Loggerhead sea turtle

One of the largest and strongest sea turtles in the world

Brian Gratwicke


Loggerhead sea turtle

EXEWCRENVUNTLCDDNE

One of the largest and strongest sea turtles in the world

Population 40,000 – 50,000
>80% decline in the last 25 years

A remarkable marine creature known for its robust build, particularly its massive head and powerful jaws, enables it to crack open hard-shelled prey such as crabs and spiny sea urchins with relative ease. This physical adaptation is crucial for its survival in the diverse and competitive marine environment where it resides. The loggerhead’s shell exhibits a striking reddish-brown color, while its skin is a contrasting yellowish-brown, making it one of the more distinctively colored sea turtles.

These turtles inhabit the temperate and tropical waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, showcasing their wide distribution and adaptability to different marine environments. Their diet is impressively varied, including crabs, clams, fish, jellyfish, and sponges, demonstrating their role as opportunistic feeders within their ecosystems. The loggerhead’s ability to dive up to 200 meters (approximately 656 feet) deep and remain underwater for up to 10 hours is a testament to its remarkable physiological adaptations to marine life, including efficient oxygen storage and usage.

Loggerhead sea turtles are also known for their extensive migratory patterns, traveling thousands of kilometers between feeding areas and nesting sites. This migratory behavior is essential for their reproductive success, as females return to the beaches where they were born to lay their eggs, ensuring the continuity of their lineage. These nesting grounds are critical habitats that require conservation efforts to protect against human encroachment and environmental changes.

Distribution

Country
Population est.
Status
Year
Comments
Atlantic Ocean
2015
Indian Ocean
2015
Pacific Ocean
2015
Mediterranean Sea
2015
Black Sea
2015
Albania
2015
Algeria
2015
Angola
2015
Anguilla
2015
Argentina
2015
Aruba
2015
Australia
2015
Bahamas
2015
Bahrain
2015
Bangladesh
2015
Barbados
2015
Belize
2015
Bermuda
2015
Bonaire
2015
Bonaire
Brazil
2015
British Virgin Is.
2015
Cape Verde
2015
Cayman Islands
2015
Chile
2015
China
2015
Colombia
2015
Comoros
2015
Costa Rica
2015
Croatia
2015
Cuba
2015
Curaçao
2015
Cyprus
2015
Djibouti
2015
Dominican Republic
2015
Ecuador
2015
Egypt
2015
Eritrea
2015
Fiji
2015
France
2015
French Guiana
2015
French Polynesia
2015
Greece
2015
Grenada
2015
Guadeloupe
2015
Guatemala
2015
Haiti
2015
Honduras
2015
Indonesia
2015
Iran
2015
Israel
2015
Italy
2015
Jamaica
2015
Japan
2015
Kenya
2015
Korea
2015
Kuwait
2015
Lebanon
2015
Libya
2015
Madagascar
2015
Malaysia
2015
Malta
2015
Mauritius
2015
Mexico
2015
Montenegro
2015
Montserrat
2015
Morocco
2015
Mozambique
2015
Myanmar
2015
Namibia
2015
New Caledonia
2015
New Zealand
2015
Nicaragua
2015
Niue
2015
Oman
2015
Pakistan
2015
Panama
2015
Papua New Guinea
2015
Peru
2015
Philippines
2015
Portugal
2015
Puerto Rico
2015
Qatar
2015
Saint Barthélemy
2015
Saint Lucia
2015
Saint Vincent
2015
Senegal
2015
Sierra Leone
2015
Slovenia
2015
Solomon Islands
2015
Somalia
2015
South Africa
2015
Spain
2015
Canary Is.
Sri Lanka
2015
St. Kitts & Nevis
2015
Suriname
2015
Syria
2015
Tanzania
2015
Tokelau
2015
Tonga
2015
Trinidad & Tobago
2015
Tunisia
2015
Turkey
2015
Turks & Caicos
2015
UAE
2015
US Virgin Islands
2015
United States
2015
Uruguay
2015
Venezuela
2015
Vietnam
2015
Yemen
2015

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Get to know me

Terrestrial / Aquatic

Altricial / Precocial

Polygamous / Monogamous

Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic

Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal

Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd

Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore

Migratory: Yes / No

Domesticated: Yes / No

Dangerous: Yes / No