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Learning About

Sea turtles are large, air-breathing reptiles that inhabit tropical and subtropical seas throughout the world. Their shells consist of an upper part (carapace) and a lower section (plastron). Hard scales (or scutes) cover all but the leatherback, and the number and arrangement of these scutes can be used to determine the species.

Sea turtles do not have teeth, but their jaws have modified “beaks” suited to their particular diet. They do not have visible ears but have eardrums covered by skin. They hear best at low frequencies, and their sense of smell is excellent. Their vision underwater is good, but they are nearsighted out of water. Their streamlined bodies and large flippers make them remarkably adapted to life at sea. However, sea turtles maintain close ties to land. Females must come ashore to lay their eggs in the sand; therefore, all sea turtles begin their lives as tiny hatchlings on land.

Sea Turtles

Loggerhead

Caretta caretta
Loggerhead turtles, known for their large heads and strong jaws for crushing shellfish, are common in the U.S., especially along Florida’s East Coast, where they nest in large numbers.

Green

Chelonia mydas
Green sea turtles, the second largest species, are herbivores with green fat from a diet of seagrass and algae. Their biggest threat is egg and meat harvests.

Leatherback

Dermochelys coriacea
Leatherback turtles, the largest sea turtles, have a unique leathery shell made of tough skin. They inhabit all oceans except the Arctic and Antarctic.

Hawksbill

Eretmochelys imbricata
Hawksbill turtles thrive in tropical coral reefs and are known for their stunning “tortoiseshell” pattern, making them targets for illegal harvest.

Kemp’s Ridley

Lepidochelys kempii
Kemp’s Ridley turtles are the smallest and most endangered sea turtles, primarily found along the Gulf, nesting in synchronized “arribadas.”

Olive Ridley

Lepidochelys olivacea
Olive Ridley turtles, known for their olive green shells, are the most abundant sea turtles, found in tropical and subtropical waters globally.

Flatback

Natator depressus
Flatback sea turtles, with their distinctive flat shells, are found only in Australia and Papua New Guinea, nesting in remote areas.