Context:
Olive Ridley turtles have washed ashore dead along the southern coast of Chennai over the last few days.
About Olive ridley Turtle:
- Smallest and most abundant of all sea turtles
- Habitat – warm waters of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans.
- Known for their unique mass nesting called Arribada
- Olive ridley gets its name from its olive colored shell.
- Males and females grow to the same size
- Interesting fact – females return to the very same beach from where they first hatched, to lay their eggs.
- The largest mass nesting site – the coast of Orissa
- Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary is known as the world’s largest rookery
- Sea turtles help maintain the health of coral reefs and sea grass beds.
- IUCN status – Vulnerable
Interesting fact: Environmental conditions, particularly temperature, impact every phase of a sea turtle’s life, including the gender of the offspring. Higher temperatures on the nesting beach lead to a higher proportion of female hatchlings. Climate change-induced unusually warm temperatures may be disturbing the typical sex ratios, potentially leading to a decrease in the number of male baby turtles.
Source: The Hindu
Previous year question
What is/are unique about ‘Kharai camel’, a breed found in India?
1. It is capable of swimming up to three kilometres in seawater.
2. It survives by grazing on mangroves.
3. It lives in the wild and cannot be domesticated.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2016 Prelims]
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (a)
Explanation: People consume their milk, while male calves are sold for economic returns. Hence it can be domesticated.
