Undetermined

Undetermined was named by Big Blue’s Sam Hunt at the popular turtle sighting spot, Three Trees. Fittingly, Undetermined was one of the 12 unique turtles identified at this site during Andaman Turtle Watch’s first season. Sam chose the name as a tongue-in-cheek nod to all the species listed as “undetermined” in scientific records due to limited research and knowledge. Taxonomy can be a complicated task, and hats off to the scientists dedicating their lives to categorising species and furthering our understanding of biodiversity. The name of this turtle is a light-hearted reminder of the mysteries that still lie beneath the waves – and the teamwork and effort needed to uncover them for the greater good of the oceans, our planet, and the future of all life on Earth.

Undetermined was encountered in a magical sighting, displaying a social interaction with tiny sub-adult hawksbill Donatello, while also engaging in fascinating cleaning station behaviour as fish grazed on algae from her carapace. These interactions raise important questions about the role and habitat use of hawksbills along the north coast of Similan Island 9. Here we’ve recorded multiple cases of feeding, cleaning, social interactions, and resting behaviours – suggesting this area may be more ecologically important for hawksbills than previously thought.

We look forward to continuing our work with Andaman Turtle Watch to investigate these patterns further and to support conservation in the region. Let’s hope Undetermined makes another appearance in the coming season, helping us solve more of the underwater mysteries she represents.