We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Reptiles

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Is a Loggerhead Sea Turtle?

By B. Koch
Updated: Jun 04, 2024
Views: 5,105
Share

The loggerhead sea turtle, or Caretta caretta, is an endangered species that lives in waters all around the world. These turtles spend nearly their entire lives in the water, the adults coming to shore only to lay their eggs. They are especially notable because of their migratory habits, as they are known to travel extremely long distances through the ocean.

With the male loggerhead sea turtle reaching about 36 inches (92 centimeters) in length, these turtles are the largest hard shelled turtles in existence. They usually weigh about 250 pounds (113 kilograms), yet even larger turtles have been observed. Their shells are usually a red or brown color, with a yellow bottom shell, and are distinctive because they are slightly heart-shaped. Their lifespan is not definitely known, but it is estimated that they live close to 50 years.

These turtles may be found in oceans all around the world, especially in temperate and tropical waters, as they do not like especially cold waters. Loggerhead turtles are known for their tendency to travel very long distances and can even swim across entire oceans. Migratory by nature, loggerheads do not have an especially preferred environment in which to live. They may be found in open waters, as well as closer to the coast.

The diet of the loggerhead sea turtle includes crustaceans, crabs, fish, and jellyfish. Loggerheads have strong jaws that allow then to break through shells and consume a variety of other sea life that is protected by hard exteriors. They can also eat clams, conchs, mollusks, and whelks.

Its egg laying practices are a distinctive trait of the loggerhead sea turtle. Females will lay eggs every few years, and will swim to shore to do so, crawling along the sand until they are a safe distance from the surf. Here, they will dig a hole for a nest and lay about 100 eggs. It is not unusual for these turtles to return to the same beach where they were hatched in order to lay their own eggs, even if this requires traveling thousands of miles. This time of egg laying as well as the trip from nest to shore that the hatchlings will take, are the only time that these turtles will spend time on land.

When the eggs hatch, the baby turtles immediately make their way to the ocean surf where ocean currents transport them, as they are too small to swim very far on their own. Ideally, these currents will deposit them in an area protected by seaweed where they can be sheltered and secluded from predators and where there is sufficient food for them to grow and continue to swim on their own.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-a-loggerhead-sea-turtle.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.