Queensland

Marine Turtle
Field Guide
Queensland’s coast has some community groups to increase
of the most important marine their participation in these
turtle nesting sites in the world. important activities.
Six species of threatened
marine turtles nest along This field guide has been
our idyllic beaches. These developed as part of the Nest
rookeries support significant to Ocean Turtle Protection
nesting populations of green, Program. Correctly identifying
loggerhead, hawksbill, flatback marine turtles, and the animals
and olive ridley turtles. that prey on their nests,
provides valuable information
One of the most serious threats about turtle populations and
to nesting turtle populations shows where predator control
is the destruction of their eggs activities are most needed.
and hatchlings by predators.
Feral pigs have been found to be
responsible for destroying over
70 per cent of turtle nests at
nesting beaches on Cape York,
continued loss at this rate is not
sustainable. Other predators
include foxes, dogs, dingoes
and goannas.
To reduce predation on
marine turtle nests and help
the recovery of threatened
marine turtle populations, the
Australian and Queensland
Governments have together
invested nearly $7million
in the Nest to Ocean Turtle
Protection Program. The
program supports predator
control and turtle monitoring at
priority nesting beaches. It also
assists Traditional Owner and

Front Cover: Turtle hatchlings © K Jorgen

Inside Cover: Steven Marpoondin (APN Cape York) © Brian Ross
 Marine Turtle Species Identification Key

Indo-Pacific Marine Turtles

Contents Carapace with:

- No continuous ridges
- Large scales
- Claws on flippers
Marine Turtle Species Identification Key .................. 3 Carapace with:
- 5 distinct continuous ridges
- No large scales
Photographs of Adults and Hatchlings ..................... 4 - No claws on flippers 4 pair costal scales 5 pair (rarely 6) costal scales 6 pair or more costal scales

Marine Turtle Track Identification Key ...................... 6

Basic Beach Monitoring ........................................... 8

Queensland Marine Turtles: Carapace longer than wider Carapace more circular
Red-brown to brown Grey-green
Green ................................................................. 10 Leatherback Turtle No pores in scale of bridge Pores in scale of bridge
Dermochelys coriacea Loggerhead Turtle Olive Ridley Turtle
Loggerhead ........................................................ 12 Caretta caretta Lepidochelys olivacea

Olive Ridley ........................................................ 14

2 pair prefrontal scales
Flatback ............................................................. 16 Thick overlapping carapace scales 1 pair prefrontal scales
No thick overlapping carapace scales
Hawksbill ........................................................... 18
Leatherback ....................................................... 20
2 pair prefrontal scales

Predator Track Identification:

Fox ....................................................................... 22
Hawksbill Turtle
Wild Dog or Dingo ................................................ 23 Eretmochelys imbricata

Feral Pig ............................................................... 24

Goannas .............................................................. 25

Principles of Pest Management ............................. 26

Threats to Marine Turtles ....................................... 27 1 pair prefrontal scales

Acknowledgements and References ...................... 28 Preocular scales

Low domed carapace with upturned edges High domed carapace

Preocular scales No preocular scales
Olive grey Light to dark green with dark mottling
Flatback Turtle Green Turtle
Natator depressus Chelonia mydas

2 3
 Photographs of Adults and Hatchlings
© Colin Limpus

© Colin Limpus

© Colin Limpus

© Colin Limpus
Green Turtle Chelonia mydas Page 10 Loggerhead Turtle Caretta caretta Page 12
© Bill Curtsinger

© Colin Limpus

© Colin Limpus

© Colin Limpus
Olive Ridley Turtle Lepidochelys olivacea Page 14 Flatback Turtle Natator depressus Page 16
© Colin Limpus

© Colin Limpus
©Brian Ross

© Ian Bell
Hawksbill Turtle Eretmochelys imbricata Page 18 Leatherback Turtle Dermochelys coriacea Page 20

