Basking Behavior of the Hawaiian Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas)

摘要

Observations were made on green turtles basking on the whitesand beaches at French Frigate Shoals in the northwestern Hawaiian Islands.The highest rectal temperature recorded from the basking turtles was 31.3°C, butthe surface temperature of the carapace attained values as great as 42.8°C.During basking, the turtles flipped sand onto their carapaces, but they did notappear to orientate their position in relation to the sun. The duration of baskingwas inversely related to the mean temperature of a black globe, and the baskingbeaches were relatively cool. The pattern of breathing during basking consistedof periods of breath-holding alternating with single breaths. The amount of timethat the turtles basked varied from 0.3 to 7.5 percent of the total time they wereunder observation. The biological significance of basking and the advantagesthat might accrue to Hawaiian green turtles from their unique basking behaviorare discussed.