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ecoRidge | all galleries >> Endangered Species Mandalas >> Imperiled Species Mandalas >> Reptiles, Amphibians, & Fish > Between the Realms_turtlelh4627a_Loggerhead Sea Turtle
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Between the Realms_turtlelh4627a_Loggerhead Sea Turtle

Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta)

Sea Turtle Family (Cheloniidae)
Loggerhead sea turtle is a large sea turtle, reaching 4 ft long or more and 800lbs. It has a reddish brown upper shell (carapace), which has a middorsal keel that becomes less obvious in larger turtles. Lower shell (plastron) is light in color. Its body is a brownish yellow with a relatively large head. Its limbs are large flattened flippers. Males have much longer tails. Juveniles have a brown to reddish brown carapace, which is very keeled. Can live to almost 200 years of age. Females become sexually mature around 15-30 years of age and are reproductively active for about 30 years. Usually goes back to same beach where it was hatched to lay eggs. Peak nesting season is usually early summer. It nests usually at night during high tide. It breeds every every 2-3 years. Hatchlings usually emerge at night and go toward the brightest light to find the ocean. Artificial lights may make them go away from the ocean. They can “hibernate” in colder waters, coming up for air every 7 hours or less. Feeds mostly on many marine animals, especially shellfish. Found in the SE US along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts from Virginia to Texas. Listed as threatened federally. In the SE US, listed as endangered in GA and MS; threatened in FL, NC, LA, SC, TX, and VA; a state protected species in AL.

Copyright Brett Miley




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