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Marine Turtle Newsletter 69:10, © 1995
ALBINO SEA TURTLE HATCHLINGS IN BRAZIL
Twenty-two albino loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) hatchlings were born on 25 December 1994 at Atafona Beach near Sao Joao da Barra, north of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The complete lack of pigmentation seems to be the only factor distinguishing them from their 76 apparently normal siblings. The incubation duration of the nest of 112 eggs was 52 days; hatch rate was 87.5%. The albino hatchlings were collected from the beach upon hatching and taken to Projeto TAMAR's research station in Atafona. Projeto TAMAR/IBAMA is the organization responsible for sea turtle conservation and management in Brazil. The animals are presently kept in a round tank (220 cm diameter), fed a fish-based diet, and measured every 10 days. They have adapted well to captivity and are eating regularly. Only one has died. The female which laid this clutch measured 110 cm curved carapace length (100 cm curved carapace width) and was marked with monel flipper tags numbered 10335 and 10336. The albino hatchlings will be studied in cooperation with scientists from the Federal Universities in Brazil, and some will be brought to the Projeto TAMAR national office in Praia do Forte, Bahia.
MARIA MARCOVALDI, ERON PAES E LIMA and RICARDO PENTEADO, Projeto TAMAR, Cx. Postal 2219, Cep:40.210-970, Salvador, Bahia, BRAZIL.