Species determination based on head scutes, carapace, and plastron of turtle hatchlings at Boom Beach, Banyuwangi

A comprehensive study on the determination of species is important for the turtle conservation program. The external characteristics of turtles were identified based on the pattern of the head scutes, carapace and plastron. This study aimed to investigate the dead hatchling species at Boom Beach, Banyuwangi. Boom Beach is a 3 km stretch of beach in northeast Banyuwangi. We investigated 15 dead hatchlings from 4 different nests. Patrols were carried out all night and morning on the surface of the nest and excavated to collect dead hatchlings. All hatchlings were cleaned of epibion and dried to avoid reflection. The hatchlings were placed on a white table and photographed with a digital camera (Nikon D3100) from above. Figures were taken at a distance of 1 m to reduce the effects of visual distortion. As a result, the pattern of head scutes consisted of more than one pair of prefrontal scales; carapace consisted of six lateral scutes and six vertebral scutes; and plastron consisted of four intramarginal scutes with pores, respectively. It can be concluded that all the dead hatchlings were species of olive ridley turtle ( Lepidochelys olivacea ).