SEFSC WEB SITE

Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network (STSSN)

The Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network (STSSN) was formally established in 1980 to collect information on and document strandings of marine turtles along the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic coasts. The network encompasses the coastal areas of the eighteen state region from Maine through Texas, and includes portions of the U.S. Caribbean. Data are compiled through the efforts of network participants who document marine turtle strandings in their respective areas and contribute those data to the centralized STSSN data base.
(This site was updated 9/2009)

Online Stranding Reports Using the online reports, one may obtain basic summarized stranding information for the years 1986 through 2007, additional years will be added once available. The data used to generate the reports have been verified from 1998- 2005, however they are subject to change as additional data are received. The data from 1986-1997, 2006 and 2007 are preliminary and are in the process of being verified, beginning with the most current years. Queries may include Year, Month, Region, Zone, State, County, and species.
Note:Check the box to accept the Data Access and Release Policy
Public Data Access and Release Policy
STSSN State Coordinators (also see links toward bottom of page)
Regional statistical zone maps for U.S. Gulf of Mexico , Southeast U.S. Atlantic and Northeast U.S. Atlantic .
Current STSSN form front and back , along with instructions.

Weekly Reports

The 2008 and 2009 Weekly Reports are in a new format which allow for more specific near real-time queries. These data are reported directly by the STSSN State and National Coordinators. These Weekly Reports are preliminary and subject to change, therefore they are not recommended for use in publications/analyses. It may take a few minutes to execute a large query.

Useful Reference Materials

Wolke, R.E. and George, A. 1981. Sea turtle necropsy manual. NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-SEFC-24, 20p.

Rainey, W. 1981. Guide to sea turtle visceral anatomy. NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-SEFC-82. This reference can also be found at http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/turtles.htm

Wyneken, J. 2001. The Anatomy of Sea Turtles. U.S. Department of Commerce NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-SEFSC-470, 172 pp. This reference can also be found at http://courses.science.fau.edu/~jwyneken/sta/. See supplemental videos below.

Wyneken, J. 2004. La Anatomia de las Tortugas Marinas. U.S. Department of Commerce NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-SEFSC-470, 172 pp. [Version en espanol de Wyneken, J. 2001. The Anatomy of Sea Turtles. U.S. Department of Commerce NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-SEFSC-470, 172 pp.] Ver videos complementarios citados.

The Anatomy of Sea Turtles

To view these videos you will need QuickTime. You may download a free copy of QuickTime . These files are very large and may take several minutes to download.

The Anatomy of Sea Turtles

Videos. This four part video series is supplemental to the manual.

Part 1:Introduction, Terminology and Species Identification (63.5MB, 6 min)

Part 2:Dissection, Preparation, Standard Measurements, Dissection Tools, Anatomy, Opening the Body (65.7MB, 5.5 min)

Part 3:Ventral Anatomy, Internal Anatomy and Landmarks, and GI Tract (103.2MB, 9 min)

Part 4:Dorsal Anatomy, Sexual Dimorphism, Lungs and Airways, Exposing the Brain, Summary, and Credits (68.2MB, 6 min)

La Anatomia de las Tortugas Marinas
Para ver lo siguientes videos usted necesitara bajar el programa de QuickTime. Estos archivos son pesados y le tomara algunos minutos bajarlos.

La Anatomia de las Tortugas Marinas

Videos. Esta serie de cuatro videos es comlementaria el manual.

Parte 1:Introduccion, Terminologia, Identificacion de Especies (5.5 min)

Parte 2:Preparacion para la Diseccion, Medidas Estandar, Equipo de Diseccion, Anatomia, Abriendo el Cuerpo (5.5 min)

Parte 3:Anatomia Ventral, Anatomia Interna y Marcadores de Lugar, Via Gastrointestinal (8.5 min)

Parte 4:Anatomia Dorsal, Dimorfismo Sexual, Pulmones y Vias Respiratorias, Abriendo el Cerebro, Resumen y Creditos (6 min)

Links to STSSN coordinator agencies

The following links provide additional information on marine turtles and the organizations who coordinate the STSSN. Please note that references leaving the SEFSC web page are indicated with this icon; offsite_link and does not constitute an endorsement by the SEFSC of any information, products, or services found on external web sites.