Introduction 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Turtles are unique marine animals, categorised as reptiles. There are seven species of turtles in the world and Malaysia is fortunate because four of them come to land and lay their eggs here.However, their numbers have been declining. As such, action needs to be aken in order to overcome this problem which would lead to their extinction
  
 
 
 
The four species of turtle found in Malaysia are the Leatherback Turtle, the Hawksbill Turtle, the Green Turtle and the Olive Ridley Turtle. All of them can be found all around the country expect for the Leatherback 
which is only found in Terengganu. 
 
 
 
A Leatherback is easily recognised by its distinctive  shell that is marked by seven longitudinal ridges.  The Leatherback is the biggest among the four species  of turtle found and can reach a length of 2 metres. With the distinctive ridges on the back they resemble  the starfruit (carambola). t has a dark colouration with white spots. The front flippers  are well adapted for swimming. It is the only turtle with a peculiar  jaw that resembles a pair of scissors. The Leatherback feed 
 mainly on jelly fish and other soft marine animals. Leatherback  can lay between 60-120 eggs of diameter 5-6.5 cm per nesting. 
 
 
 
 
  The Olive Ridley Turtle is the smallest  among all the turtles that come to Malaysia. 
 It has an average length of 70 cmIt has a dark olive colouration. Olive Ridleys feed mainly  
on crabs, shrimps and other small crustaceans. They can lay up to about 100 eggs  per nesting 
with eggs of diameter 5.0 cm. 
 
  
 
 
 
 
The Green Turtle is so called 
 because of the presence of a green fat in its body. Even then, it is dark brown in colour.It has an average size of about 1.2 metres in length and has a hook  on the front swimming flippers. It feeds mainly on sea grass  and sea weed. The Green Turtle can lay between 100 - 140 eggs  per nesting with eggs of diameter 5.0 cm.
 
  
 
The Hawksbill is easily recognisable by the arrangement  of the shell on its carapace which is overlapping.  The turtle has a mouth that resembles a hawksbill  hence the name. Its size seldom grows beyond 1.0 metre  and it lives in shallow waters.  The Hawksbill feeds mainly on sponges and soft corals which are easily  found in the vicinity of coral reefs. It has a brown colouration with  
 pale spots and stripes. The Hawksbill can lay up to 130 eggs per nesting  and the eggs have a size of about 5.0 cm in diameter.		  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lepidochelys olivacea Olive Ridley
Chelonia mydas Green Turtle
Eretmochelys imbricata Hawksbill Turtle
Dermochelys coriacea Leatherback Turtle
 
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