Loggerhead Sea Turtle

December 6, 2012 by Thomas O'Brien

Fact and photo credits to: National Geographic and Tom O’Brien

Loggerhead turtles are the most abundant of all the marine turtle species in U.S. waters. But persistent population declines due to pollution, shrimp trawling, and development in their nesting areas, among other factors, have kept this wide-ranging seagoer on the threatened species list since 1978.

Loggerhead turtle (closeup) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Their enormous range encompasses all but the most frigid waters of the world’s oceans. They seem to prefer coastal habitats, but often frequent inland water bodies and will travel hundreds of miles out to sea.

The largest of all hard-shelled turtles—leatherbacks are bigger but have soft shells—loggerheads have massive heads, strong jaws, and a reddish-brown shell, or carapace. Adult males reach about three feet (nearly one meter) in shell length and weigh about 250 pounds (113 kilograms), but large specimens of more than 1,000 pounds (454 kilograms) have been found.

They are primarily carnivores, munching jellyfish, conchs, crabs, and even fish, but will eat seaweed and sargassum occasionally.

Mature females will often return, sometimes over thousands of miles, to the beach where they hatched to lay their eggs. Worldwide population numbers are unknown, but scientists studying nesting populations are seeing marked decreases despite endangered species protections.

Related articles

• Strong loggerhead sea turtle nesting in Florida (sfgate.com)
• Lawsuit targets critical habitat for loggerhead sea turtles (summitcountyvoice.com)
• 40 hypothermic sea turtles rescued on Cape Cod (boston.com)
• PHOTO RELEASE: Coast Guard, The Florida Aquarium release rehabilitated sea turtle back into the wild (uscgnews.com)

Post navigation

← Sea Shepherd :: Sponsoring the Oceans Prison Wardens

Walrus →