ECOMAR - Photo ID

Elkhorn Coral

St. George's Caye
PO Box 1234
Belize City, Belize
ph: 011 (501) 223-3022
fax: 011 (501) 223-7007
alt: 011 (501) 671-3483
linda@ecomarbelize.org

Photo ID

One activity of the Belize Turtle Watch Program is to document regularly sighted turtles and to use photo identification to determine the home range of turtles found throughout Belize. Scientists use the scales on the side of turtle's heads to identify individuals that do not have obvious marks. Once we begin to receive photos of turtles in Belize we can begin to compare these features. Please send us your photos so divers and snorkelers throughout Belize can ID commonly sighted individuals!

Loggerhead off South Water Caye
Gary Gaston took this photo of this handsome fellow while snorkeling off South Water Caye on June 25, 2011. Looks like he has two barnacles on the lateral scutes behind his neck. Anyone else seen this loggerhead? Actually Gary also reported that a loggerhead turtle nested on South Water Caye on June 26th. Reportedly male turtles follow female turtles to nesting beaches and wait for their mates and mate between nesting events.
Hol Chan, Ambergris Caye
On April 9, 2011 Elbert Greer from the White Sands Dive Shop on Ambergris Caye was able to capture this amazing image of a green sea turtle, probably taking a break from his lunch! Turtle grass is widespread along the coast of Belize and green turtles from throughout the Caribbean come to Belize to forage on our lush and extensive sea grass beds.
Sandy Lane, Turneffe
On February 22, 2011 Gordon Kirkwood was diving at Turneffe where he spotted this beautiful hawksbill. We'll compare this photo to others that we get from you!
Tackle Box, Ambergris Caye
On Dec 29, 2010 Gordon Kirkwood got this great shot of a hawksbill turtle ready to munch on some tasty sponges! We'll use photo ID to see if this is the same turtle Gordon saw on Dec 22 when he visited the same dive site.

On Dec 22, 2010 Gordon Kirkwood spotted this hawksbill and we can now begin to compare sea turtle profiles using photo ID. What do you think? Do you see any similarities on the scales on the side of the face?
North Cut, Caye Caulker
On Dec 22, 2010 Gordon Kirkwood spotted this hawksbill while diving near Caye Caulker. Once we have more photos in our database we can begin to compare photos and determine home range of sea turtles.
Esmerelda, Ambergris Caye

Gordon Kirkwood encountered this hawksbill on Dec 3, 2010 and got two excellent pictures. Hawksbill turtles are seen on a lot of dives in Belize and we hope to use photo id to identify the home range of these turtles on the reef.
Loggerhead, The Elbow, Turneffe
On March 21, 2010 while diving The Elbow at Turneffe we were fortunate enough to dive with probably what is the oldest loggerhead sea turtle I have ever seen! Look at his beak, you can see he has been munching conch shells for many years. Please note his left front flipper has a deformity which looks like tear. Please use this to identify this old boy! This turtle must be close to 200 years old.