# Olive Ridley Sea Turtle (*Lepidochelys olivacea*) The Olive Ridley Sea Turtle is a small turtle with a beautiful olive-colored shell. They are known for their amazing nesting events called 'arribadas'! - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Tropical and subtropical oceans - **Also known as:** Lepidochelys Turtle, Pacific Ridley Turtle ![Olive Ridley Sea Turtle](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426831/objects/5639.jpg) ## Appearance The Olive Ridley Sea Turtle is relatively small, with a heart-shaped or rounded carapace that is typically olive-green to grayish-green. Its underside is paler, and it uniquely possesses 5 to 9 pairs of lateral scutes on its shell, more than most other sea turtles. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Testudines - **Order:** Testudines - **Family:** Cheloniidae - **Genus:** Lepidochelys ## Interesting facts - Hatchlings rush to the ocean, guided by the moonlight on the water! - It's one of the smallest sea turtles, weighing less than a person! - Their shells can have 5 to 9 side scutes, unique among sea turtles! - They are named 'Ridley' because their shells are an olive-green color! ## Special abilities - **Mass Nesting Magic:** Olive Ridley Sea Turtle can perform "arribadas," where thousands nest together, making egg-laying safer and more efficient. - **Deep Dive Dynamo:** Olive Ridley Sea Turtle has powerful lungs that help them hold their breath for over an hour and dive deep for food. - **Ocean Navigator:** Olive Ridley Sea Turtle can travel thousands of miles using Earth's magnetic field to find their way back to nesting beaches. - **Salt Shaker System:** Olive Ridley Sea Turtle has special glands near its eyes that help them cry out excess salt from the ocean water they drink. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 60-75 cm - **Weight:** 35-50 kg - **Lifespan:** 30-50 years - **Speed:** 35 km/h - **Swim Speed:** 10 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 100-150 - **Incubation:** 45-60 days - **Maximum Depth:** 150 m ## Diet & Feeding They are carnivores that feast on small sea creatures like crabs, shrimp, and jellyfish found on the ocean floor. - **Primary Foods:** crabs, shrimp, snails, jellyfish, tunicates - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Tiger Shark](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tiger-shark) (*Galeocerdo cuvier*) — Adults are prey for large sharks. - **Eats:** Moon Jellyfish (*Aurelia aurita*) — They feed on various jellyfish species. - **Eats:** Flower Crab (*Portunus pelagicus*) — Crabs are a significant part of their diet. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Armored](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/armored): Armored describes animals protected by a hard, external covering or shell for defense. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. - [Marine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/marine): Marine habitats encompass all saltwater environments of the Earth's oceans, supporting an immense diversity of aquatic life. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. ## Collections - [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles) - [Reptiles & Amphibians](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles-and-amphibians) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Look but don’t touch. Keep a safe distance and wash hands after exploring. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Olive Ridley Sea Turtle? Compare shell shape, shell markings, head stripes and the shape of the feet. Wear, age and algae can hide shell patterns. Turtle Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Olive Ridley Sea Turtle? 60-75 cm ### How much does Olive Ridley Sea Turtle weigh? 35-50 kg ### How long does Olive Ridley Sea Turtle live? 30-50 years ### How fast can Olive Ridley Sea Turtle move? 35 km/h ### What does Olive Ridley Sea Turtle eat? They are carnivores that feast on small sea creatures like crabs, shrimp, and jellyfish found on the ocean floor. ### How fast can Olive Ridley Sea Turtle swim? 10 km/h ### Where is Olive Ridley Sea Turtle usually found? Tropical and subtropical oceans ## More Reptiles - [Pond Slider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pond-slider) (*Trachemys scripta*) - [Western Fence Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-fence-lizard) (*Sceloporus occidentalis*) - [Common Five-lined Skink](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-five-lined-skink) (*Plestiodon fasciatus*) - [Desert Spiny Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/desert-spiny-lizard) (*Sceloporus magister*) --- Source: [Olive Ridley Sea Turtle: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/olive-ridley-sea-turtle)