turtle can cause injury and infection to the animal, if done so incorrectly.

Information by: KZN Marine Stranding Network.