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Series 4, Volume 64, No. 8 
Schleich 1987. 457: KNP 1981 [5 specimens]; 
Resetar 1981; Schleich 1987. Darnah : 476: 
Laurent et al. 1997; Haddoud and El Gomati 
2011. Butnan : 487: Laurent et al. 1997; 
Hamza et al. 2009; Hamza 2010; Haddoud and 
El Gomati 2011. 488: Hamza 2010; Haddoud 
and El Gomati 2011. 498: Laurent et al. 1997. 
502: Laurent et al. 1997. Al Wahat : 525: Lau¬ 
rent et al. 1997; Haddoud and El Gomati 2011. 
526: Laurent et al. 1997. 545: Laurent et al. 
1997. OFF SHORE LOCALITIES: 588: Had¬ 
doud and El Gomati 2011. 589: Haddoud and 
El Gomati 2011. 590: Haddoud and El Gomati 
2011. 591: Haddoud and El Gomati 2011. 592: 
Haddoud and El Gomati 2011. 593: Haddoud 
and El Gomati 2011. 594: Haddoud and El 
Gomati 2011. 
Comments.— This is the only species of 
sea turtle known to nest in Libya (van Dijk et 
al. 2014). Libyan sites constitute a significant proportion of Mediterranean nesting for the species 
(Laurent et al. 1998; Saied et al. 2012). Libyan nesting turtles have been inferred to disperse to 
feeding grounds throughout the Mediterranean, Macaronesia and eastern United States (Saied et al. 
2012). The continental shelf off of Tunisia and Tripolitania is a particularly important neritic feed¬ 
ing area for Libyan populations (Casale et al. 2008). The Misratah and Sirte area populations 
appear to be distinct from one another (Carreras et al. 2014). In addition to the publications cited 
here, there are many additional gray literature reports mentioning C. caretta, although these gen¬ 
erally mention the same nesting beaches given here (e.g., Laurent et al. 1999; Hamza and El 
Ghmati 2006; Hamza 2007). 
IUCN Threat Status.— Vulnerable A2b. 
Chelonia my das (Linnaeus, 1758:197) 
1758 Testudo mydas Linnaeus, Systema Naturae per Regna Tria Naturae, Secundum Classes, Ordines, 
Genera, Species, cum Characteribus, Differentiis, Synonymis, Locis. Tomus I. Editio decima, reformata. Lau- 
rentii Salvii, Holmiae [Stockholm], Sweden. (4) + 823 + (I) pp. 
Syntypes.— NRM 5000?, 31488?, 31493? and UUZM 19, 26, 231 (fide Wallin 2001, but see below) 
“insulas Pelagi: insulam Adscensionis andc.” [islands of the sea: Ascension Island, South Atlantic, etc.], given 
by Smith and Taylor (1950b) as “Ascension Island.” Wallin (1985) demonstrated that surviving UUZM (Upp¬ 
sala) syntypes underlying the description of C. mydas are, in fact, referable to Caretta caretta. One or more 
of three extant specimens of C. mydas in Stockholm (NRM) may also belong to the type series. Given the 
uncertainty, Wallin (1985) recommended that one of these specimens be designated as a neotype in order to 
stabilize the application of the name to follow prevailing usage. Type material had earlier been considered by 
Lonnberg (1896), Andersson (1900), and Holm (1957). Although Wallin (1985) concentrated on Linnaeus’ 
own material in Swedish collections, numerous indications to works by other authors are provided in the 
description, including Gesner, Aldrovandi, Grew, Olearius, Bradley, Seba, Marcgrave, and Ray (see Bauer 
2012 for citations to the relevant works). To the extent that these earlier authors made reference to particular 
individuals, whether or not they are figured or traceable, these would also have syntype status. Although 
Ascension Island is usually given as the type locality (e.g., Smith and Taylor 1950b), in the absence of the 
Map 1 . Distribution of Caretta caretta in Libya showing 
nesting beaches and marine observation/collection points. 
