Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta)
Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta).
- Creator
- Brian Gratwicke
- License
- CC BY 2.0
Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta)
Status: needs expert review. A science reviewer should confirm the current IUCN global and subpopulation assessments before approval. The loggerhead (Caretta caretta) is a large, hard-shelled sea turtle named for its massive, powerful-jawed head.
At a glance
| Field | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Caretta caretta | NOAA Fisheries |
| Guild | turtle | — |
| IUCN status | Vulnerable (global; 2015 assessment) — ten subpopulations are assessed separately, ranging from Critically Endangered to Least Concern | IUCN Red List |
| US ESA status | Endangered or Threatened depending on distinct population segment | NOAA Fisheries |
| International trade | CITES Appendix I | CITES |
| Population trend | Decreasing (global) | IUCN Red List |
| Range | Subtropical and temperate Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans plus the Mediterranean | NOAA Fisheries |
Identification
The loggerhead is named for its large head and powerful jaws. Adults are about 2.5–3.5 feet long and weigh roughly 200–350 pounds (NOAA Fisheries). The carapace is reddish-brown in adults and sub-adults, over a pale yellowish plastron (NOAA Fisheries). The strong jaws are adapted to crushing hard-shelled prey.
Ecology and behavior
Loggerheads are carnivorous and feed largely on bottom-dwelling invertebrates — mollusks, crustaceans, and horseshoe crabs among them — in coastal waters (NOAA Fisheries). Young turtles spend roughly 7–15 years in the open ocean before recruiting to coastal foraging areas (NOAA Fisheries). NOAA Fisheries estimates lifespan at 70 years or more, with females maturing around 35 years of age. As with all sea turtles, females return to nest in the region where they hatched; specific behavioral claims should be cited to published research and confirmed in review.
Conservation status and threats
The IUCN Red List assesses the loggerhead globally as Vulnerable (2015 assessment) with a decreasing trend; its ten subpopulations are assessed separately and range from Critically Endangered to Least Concern, so a global label hides important regional differences (IUCN Red List). In the United States the species is divided into distinct population segments listed as Endangered or Threatened under the Endangered Species Act, and it is on CITES Appendix I (NOAA Fisheries; CITES). NOAA Fisheries identifies bycatch in fishing gear as the primary threat, alongside direct harvest of turtles and eggs, loss of nesting habitat to coastal development, vessel strikes, marine pollution and plastic ingestion, and climate-driven change. Report figures as the cited authorities state them; a reviewer should confirm subpopulation specifics.
How to observe responsibly
This page does not provide approach guidance. Follow a reviewed observation guide and local regulations, which set minimum distances and nesting-season protections. Never disturb nesting females, hatchlings, or nests, and never use lights on nesting beaches — artificial light disorients hatchlings (ETHICS.md; NOAA Fisheries). Nesting beaches concentrate reproductive females and are sensitive; this page keeps to regional granularity only. Choose operators that keep their distance and never handle turtles.
How you can help
- Log sightings to a recognized citizen-science platform (see the iNaturalist dataset card).
- Support bycatch-reduction work (e.g. turtle excluder devices and circle hooks) through credible organizations.
- On nesting coasts, support lights-out and beach-protection programs, and reduce plastics that reach the ocean.
Sources (3)
Every claim in this artifact traces to one of the citations below. Anything that could not be sourced was left out.
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