Somatic Growth Rates of Green Turtles (Chelonia mydas) and Hawksbills (Eretmochelys imbricata) in the Galápagos Islands

A study of Galápagos green turtles (Chelonia mydas) and hawksbills (Eretmochelys imbricata) reveals persistently slow growth rates, with estimates suggesting 133–200 years for green turtles to reach sexual maturity from a carapace length of 40 cm. This research, conducted between 2003 and 2008 at four key foraging sites in the Galápagos Islands, confirms that growth is significantly influenced by color morph, body size, and spatial variation, mirroring findings from a late-1970s study. The study also provides novel data on hawksbill growth rates, marking the first such information for this species in the archipelago. By analyzing recapture intervals, body measurements, and site-specific factors, researchers established a baseline to assess habitat quality changes over time.

Zárate, P. M., Bjorndal, K. A., Seminoff, J. A., Dutton, P. H., & Bolten, A. B. (2015). Somatic Growth Rates of Green Turtles (Chelonia mydas) and Hawksbills (Eretmochelys imbricata) in the Galápagos Islands. Journal of Herpetology, 49(4), 641–648. https://doi.org/10.1670/14-078