Current status of the sea turtles nesting on Okinawajima and adjacent islands of the central Ryukyus, Japan Original Research Article

In 1995–1996 we surveyed for emergence traces and nests of sea turtles in Okinawajima and adjacent islands. A total of 61 clutches was found, of which 47 belonged to the loggerheads (Caretta caretta) and five to the green turtles (Chelonia mydas); nine remained unidentified. Estimated nesting dates of the loggerheads and the green turtles ranged from mid May to late and mid July, respectively. A highly significant positive correlation was recognized between the numbers of body pits and nests containing clutches on each beach (r=0.951, p<0.001). The geographic pattern of the density of body pits calculated on the basis of data from the present and the previous (1994) surveys suggests that several beaches in the northern half of Okinawajima are especially important for breeding populations of sea turtles around the central Ryukyus.