The largest hard-shelled sea turtle in the world, loggerheads return to the same beach where they hatched to lay their own eggs decades later.

Also called: Loggerhead

Native status: Native; threatened

§ Quick facts

SizeCarapace 90–100 cm (35–39 in)
WeightAverage 110–180 kg (240–400 lb)
LifespanWild 30–70 years
OrderTestudines
FamilyCheloniidae

§ Encyclopedia

The loggerhead sea turtle, loggerhead turtle or loggerhead, is a species of sea turtle distributed throughout the world. It is a marine reptile, belonging to the family Cheloniidae. The average loggerhead measures around 90 cm (35 in) in carapace length when fully grown. The adult loggerhead sea turtle weighs approximately 135 kg (298 lb), with the largest specimens weighing about 200 kg (440 lb). The skin ranges from yellow to brown in color, and the shell is typically reddish brown. No external differences in sex are seen until the turtle becomes an adult, the most obvious difference being the adult males have thicker tails and shorter plastrons than the females.

Source: Wikipedia — Loggerhead sea turtle Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

§ Identification

Field marks. Sea turtle with extremely large head and powerful jaws. Reddish-brown shell.

Similar species. Green Sea Turtle (smaller head). Hawksbill (overlapping scales).

Voice. Silent.

§ Diet & behavior

Diet. Crabs, mollusks, squid, sea grasses.

Behavior. Long-distance migrator. Returns to natal beaches to nest. Famous massive head and powerful jaws for cracking shells.

§ Range

Worldwide tropical and subtropical waters; nests on US Atlantic & Gulf beaches

§ Habitat

Open ocean as juveniles; coastal waters as adults; sandy beaches for nesting

§ Threats

Bycatch in fisheries, beach development and lighting disorienting hatchlings, plastic pollution, climate-driven sex ratios.

§ Conservation status

According to the IUCN Red List, the loggerhead sea turtle is currently classified as Vulnerable.

§ What helps

Use turtle-friendly lighting near beaches. Avoid disturbing nests. Support certified sustainable seafood.

Support our work More ways to help

§ Further reading

§ Sources cited

  • NOAA Fisheries
  • Sea Turtle Conservancy
  • USFWS
  • IUCN Red List 2017