The smallest and most endangered sea turtle. Down from 40,000 nesting females in the 1940s to about 200 by 1985, today the population is around 12,000 nesting females — a fragile recovery.

Also called: Kemp's Ridley

Native status: Native; critically endangered

§ Quick facts

SizeCarapace 65–80 cm (26–31 in)
WeightAverage 35–50 kg (77–110 lb)
LifespanWild 30–50 years
OrderTestudines
FamilyCheloniidae

§ Encyclopedia

Kemp's ridley sea turtle, also called commonly the Atlantic ridley sea turtle, Kemp's ridley turtle, and Kemp's ridley, is a species of turtle in the family Cheloniidae. L. kempii is the rarest species of sea turtle and is the world's most endangered species of sea turtle as well as the smallest. It is one of two living species in the genus Lepidochelys. L. kempii primarily occupies habitat around the Gulf of Mexico, though its migrations into the Atlantic Ocean are being affected by rising temperatures. Rising sea temperatures expand this species range, leaving them vulnerable to cold-shocking events when weather changes. Kemp's ridley sea turtle is listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), and conservation efforts are attempting to rebuild population numbers. Human activity, including habitat destruction, climate change, and oil spills, threaten populations.

Source: Wikipedia — Kemp's ridley sea turtle Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

§ Identification

Field marks. Sea turtle with heart-shaped carapace; olive-gray; flat profile.

Similar species. Olive Ridley (very similar; Pacific range). Other sea turtles (different shapes).

Voice. Silent.

§ Diet & behavior

Diet. Crabs, mollusks, jellyfish.

Behavior. Smallest and most endangered sea turtle. Females synchronously emerge to nest in mass arribadas (mass nesting events).

§ Range

Gulf of Mexico (primarily); Atlantic up to Massachusetts

§ Habitat

Shallow coastal waters; nests almost exclusively at Rancho Nuevo, Mexico

§ Threats

Bycatch in shrimp trawls, oil spills (Deepwater Horizon devastated the population), illegal egg collection, climate impacts on nesting beaches.

§ Conservation status

According to the IUCN Red List, the kemp's ridley sea turtle is currently classified as Critically Endangered.

§ What helps

Choose sustainably caught Gulf shrimp (TED-required). Reduce single-use plastics. Donate to bi-national recovery efforts.

Support our work More ways to help

§ Further reading

§ Sources cited

  • NOAA Fisheries
  • Sea Turtle Conservancy
  • USFWS
  • IUCN Red List 2019