January 6, 2007
Green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) seem to really enjoy taking time out
to get cleaned. These gold-ring surgeonfish (Ctenochaetus strigosus) and
yellow tangs (Zebrasoma flavescens) eek out a living nibling at algae
that grows on the reef. You can imagine their excitment when a turtle who's been
out at sea arrives sporting a shell with a lush carpet of algal growth. This
turtle has an injured flipper. Monofilament fishing line and other refuse create
entanglement hazards for a wide variety of marine animals, turtles included.
"Kona", Hawaii
January 6, 2007
Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) and orangespine unicornfish (Naso
lituratus). Turtles really do look pretty goofy when they swim.
"Kona", Hawaii
January 6, 2007
This green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) appears to be giving me a
one-flipper salute. Hmmm. well, anyway one of the odd habits of turtles is that
the seem to see nothing wrong with swimming so close to something that they
whack it with their flippers. True to form, I got a bonk on the head about a
half second after this shot was taken.
"Kona", Hawaii
January 6, 2007
Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas).
"Kona", Hawaii
January 6, 2007
Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), gold-ring surgeonfish (Ctenochaetus
strigosus) and yellow tangs (Zebrasoma flavescens).
"Kona", Hawaii
January 6, 2007