4 5
 Marine Turtle Track Identification Key

Alternating Stroke Breast Stroke

Flipper marks alternate Flipper marks
side by side
Loggerhead Green

Track Width Track Width

Less than 1 meter Approx. 94-144 cm

Hind Flipper Hind Flipper

Front Flipper Front Flipper

Track Features
Plastron Drag Plastron Drag
Early morning
monitoring is best as Tail Drag Tail Drag
Not present Track Direction
tracks will deteriorate
over time. The clarity Clues to determine
Hawksbill Flatback
of tracks can be track direction:
affected by flipper Turtles push sand
Track Width Track Width
damage, terrain, Approx. 70-80 cm Approx. 90-100 cm backwards, the higher
sand moisture, tides, sand mound is at the
Hind Flipper Hind Flipper
wind and weather. back.
Look for several key Front Flipper Front Flipper If track overlaps,
identifying features,
Plastron Drag Plastron Drag the top track is the
along different
returning track.
sections of track. Tail Drag Tail Drag
Sand is always
The key track thrown back over the
identification features Olive Ridley Leatherback emerging track when
are: digging.
• Stroke Style Track Width Track Width
Approx. 70-80 cm Greater than 2 meters Measuring Width
• Track Width
Hind Flipper Hind Flipper Measure from outer
• Hind Flipper Marks
edge of track. This
Front Flipper Front Flipper
• Front Flipper Marks may be the front or
• Plastron Drag Plastron Drag Plastron Drag rear flipper, depending
Not Visible on species.
• Tail Drag Tail Drag
Tail Drag

6 7
 Basic Beach Monitoring

Basic Beach Survey

Guidelines on how to Record data and implement Action during a basic Traverse beach to locate fresh turtle tracks.
beach survey (see page 9). These may be tailored to suit individual Equipment Checklist Walk along the high tide line or drive on the wet sand just
below the high tide mark
monitoring programs and implemented in accordance with training.
◘ GPS (Use datum WGS 84 and
decimal degrees)
Record fresh tracks only
Record Action ◘ Data sheets or charged data
recording device
Species Identification: Use track or Photograph: To verify species ◘ Pencil
◘ Tape measure
sighting to identify species. and/or nest damage/predation. Adult Track Adult Track
◘ Camera Hatchling Tracks
◘ Personal safety gear No nesting turtle Nesting turtle Hatchlings
GPS Nest Location: Note GPS Mark Nest: Install marker to
◘ Torch (night monitoring)
coordinates & waypoint number. indicate nest location (if required). ◘ Spare batteries Identify Species Identify Species Identify Species
◘ Monitoring field guide
False Crawl: Track with no nest. Bury Eggshells and Mark Track: refer to
Track Identification
refer to
Species Identification
if hatchling present
refer to
To avoid record duplication; mark (Pages 6-7) (Pages 3-5, 10-21) Species Identification
Extent of Damage: Partial or (Pages 3-5, 10-21)
track line above the high tide mark.
complete destruction of nest. Is there a nest or is it a Once female has
false crawl? settled into laying
Submit Data: Project manager or has completed Record / Action
Evidence of Predation: Diggings, nesting
to submit data to the relevant • Species ID
tracks, sighting. • Hatchlings
Queensland Department. Emerged
Nest False Crawl Unsure
Predator Identification: Use track or Record / Action
• Marked Nest
• Species ID
sighting to identify species. Record / Action Record / Action Record / Action
ID or GPS Nest
Location
• Tag Information
• Species ID • Species ID • Species ID • Curved carapace • Evidence of
Hatchlings Emerged: Yes, hatchling length Predation
• GPS Nest • False Crawl • GPS Nest
tracks or sighting. Location Location • GPS Nest • Predator ID
• Mark Nest • Mark Nest Location (refer to pages 22-25)

Tag Information: Note tag ID • Photograph • Mark Nest

© Colin Limpus

number and its location on turtle. Is nest damaged?

Curved carapace length (CCL): No Yes

From front (where skin and Record / Action

Refer to
carapace meet), down midline to • Extent of Damage Page 8 for
• Evidence of
back edge of carapace (over tail). Predation
Record / Action
monitoring
• Predator ID protocols
© Colin Limpus

(refer to pages 22-25)

• Photograph
Curved • Bury Eggshells
carapace length
Mark monitored track with a line, above high tide mark, so it’s not recorded twice
© Colin Limpus

Continue and complete survey

Submit data forms and photographs for verification to project manager

8 9
 Green Turtle

Green Turtle, Chelonia mydas Key Identification Features

Status: Nationally Vulnerable, Queensland Vulnerable

Immature
4 Breast Stroke Carapace 4 Pair 1 Pair Prefrontal
3 Track Scales Costal Scales Scales Qld Nesting Sites

2 Adult: Carapace is a high dome. Colour is light to dark green with dark
mottling. Plastron colour is cream-white.
1
Hatchling: Black-dark brown with white margins, white plastron.
Four pair
costal scales
Breeding Season Peak = Nesting = Hatchlings =
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
Southern

