Caretta caretta
Loggerhead Sea Turtle
Maximum Size:
3.5 ft (1.07 m), 397 lbs (180 kg)
Longevity:
Up to 60 years.
Typical depth:
0–660 ft (0–200 m)
Behavior:
Loggerheads can be found in the open ocean, but they regularly move inshore to feed on a range of reef organism, including crabs, lobsters, sponges, corals, polychaete worms, sea anemones, sea urchins, jellyfish, sea cucumbers, sea stars and even marine plants. Loggerhead sea turtles can migrate for thousands of miles/kilometers to reach new feeding grounds. Female loggerheads first reproduce between the ages of 17 and 33 and usually return to nest on the same beach where they hatched.
Predators:
Adults are consumed by large sharks, such as tiger sharks and orcas (killer whales).
Did you know?
A 2009 study determined that as many as 40% of nesting loggerhead sea turtles from around the world have wounds believed to have come from shark attacks.
