Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin (ISSN 0178 – 6288) . Number 149, May 2017, pp. 1-30. | Page 21

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Photo from page 20: My precious wife Ola Mostafa Khalaf snorkeling and observing the hidden
clown fish in the Celebes Sea waters of the Mataking Island, Sabah, Malaysia. February 2015.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/50022881@N00/19392534884/

In the tropics, green turtles nest throughout the year, although some
subpopulations prefer particular times of the year. In Pakistan, Indian Ocean
turtles nest year-round, but prefer the months of July to December (Wikipedia).
The mating of green sea turtles is similar to other marine turtles. Female turtles
control the process. A few populations practice polyandry, although this does
not seem to benefit hatchlings. After mating in the water, the female moves
above the beach's high tide line, where she digs a hole with her hind flippers and
deposits her eggs. Clutch size depends on the age of the female and species, but
can range between 100 and 200. She then covers the nest with sand and returns to
the sea (Wikipedia).

Prof. Dr. Norman Ali Bassam Khalaf-von Jaffa and his wife the Diver Ola Mostafa Khalaf in the
Sea of Dubai-Jumeirah, Arabian Gulf on their 18th wedding anniversary. Photo by our precious
daughter Nora Norman Ali Khalaf. 27.07.2015.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/50022881@N00/20065944996/

At around 100 to 150 days, the eggs hatch during the night, and the
hatchlings instinctively head directly into the water. This is the most dangerous
time in a turtle's life. As they walk, predators, such as gulls and crabs, feed on
them. A significant percentage never makes it to the ocean. Little is known of the
initial life history of newly hatched sea turtles. Juveniles spend three to five years
in the open ocean before they settle as still-immature juveniles into their
Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – Number 149 – May 2017