© Colin Limpus
Great Barrier Reef
One pair Northern
Great Barrier Reef
prefrontal scales Gulf of Carpentaria

Hatchling
Adult

© Colin Limpus

© Colin Limpus
1 2 3 4 High domed carapace Post hatchling

Hatchling Front flipper marks nearly equal width

to hind flipper marks, under 2m
© Colin Limpus

© Colin Limpus
94-144cm
White Margins

White plastron

10 11
 Loggerhead Turtle

Loggerhead Turtle, Caretta caretta Key Identification Features

Status: Nationally Endangered, Queensland Endangered

Adult

Alternating Carapace 5 Pair

Track Scales Costal Scales Qld Nesting Sites

Adult: Carapace is longer than wider. Colour is red-brown to brown.

Plastron colour is yellow.
Hatchling: Dark brown with 5 costal scales and dark plastron with 3-4
inframarginal scales.

Breeding Season Peak = Nesting = Hatchlings =

© Colin Limpus
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
South Eastern
Queensland
Large head with strong jaws, parrot-like beak
Adult
Hatchling
© Colin Limpus
Five pair
costal scales

© Colin Limpus

© Colin Limpus
Post hatchling
1 5 several months old
2 3 4
Post hatchling Plastron skid narrower than hind flipper
1-5 years mark

© Colin Limpus

© Colin Limpus
<1m

Peaks on
3-4 inframarginal scales underneath midline

12 13
 Olive Ridley Turtle

Olive Ridley Turtle, Lepidochelys olivacea Key Identification Features

Status: Nationally Endangered, Queensland Endangered

Large Immature
6 pair (or more) costal scales
Alternating Carapace 6 Pair (or more)
Track Scales Costal Scales Qld Nesting Sites

1 Adult: Carapace is circular. Colour is grey-green with no conspicuous

markings. Plastron colour is cream-white.
2
3 Hatchling: Charcoal-grey/black-brown on both sides.
4 5 6 7
Breeding Season Peak = Nesting = Hatchlings =
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec

© Colin Limpus
West Cape

All year, peaks during dry season.

Nesting Female Adult

Hatchling

© Bill Curtsinger
© Colin Limpus
7
6
54
3 2 1
Cream-white plastron Plastron skid wider or equal to hind
flipper mark

70-80cm
© Colin Limpus

© Colin Limpus

© Colin Limpus
Pores in scales of bridge

14 15
 Flatback Turtle

Flatback Turtle, Natator depressus Key Identification Features

Status: Nationally Vulnerable, Queensland Vulnerable

Adult

Breast Stroke Carapace 4 Pair 1 Pair Prefrontal

Track Scales Costal Scales Scales Qld Nesting Sites

Adult: Carapace is a low dome, smooth with upturned edges. Colour is

grey to pale-grey or olive. Preocular scales. Plastron is creamy-yellow.
Hatchling: Olive-green, scales with broad black margin. Plastron is a
solid white.
Breeding Season Peak = Nesting = Hatchlings =
Low domed carapace, Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec

© Colin Limpus
smooth with upturned edges Eastern
Queensland
West Cape and
Gulf of Carpentaria

Hatchling Broad black margins Prefrontal scale Post Hatchling

© Colin Limpus Preocular scale

© Colin Limpus

© Colin Limpus
4 Breast stroking up the beach Front flipper marks much narrower than
1 3 hind flipper marks
2
90-100cm

© Colin Limpus
© Ian Bell

4 pair
costal scales
16 17
 Hawksbill Turtle

Hawksbill Turtle, Eretmochelys imbricata Key Identifcation Features

Status: Nationally Vulnerable, Queensland Vulnerable

Immature

Alternating Scales Thick 4 Pair 2 Pair Prefrontal

Track Overlapping Costal Scales Scales Qld Nesting Sites

Adult: Carapace has thick overlapping scales. Colour is olive green

Thick overlapping scales or brown and is extensively variegated with brown/black markings.
Adult plastron is yellow or white with black spots.
Hatchlings: Dark brown.
Dark head 1 3 4
scales 2 Breeding Season Peak = Nesting = Hatchlings =

© Colin Limpus
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
Northern Great
Barrier Reef and
Torres Strait
4 pair costal scales
Immature Shell colouring highly variable
Hatchling 4 pair
costal scales

© Colin Limpus
1 2 3
4 Pointed jaw, parrot-like beak

Adult Plastron skid wider or equal to hind

flipper mark
2 pair
prefrontal
scales
© Colin Limpus

© Colin Limpus
70-85cm
© Brian Ross
©Ian Bell

18 19
 Leatherback Turtle

Leatherback Turtle, Dermochelys coriacea Key Identification Features

X
Status: Nationally Vulnerable, Queensland Endangered

Adult
5 carapace ridges
Breast Stroke No Carapace 5 Carapace
Track Scales Ridges Qld Nesting Sites

Adult: Carapace is long and pointed. Long ridges run down the length
of carapace. Colour is a uniform black-brown. Soft leathery skin.
Hatchlings: Finely beaded, black with white markings on the carapace
ridges and plastron.

