This is Jupiter, a juvenile loggerhead turtle that arrived to our hospital on December 5th. Jupiter weighs about 25 pounds. It's hard for us to tell whether juvenile turtles are male or female. Both sexes look the same when they are young. As males get older they develop much larger tails than females. If we want to know the gender of young turtles we have to look inside their body (under anesthesia!) with an endoscope to see whether they have testes or ovaries.

Jupiter was very cold when he arrived here, so he was gradually warmed, and was allowed to swim for short periods of time. This week Jupiter has been able to swim 24 hrs per day, and he just started eating a few days ago. His favorite foods are herring and squid.

- Dr. Innis