Limpus et al., 1994:

"During the study, a total of 447 captures were made of 320 individual C. caretta: 434 captures of 308 turtles on the Moreton Banks and 13 captures of 12 turtles on the adjacent Maroom Banks.

A total of 55 turtles showed evidence of anthropogenic injuries and/or health problems. Twenty turtles (6.3%) appeared to be in poor health as evidenced by their leanness and plastron concavity (mean CCL=79.7cm, SD=4.73, range=70.3-88.1cm, n=19). One turtle (0.3%) had curvature of the spine (scoliosis: prepubescent male,CCL=88.9cm). Injuries resulting from anthropogenic causes were recorded for 6.9% of the turtles: 17 (5.3%) with healed or healing propeller cuts to the carapace (9 adult, 1 pubescent, 6 prepubescent turtles; mean CCL=90.6cm, SD=8.06, range=75.6-102.3, n=17) and 5 (1.6%) with healed or healing carapace fractures consistent with having been hit by a boat or having been dropped on the sorting tray of a trawler (all prepubescent turtles, mean CCL=81.5cm, SD=2.01,range=79.3-85.0, n=5). The closeness and length of cuts on the turtles recorded with propeller damage were consistent with damage that could be inflicted by small outboard motors. Fibropapillomas were present on 14 turtles (4.4%; 8 adult, 4 pubescent, 2 prepubescent; mean CCL=90.9cm, D=5.60, range=80.3-99.2, n=14). If fibropapillomas are a consequence of pollution (Balaz & Pooley, 1991), then 10.7% of the turtles displayed evidence of anthropogenic impacts."

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Citation and/or URL

Limpus, C.J., Couper, P.J. and Read, M.A. 1994, The loggerhead turtle, Caretta caretta, in Queensland: population structure, in a warm temperate feeding area, Memoirs of the Queensland Museum, 37: 195-204.

Spatial Coverage

Moreton Bay

Temporal Coverage

July 1990 - June 1992

Update Frequency

Not applicable 

Other Information

None