LEPIDOCHELYS Meaning and
Definition
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Lepidochelys is a noun that refers to a genus of sea turtles known for their unique characteristics and biological features. It is derived from the Greek words "Lepis" meaning scale and "chelys" meaning tortoise, indicating their scaly and tortoise-like appearances.
Lepidochelys is a genus within the family Cheloniidae which includes two extant species, namely Lepidochelys kempii or Kemp's ridley sea turtle, and Lepidochelys olivacea or the olive ridley sea turtle.
These marine species are recognized for their olive-colored shells, relatively smaller size, and distinct nesting behaviors. The olive ridley sea turtles are particularly famous for their unique nesting phenomenon called "arribadas," which refers to large-scale synchronized mass nestings that occur on specific beaches. This behavior is often observed in huge numbers, sometimes reaching hundreds of thousands of individual turtles.
Lepidochelys sea turtles are widely distributed across the world's oceans, and they primarily feed on various marine organisms, including jellyfish, crabs, and shrimp. They are known to undertake long-distance migrations, covering thousands of miles, as they move between different habitats for feeding, breeding, and nesting purposes.
Sadly, Lepidochelys species face numerous threats such as habitat destruction, pollution, entanglement in fishing gear, and illegal trade of their eggs and shells. Consequently, they are listed as either endangered or critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), highlighting the urgent need for their conservation and protection.
Common Misspellings for LEPIDOCHELYS
- kepidochelys
- pepidochelys
- oepidochelys
- lwpidochelys
- lspidochelys
- ldpidochelys
- lrpidochelys
- l4pidochelys
- l3pidochelys
- leoidochelys
- lelidochelys
- le-idochelys
- le0idochelys
- lepudochelys
- lepjdochelys
- lepkdochelys
- lepodochelys
- lep9dochelys
- lep8dochelys
Etymology of LEPIDOCHELYS
The word "lepidochelys" comes from Greek roots. "Lepido-" is derived from the Greek word "lepis", meaning "scale", while "chelys" is derived from the Greek word "khelys", which means "turtle". Therefore, "lepidochelys" combines these Greek elements to describe a group of turtles characterized by their scaly appearance.
Similar spelling words for LEPIDOCHELYS
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