The crab Polybius henslowii (Decapoda: Brachyura) as a main resource in the longgerhead turtle (caretta caretta) dier fron North Africa

Abstract

Marine turtles are known for feeding on a great variety of preys. . . from the soft jellyfishes to the hard shells. However, this does not mean that every turtle in fact eat this wide variety of preys throughout its life, but depending on the habitat and age they show certain preferences, making this selection based on the abundance (quantity), the nutritive properties of the prey (quality) and how easy is to get (accessibility). In this paper we present the almost exclusive diet of the Loggerhead turtle Caretta caretta (Linnaeus, 1758) thanks to 5 years of intensive research on either dead and alive specimens at the North African coasts of Ceuta (Spain), Morocco and Western Sahara. We find out the real importance of the crab Polybius henslowii (Leach, 1 820) in Caretta caretta diet, discussing some aspects of this marine turtle as a specific rather than a generalist feeder.