Isla Detil (Turner Island)

Isla Datil (Turner Island)

Geography and Physical Features:
Isla Datil (Turner) is located just off of the southeast shore of Isla Tiburon (28* 43’ 00” N, 112* 19’ 00” W.). In fact, Isla Datil is still connected to the southeast shore of Isla Tiburon by an underwater peninsula extending 5 kms long southward. The island became isolated during Pleistocene-Holocene era due to erosion.
The island is 1 sq. Km., 1200m’s in length and 800m wide. The highest point of the island in 180 m. Due to its jagged and rough topography, the islands offers many different environments including canyons for several different species to thrive in. There are only a few rocky beaches but most of the shore line consists of high cliffs. One can find metamorphic rock such as quartz diorite, shale, and chert. Chert is known to be the oldest rock in Bahia Kino. One can imagine that you would find the same rock on the Southeast side of Isla Tiburon as well.

Flora and Fauna:
For its size, it has an incredible abundance of flora and fauna making it a very vital island. The island has over 99 species of plants with Cacti and shrubs most dominant. The highest productivity of plants occurs along the east side of the canyons and the east and north facing slopes. As Isla Tiburon receives a great percentage of rainfall so does Isla Datil during summer-fall rains.

Birds, Mammals and Reptiles:
The Island represents one of the most important nesting grounds for the Osprey in
the Gulf of California.

Mammals (4 Spp) :
Perognathus intermedius – Rock Pocket Mouse,
Chaetodipus intermedius minimus – Rock Pocket Mouse,
Neotoma varia – White Throated Wood Rat
Peromyscus eremicus collatus - Cactus Mouse

Reptiles (6 Spp):
Crotalus atrox - Dwarfed Rattlesnake (endemic)
Gophorus agassizi - Desert Tortuous
Masticophis flagellum - Coach Whip
Uta stansburiana - Common Side Blotched lizard
Phyllodactylus xanti - Leaf-toed Gecko
Ctenosaura hemilopha - Spiny Tail

Historical and Current Human Use:
Historical the island was use by the Seri’s for hunting and harvesting. However, in 1872 they were run off the island by the Mexican Army. Five Seri men were killed, along with a Seri women left on the island to die. Today the Island is used by commercial small scale fisherman fishing for cucumber, octopus, and lobster.

Conservation Issues, Management and Suggestions:
Isla Datil is protected under the Flora and Fauna Protected Area but has no specific management plan. A management plan should be in place to monitor human impacts and survey significant areas of nesting birds such as the Osprey. I feel this island has been severely over looked and more updated research should be conducted for its unique biodiversity and landscape.