Breeding Season Peak = Nesting = Hatchlings =

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
South Eastern

© Ian Bell
Carapace margin Queensland

Adult Adult
Hatchling

© Colin Limpus
5 carapace ridges

1 2

© Ian Bell
3
4 Breast stroking up the beach
5
Hatchlings

>2m
Carapace margin
© Colin Limpus

© Colin Limpus

Total track width greater than 2m

20 21
 Predator Track Identification

Fox Wild Dog or Dingo

Fox Track Identification Features
• Front foot is larger than back foot.
• Elongated oval shaped claws, may
not show on track.
• Substantial foot hair, sometimes
visible on track impression.
• Large space between centre pad
and toe pads.
• Centre pad has a distinct inverted
V shape.
• Tracks are straight, hind feet
reusing front feet impressions.
• Small track width.
© Colin Limpus
Wild Dog Track Identification Features
• Front foot is larger than back foot.
• Little or no foot hair in between
pads.
• Small space between centre pad
and toe pads.
• Centre pad almost triangular.
• Foot imprint rounded.
• Tracks are straight but not as neat
and aligned as a fox’s track.

© Brian Ross
Fox raided turtle nest Dog raided turtle nest
Front Front
Straight Substantial foot hair Small distance Little or no foot hair

© Shane Jackson
track, hind between toe and
feet reusing centre pads
front feet
impressions Back Back

Management Options Management Options

• Den detection and • Ground shooting
fumigation • Leg hold trapping
• Ground shooting • Baiting (1080 or
Large space • Trapping strychnine)
Small track between toe • Baiting Small space • Exclusion fencing
© Shane Jackson

width and centre • Exclusion fencing Triangular between toe • Nest protection
pads and centre (cages)
V • Nest protection Claw marks centre pad
pads
shaped (cages)
centre pad

22 23
 Feral Pig
Feral Pig Track Identification Features
• Back feet slightly larger than front.
• Foot print consists of a two toe hoof
and two dew claws.
• Dew claws distinctive identification
feature but may not be present in
harder soils.
• Small stride and narrow straddle.
Pigs eat 100 percent of nest
eggs, predating many nests per
night
Dew claw visible in
© Jim Mitchell
Goanna
Goanna Track Identification Features
• Both walk and run tracks have
alternating foot prints.
• Trail drag usually visable.
Nest Predation Identification
Goanna raiding turtle nest
• Goannas burrow into nest at an
angle from the side of the nest, not
vertical from directly above.
• The burrow is typically domed

sand impression
shape, not circular.

Front
Alternating pattern of Goanna digging
foot prints
Toes
Dew claw Back
Hoof wall
Toes
Sole
Management Options
Narrow Management Options • Trapping
straddle Heel Track
• Ground/aerial • Exclusion fencing
(width) Tail drag
shooting • Nest protection
Small • Trapping (cages)
© Shane Jackson

