The Beacon  Thursday Trivia: Loggerhead Sea Turtle  A loggerhead
sea turtle hatchling. © Oceana/Cory Wilson  Today’s trivia post
is about an animal we talk about a lot: the loggerhead sea
turtle.  Loggerheads are named for their broad heads and strong
jaws, which they use to force open even large hard shellfish
like conchs and giant clams. Loggerheads are found throughout
tropical and warm temperate waters, and are the most common sea
turtle in the Mediterranean. Loggerheads have a redder hue than
most sea turtles, and they are often coated in barnacles and
algae.  Because they drink salty sea water, they have developed
glands near their eyes that can get rid of this salt, which
makes females onshore to nest look like they’re crying.
Scientists theorize that adult loggerheads use the Earth’s
magnetism to navigate – how cool is that?  Loggerheads, which
are considered endangered, are frequently caught accidentally by
the fishing industry; other threats include beach erosion and
development, pesticides, and oil