Formal observation of the first nesting of the Loggerhead Caretta caretta (Linnaeus, 1758) in Algeria

Abstract

The Loggerhead Carettacaretta is a sea turtle of the Cheloniidae family and the subfamily of the Carettinae. It is found in the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans and in the Mediterranean Sea and it is considered an endangered species and is protected by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Its heritage status is Vulnerable. In the Mediterranean it is the most common species of sea turtle. The main nesting place is Greece with more than 3,000 nests per year, and loggerheads also nest on the Cypriot coasts and several other nesting places are known in the eastern Mediterranean for example in Turkey, Israel, Cyprus, the islands Ioniennes, in Tunisia, Libya, in Lebanon and in Sicily For Algeria the Loggerhead is very often observed either alive or stranded but no egg-laying nest has been reported. In August an egg laying nest, from which small loggerheads came out, was observed at the Iftissen beach of Beni Fergane in the coast of El milia in the department of Jijel this is the first observation of nesting of this important species in Algeria.