stride • Baiting
• Exclusion fencing
Dew Claw
• Nest protection
(cages) Foot print
24 25
 Principles of Pest Management
Managing pest animals requires long-term control programs and a variety
of approaches. Effective programs are designed around these eight
principles:
1. INTEGRATION
Ensuring pest management
programs are an integral part of
the management of natural areas.
2. PUBLIC AWARENESS
Raising public awareness and
knowledge of pests to increase
community and individual
participation in pest management.
3. COMMITMENT
Gaining a commitment to long
term programs by the community,
industry groups and government
entities.
4. CONSULTATION AND
PARTNERSHIP
Establishing partnerships
between local communities,
industry groups, state government
agencies and local governments to
achieve a collaborative approach.
26
5. PLANNING
Consistent planning at local,
regional, state and national levels
ensures combined resources target
the agreed priorities.
6. PREVENTION
Preventing the spread of pests,
and using early detection and
intervention to control pests.
7. BEST PRACTICE
Using ecologically and socially
responsible pest management
practices to protect the environment
and natural resources.
8. IMPROVEMENT
Research and regular monitoring
and evaluating of programs
helps improve and refine pest
management practices.
Threats to Marine Turtles
Marine turtles are long-lived and slow to mature. Depending on the
species they can take anywhere between 8–50 years to reach breeding
age. Due to the range of threats, at their different life stages, it is thought
that only 1 in 1000 hatchlings will survive to adulthood and then return
to the beach to nest. For this reason it is critical to address the range of
threats throughout their lifecycle.
Threats include: What you can do:
• Native and introduced animals • Support the management of
predating turtle eggs and predators such as pigs, dogs
hatchlings. and foxes around turtle nesting
beaches.
• Vehicles compacting turtle
nests or forming tyre ruts that • Report turtle nests and predated
trap hatchlings. turtle nests to your local ranger.
• Humans taking turtle eggs. • Keep your dogs on a lead when
walking on the beach during
• Bycatch of marine turtles in
nesting/hatchling season.
fisheries.
• Drive slowly on beaches and avoid
• Marine debris.
driving over nests. Drive on the wet
• Impact to breeding habitat sand below the high tide mark to
from coastal development and avoid making wheel ruts.
artificial lighting.
• P ick up marine debris from the
• Deteriorating water quality. beach and waterways.
• Unknown and possibly • Report ghost nets to your local
unsustainable levels of turtle ranger.
harvesting, in and outside
• At night, minimise lights on the
Australian waters.
beach, including campfires.
• Support sustainable, traditional use
of adult turtles and turtle eggs.
27
 Acknowledgements
The Queensland Parks and Wildlife
Service Nest to Ocean Turtle
Protection Program Team would like
to acknowledge the contribution of
staff from the following organisations
in the development of the field guide:
Western Cape Turtle Threat Abatement
Alliance supported by Cape York Natural
Resource Management, Balkanu Cape
York Development Corporation, Aak
Puul Ngantam, Feralfix, World Wildlife
Fund for Nature, and University of
Queensland. Also acknowledged is
the input and advice of staff from our
partnering Australian and Queensland
Government departments.
References
Biosecurity Act 2014 (Qld)
Cape York Sea Turtle Project Turtle:
Track Monitoring Manual. (Cape York
Sustainable Futures)
Limpus, C. J. (2008). A Biological
Review of Australian Marine Turtles.
1. Loggerhead Turtle Caretta caretta
(Linnaeus). (Queensland Government
Environmental Protection Agency:
Brisbane.)
Limpus, C. J. (2008). A Biological Review
of Australian Marine Turtles. 2. Green
Turtle Chelonia Mydas (Linnaeus).
(Queensland Government Environmental
Protection Agency: Brisbane.)
Limpus, C. J. (2009). A Biological Review
of Australian Marine Turtles. 3. Hawksbill
Turtle Eretmochelys Imbricata (Linnaeus).
28
(Queensland Government Environmental
Protection Agency: Brisbane.)
Limpus, C. J. (2008). A Biological Review
of Australian Marine Turtles. 4. Olive
Ridley Turtle Lepidochelys Olivacea
(Eschcholtz). (Queensland Government
Environmental Protection Agency:
Brisbane.)
Limpus, C. J. (2007). A Biological Review
of Australian Marine Turtles. 5. Flatback
Turtle Natador Depressus (Garman).
(Queensland Government Environmental
Protection Agency: Brisbane.)
Limpus, C. J. (2009). A Biological
Review of Australian Marine Turtles. 6.
Leatherback Turtle Dermochelys Coriacea
(Vandelli). (Queensland Government
Environmental Protection Agency:
Brisbane.)
Limpus, C. J. (1992a). Indo-Pacific Marine
Turtle Identification Key. (Queensland
Department of Environment and
Heritage, Brisbane.)
Markovina, K. (2015) Turtle Monitoring
Field Guide (Edition 7). (Western
Australian Government Department of
Parks and Wildlife.)
Nest to Ocean Turtle Protection Program:
2014 to 2018 Improving Turtle Nest
Prepared by:
Success Through Predator Control.
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service,
Queensland Government Department of Department of National Parks, Sport and Racing.
National Parks, Recreation, Sports and
©State of Queensland, 2016.
Racing, Queensland Parks and Wildlife
Service (2014).
Green Turtles on Raine Island © Duncan Limpus
©State of Queensland 2016.
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service,
Department of National Parks, Sport and Racing.
Bp2147 June 2016