A rare reptile washed ashore on a Russian island
The remains of a huge animal were found in the White Sea
Collection of the Zoological Museum of Moscow State University named after M.V. Lomonosov has recently been replenished with a rare exhibit - the remains of a tropical turtle about 10 years old. Biologists from Moscow State University spoke about how it could have gotten to the shore of the White Sea.
The leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) was discovered in June of this year on the shores of the White Sea by Nadezhda Cherenkova, an employee of the Solovetsky branch of the White Sea Biological Station of Moscow State University. This species is completely uncharacteristic of the Northern region. Its habitat is the Atlantic Ocean, from Nova Scotia to Argentina.
According to biologists, the tropical resident could have been brought to Solovki along a complex route that could have started from the Gulf Stream. A warm current could carry it along the northern coast of Europe past Norway, “deliver” it to the Arctic Ocean, and from there to the waters of the White Sea.
Most likely, the turtle had already died in the ocean and had lain on the shore for many months before it was found.
The size of the turtle is impressive - the length of its upper shell is 140 cm, its age is about 10 years, and its weight during life could reach 200-300 kilograms. And this is not the largest specimen of this species, experts say.
The decision to transfer the remains of the leatherback turtle to the collection of the Zoological Museum of Moscow State University was made by the Northern Interregional Directorate of the Federal Service for Supervision of Natural Resources.
According to the director of the Zoological Museum of Moscow State University, Mikhail Kalyakin, the admission of such a rare animal to the museum is a unique event. Scientists intend to take tissue samples from the animal and conduct genetic and isotopic analyses. In this way, the age of the reptile and its habitat will be refined.
