Creature Feature – Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle
Today is World Sea Turtle Day! To celebrate, this week’s featured creature is the Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle.
There are seven species of sea turtle – six of which are classified as either Threatened or Endangered. The exception, the Flatback turtle, is classified as Data Deficient. Despite females of this species nesting more than other species, this species is the most endangered species of sea turtle. It is estimated that there are less than 10,000 individuals worldwide.
Taxonomy
Scientific Name: Lepidochelys kempii
Phylum: Chordata
Order: Testudines
Family: Cheloniidae
Genus: Lepidochelys
© NOAA Fisheries
Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle Fact File
Size: Individuals measure up to 75cm (carapace length) and can weigh up to 50kg
Distribution: Adults are mostly limited to the Gulf of Mexico. Juveniles range between tropical and temperate coastal areas of the northwest Atlantic Ocean and can be found up and down the east coast of the United States
Diet: This sea turtle species primarily eat crabs, but will also prey on fish, jellyfish and small mollusks
Behaviour: Kemp’s ridley turtles are perhaps most well known for their unique nesting habits. Female Kemp’s ridley turtles come together all at once. Unlike other sea turtles, female Kemp’s ridley turtles nest in the daylight
IUCN Status: Critically Endangered. Kemp’s ridley turtles face many threats both on shore and in the ocean. Primary threats to Kemp’s ridley survival include incidental capture in fishing gear, or bycatch, egg collection, climate change and pollution
