Olive ridley sea turtle

The most abundant turtle in the entire world

Brad Flickinger


Olive ridley sea turtle

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The most abundant turtle in the entire world

Population
over 80% population decreased since 1975

Recognized as the most abundant sea turtle species, yet it still faces the threat of endangerment. These turtles are named for their distinctive olive-colored carapace, which is heart-shaped and streamlined for oceanic life. Despite being the second-smallest marine turtle, they exhibit remarkable resilience and adaptability, thriving in the warm, tropical waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans and occasionally venturing into the Atlantic.

Olive Ridleys are highly migratory, traversing thousands of miles between feeding grounds and nesting sites. Their diet is varied, consisting mainly of jellyfish, sea urchins, snails, shrimp, and crabs, and they are known to consume algae and fish occasionally. Their carnivorous tendencies are especially pronounced during their early life stages, where protein intake is critical for growth.

One of the most extraordinary aspects of Olive Ridley behavior is their synchronized nesting, known as arribadas, a Spanish term for “arrival.” During these events, tens of thousands of female turtles return to the same beach where they were born, often simultaneously, to lay their eggs in the sand. This mass nesting behavior provides a survival advantage by swamping predators with abundant eggs, increasing the likelihood that some hatchlings will survive.

Despite the wonder of the arribada and the Olive Ridley’s status as the most populous sea turtle, the species faces significant threats from human activity. Bycatch in fisheries, particularly shrimp trawling, is a major cause of mortality. Coastal development and the exploitation of nesting beaches for construction and tourism have also contributed to their decline.

Distribution

Country
Population est.
Status
Year
Comments
Angola
2008
Antigua & Barbuda
2008
Australia
2008
Bangladesh
2008
Benin
2008
Brazil
2008
Brunei
2008
Cambodia
2008
Cameroon
2008
Cape Verde
2008
Chile
2008
Colombia
2008
Congo-Brazzaville
2008
Costa Rica
2008
Cuba
2008
Côte D’ivoire
2008
Dominican Republic
2008
Ecuador
2008
El Salvador
2008
Equatorial Guinea
2008
Bioko
Eritrea
2008
French Guiana
2008
Gabon
2008
Gambia
2008
Ghana
2008
Guadeloupe
2008
Guatemala
2008
Guinea-Bissau
2008
Guinea
2008
Guyana
2008
Honduras
2008
India
2008
Nicobar Is., Andaman Is.
Indonesia
2008
Iran
2008
Jamaica
2008
Japan
2008
Kenya
2008
Liberia
2008
Madagascar
2008
Malaysia
2008
Maldives
2008
Martinique
2008
Mauritania
2008
Mexico
2008
Micronesia
2008
Morocco
2008
Mozambique
2008
Myanmar
2008
Namibia
2008
Nicaragua
2008
Nigeria
2008
Oman
2008
Pakistan
2008
Panama
2008
Papua New Guinea
2008
Peru
2008
Philippines
2008
Puerto Rico
2008
Sao Tome & Principe
2008
Sâo Tomé
Senegal
2008
Sierra Leone
2008
Somalia
2008
South Africa
2008
Sri Lanka
2008
Sudan
2008
Suriname
2008
Taiwan
2008
Tanzania
2008
Thailand
2008
Togo
2008
Trinidad & Tobago
2008
United States
2008
Hawaiian Is.
Uruguay
2008
Venezuela
2008
Mainland
Venezuelan Antilles
2008
Vietnam
2008
Yemen
2008

Recent updates

April 2024: India has released approximately 10,000 Olive Ridley turtle hatchlings into the ocean as part of conservation efforts to protect this endangered species.

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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