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Occurrence of Kemp's ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys kempii) in the Mediterranean

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 February 2009

J. Tomás  and
J.A. Raga
J. Tomás*
Affiliation:
Marine Zoology Unit, Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, University of ValenciaAptdo. 22085, E-46071 Valencia, Spain
J.A. Raga
Affiliation:
Marine Zoology Unit, Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, University of ValenciaAptdo. 22085, E-46071 Valencia, Spain
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: J. Tomás Marine Zoology Unit, Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, University of Valencia, Aptdo. 22085 E-46071 ValenciaSpain email: jesus.tomas@uv.es
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Abstract

Recent reports of Kemp's ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys kempii) in the Western Mediterranean calls for a re-assessment of the relative importance and the presence of this species in this sea. Different hypotheses to account for the increase in reports are discussed. The present note provides a new report of the species, a juvenile of 28 cm curved carapace length caught close to Valencia (east Spain) on 16 July 2006. Conservation measures in the area should consider this species in the near future.

Keywords

Lepidochelys kempiiMediterraneanKemp's ridley sea turtle
Type
Research Article
Information
Marine Biodiversity Records , Volume 1 , January 2008 , e58
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2007

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