First record of leatherback turtle Dermochelys coriacea in the İstanbul Strait, Türkiye

First record of leatherback turtle Dermochelys coriacea in the İstanbul Strait, Türkiye

Oğuz Türkozan, Arda M. Tonay

ORCID IDs: O.T. 0000-0001-6889-7908; A.M.T. 0000-0003-2718-9328

Faculty of Science, Aydın Adnan Menderes University, 09010, Efeler, Aydın, TÜRKİYE
Faculty of Aquatic Sciences, İstanbul University, Onaltı Mart Şehitleri Cad. No: 2, 34470, Fatih, İstanbul, TÜRKİYE
Turkish Marine Research Foundation (TUDAV), P.O. Box: 10, Beykoz, İstanbul, TÜRKİYE

Abstract

This short communication reports an observation of a leatherback turtle Dermochelys coriacea in the İstanbul Strait (Bosphorus), Marmara Sea, on 9 July 2024. Leatherback turtles are occasionally reported in the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas of Türkiye. This is the northernmost record of the leatherback turtle in the Mediterranean Basin. As the importance of citizen science becomes more apparent and public awareness grows, access to observational information such as this will increase through digital technologies.

Keywords: Sea turtle, distribution, Marmara Sea, Bosphorus

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