Turtles
Izimfudu Zasolwandle

© Roger de la Harpe

Igama Elijwayelekile

Izimfudu zasolwandle

Ezinye izinhlobo zazo

i-green turtle, i-hawksbill turtle, i-loggerhead turtle, i-leatherhead turtle

Igama lesayensi

Chelonioidea

Isakhiwo Sazo

I-green turtle: umzimba wayo unamazenga amane alandelanayo kumacala womabili nomugqa ophakathi nendawo. Amazenga awo akukho lapho ehlangana khona. Inekhala elifishane nomlomo oqondile. Amazenga amise okwemisebe yelanga emgogodleni. Ingafinyelela ku-1.5m ubude bayo.
I-Hawksbill turtle: inamazenga angamapheya amabili phakathi kwamehlo (embonjeni). Inomlomo omude ogobile. Isikhumba sayo simaholoholo njengesaha emiphethweni yaso. Iphinde ibe nolayini owu-1m ngaphezulu.
I-Leatherhead turtle: lolu hlobo lwezimfudu lungolwesine uma kukhulunywa ngezimfudu ezinkulu kanti zihlala zisebungozini ngaso sonke isikhathi. Zinesikhumba esingenamazenga ngaphezulu. Azinawo amazipho ezinyaweni. Izinyawo zazo zingafinyelela ku-2.5m ubude.
I-Loggerhead turtle: lolu hloo lofudu lunekhanda elikhulu. Esikhunjeni lunamapheya amahlanu ezivikelamzimba ezihamba emgqeni ophakathi. Isikhumba sinombala onsundu nokubomvu. Lunamapheya ezinzipho amabili ezidladleni. Ubude bawo bungafinyelela ku-1.2m.

Olunye Ulwazi

I-chelonioidea inezizukulwane ezinhlanu kanti ezintathu zazo azisatholakali nhlobo. Zonke izimfudu ziphefumula umoya. Zaziwa ngokukwazi ukubhukuda kakhulu. Ziphumula futhi zilala ngaphansi kwamanzi isikhathi esingamahora amaningi. Lunezindlala ngasekhanda ezikwazi ukukhipha usawoti uma usumningi ngokweqile osuke ufike nokudla. Lungakwazi ukuphila iminyaka engafinyelela kwewu-80. Zizalanisana olwandle kodwa amaqanda azo ziwabeka ngaphandle kwamanzi.
Lukwazi ukubeka amaqanda awu-200 esikhundleni ngasinye. Lukwazi ukubeka izikhundla ezisukela kwesisodwa kuye kweziyisishiyagalombili ngesizini. Ubulili bamachwane buhambisana nokushisa kwenhlabathi yakuleso sikhundla. Amachwane azibuyelela wona olwandle. Angamaphesenti awu-0.2 akwazi ukuphila aze abe madala.

Ukudla

I-chelonioidea inezizukulwane ezinhlanu kanti ezintathu zazo azisatholakali nhlobo. Zonke izimfudu ziphefumula umoya. Zaziwa ngokukwazi ukubhukuda kakhulu. Ziphumula futhi zilala ngaphansi kwamanzi isikhathi esingamahora amaningi. Lunezindlala ngasekhanda ezikwazi ukukhipha usawoti uma usumningi ngokweqile osuke ufike nokudla. Lungakwazi ukuphila iminyaka engafinyelela kwewu-80. Zizalanisana olwandle kodwa amaqanda azo ziwabeka ngaphandle kwamanzi.
Lukwazi ukubeka amaqanda awu-200 esikhundleni ngasinye. Lukwazi ukubeka izikhundla ezisukela kwesisodwa kuye kweziyisishiyagalombili ngesizini. Ubulili bamachwane buhambisana nokushisa kwenhlabathi yakuleso sikhundla. Amachwane azibuyelela wona olwandle. Angamaphesenti awu-0.2 akwazi ukuphila aze abe madala.

Ukusabalala Kwawo

Zitholakala kuzona zonke izilwandle emhlabeni, ngaphandle kwe-Arctic Ocean.

Izinhlobo Ezijwayelekile

Green turtle - Chelonia mydas
Hawksbill turtle - Eretmochelys imbricata
Leatherback turtle - Dermochelys coriacea
Loggerhead turtle - Caretta caretta