Novel Use of Anchialine Ponds by Hawksbill Turtles in The Bahamas

Abstract

We present 4 observations of hawksbill turtles Eretmochelys imbricata found in anchialine ponds on 3 islands in The Bahamas. These ponds had no surface connection to the ocean, but they were connected by subterranean conduits that, in at least one instance, extended over 1.5 km in length. It is possible that the turtles were placed in these ponds by humans; however, it appears more likely that they accessed these habitats via the subterranean conduits suggesting that anchialine ponds may function as either novel habitat or a potential ecological trap.