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The flatback sea turtle was originally described as Chelonia depressa in 1880 by American herpetologist Samuel Garman.The genus Natator (meaning "swimmer") was created in 1908 by Australian ichthyologist Allan Riverstone McCulloch, and in the same scientific paper he described what he thought to be a new species, Natator tessellatus, thereby creating a junior synonym.
The turtles have been monitored since the February 2013 hatching season, and Queensland's Department of Environment and Science collects the data as part of a longterm turtle-monitoring project. Around 70 turtle nests were observed in the 2022 hatching season. [2] A project to restore the habitat of flatback turtles was launched on 7 January 2014.
The most recognisable of these is probably the perentie, Australia's biggest lizard and the island's top predator. The island represents important turtle nesting habitat for the green turtle and flatback sea turtle. Some exotic species exist on the island (e.g. the American cockroach [13]) but the island fauna is largely intact.
It is the most significant breeding ground of the flatback turtle (Natator depressus) and there is occasional nesting by the hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) and olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) the island it has predators like saltwater crocodile. [citation needed] This island is south of the Torres Strait Islands.
The marine park was proclaimed under the EPBC Act on 14 December 2013 and renamed Oceanic Shoals Marine Park on 9 October 2017. [3] The management plan and protection measures of the marine park came into effect for the first time on 1 July 2018.
All but the flatback turtle are listed as threatened with extinction globally on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The flatback turtle is found only in the waters of Australia, Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia. [7] [6] Sea turtles can be categorized as hard-shelled or leathery-shelled (dermochelyid). [8]
The archipelago is home to the hawksbill turtle, the flatback turtle and the green turtle although none are known to nest on Abutilon.. Birds found on the island include threatened species like the wedge-tailed shearwater, the bridled tern, the crested tern and the lesser crested tern.
Caretta caretta [1] (loggerhead sea turtle) Chelonia mydas [1] (green sea turtle) Eretmochelys imbricata [1] (hawksbill sea turtle) Lepidochelys olivacea (olive ridley sea turtle, Pacific ridley sea turtle) Natator depressus [1] (flatback sea turtle) Dermochelyidae. Dermochelys coriacea (leatherback turtle, leathery turtle, lute turtle)