The sea-approach behavior of the neonate loggerhead turtle, Caretta caretta.

Abstract

Field observations and experimental tests indicate that the orientation and movement of newly-hatched loggerhead turtles towards the ocean is primarily determined by differential light stimulation, and is thus a phototropic and photokinetic phenomenon. It was shown that young turtles are capable of discriminating light intensity ratios of 1 to 2, and that this sensitivity is in excess of that needed for orienting towards the surf from the beach. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)