HiguInfo- Home of Sea Turtles

Distribution

The loggerhead turtle is globally distributed, with a distribution range from 62°N to 45°S latitude. They are the only species of sea turtle with nesting beaches in the temperate region.

Description

Its appearance is that of a typical sea turtle, with a slightly heart-shaped carapace. Its carapace is composed of five central scutes, flanked by five pairs of costal scutes; scutes do not overlap. Compared to other sea turtle species, its head/jaw is larger in proportion to the body. Loggerhead’s massive head and strong crushing jaw enables it to feed on benthic crustaceans and molluscs. Usually they are reddish-brown in color, but may be olive colored. It takes a juvenile loggerhead turtle 12 to 30 years to reach sexual maturity. A matured adult usually weigh approximately 200 kg, with carapace length up to 1.2 meters.

Ecology

Hatchlings feed on planktons, hiding and floating along in sargassum seaweed. As they grow older, the juvenile and adult loggerheads migrate to coastal areas, where they will feed on molluscs, crabs, fish and other benthic invertebrates until they mature.

Major Threats

Leatherback turtles are listed as “endangered” worldwide by the IUCN Red List. Population decline is primarily attributed bycatch and increased coastal development, destroying their nesting beaches.