Loggerhead Sea Turtle

A loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) is a large marine reptile named for its exceptionally large head. It is found in temperate and tropical oceans all over the world and is a species of conservation concern. 🐢

The loggerhead sea turtle has a reddish-brown, heart-shaped shell and a very large, powerful head and jaw. Its shell, or carapace, is covered in scutes, and its flippers are strong and paddle-like, which it uses to propel itself through the water. Adults can weigh over 200 pounds, and their large head is a key adaptation for crushing hard-shelled prey.

Loggerheads are found in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. They are a highly migratory species, traveling thousands of miles between their feeding grounds and nesting beaches. They are carnivores, and their diet consists of crabs, conchs, and other hard-shelled invertebrates.

Female loggerheads return to the same beaches where they were born to lay their eggs, a process that can take place every 2 to 4 years. The species is listed as "vulnerable" or "endangered" in many parts of the world, with threats including entanglement in fishing gear, habitat destruction, and climate change.