TITUS
Green Sea Turtle
Species: Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
Age: Sub-Adult
Sex: Female
Weight: ~130 lbs.
Stranding Date: 1-14-02
Stranding Location: Titusville on the east coast of Florida
Comments:Titus suffers from a buoyancy issue due to being hit by a boat. Turtles have lungs and must surface for air. Unfortunately, this makes them vulnerable to boat strikes. When a turtle who is taking in a breath is struck by a boat, the air is forced out of their lungs and into their body cavity. The air then becomes permanently trapped, giving turtles, like Titus, a "bubble butt." Boat strikes are among the top causes of sea turtle injury in our area. Sea turtles are designed to blend in with their surroundings and are often not visible to fast moving boats. The turtle shell is made mostly of bone and can heal in a medical environment when broken.
