Loggerhead sea turtle
Caretta caretta
Living individuals or members of this group exist today. This does not mean they are safe from extinction.
The loggerhead sea turtle uses powerful jaws to crush hard-shelled prey. Its life spans open-ocean waters, coastal feeding areas and nesting beaches.
At a glance
- Location
- Temperate and subtropical ocean waters, with sandy beaches used for nesting.
- Habitat
- Coast, Open ocean
- Diet
- Carnivore
- Food
- Hard-shelled animals such as whelks and conch.
Classification
- Common name
- Loggerhead sea turtle
- Browse group
- Reptiles
- Scientific name or taxon
- Caretta caretta
- Taxon rank
- species
- Family
- Cheloniidae
- Genus
- Caretta
- Source classification
- Testudines
Taxonomy checked against GBIF. For breeds and hybrids, this describes the listed parent taxon.
Three things to know
- Its large head supports powerful jaws.
- Hard-shelled animals are important prey.
- Females lay their eggs on beaches.
Habitat and range
Temperate and subtropical ocean waters, with sandy beaches used for nesting.
Appearance and adaptations
The large head supports strong jaw muscles. Flippers propel the turtle through the water, while the shell protects the body.
Diet and behaviour
Adults forage for shellfish and migrate between feeding and breeding areas. Females lay eggs in beach nests, and hatchlings travel to the ocean.
Sources
- NOAA Fisheries: Loggerhead sea turtle
- GBIF: Loggerhead sea turtle · Directory entry
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