ExploreReptiles

Loggerhead Sea Turtle

Caretta caretta

The Loggerhead Sea Turtle is a big turtle with a strong jaw. They love to swim in the ocean and can dive deep to find food!

Habitat: Oceans and coastal areas

Appearance

The Loggerhead Sea Turtle has a large, reddish-brown, heart-shaped shell and a distinctive oversized head with powerful jaws. Its plastron is typically yellowish, and it uses four strong flippers for swimming. This makes it visually different from other sea turtles by its head size and shell color.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassTestudinesOrderTestudinesFamilyCheloniidaeGenusCaretta
Loggerhead Sea Turtle
omnivorous trait badgepiscivorous trait badgethermoregulating trait badgeancient_lineage trait badge
Loggerhead Sea Turtle

Category

Reptiles

Rarity

Common

Danger

2/5 · Low

Snaps

Be the first to snap!

Interesting facts

Baby Loggerheads' gender is decided by the temperature of the sand in their nest!

Many female Loggerheads return to the exact beach where they were born to lay their own eggs.

Some Loggerheads travel thousands of miles across oceans to find food or mates!

They can drink saltwater because special glands remove extra salt from their bodies.

Special abilities

Ability

Shell Crusher

Loggerhead Sea Turtle has incredibly strong jaws that help them crush the hard shells of crabs and clams.

Ability

Ocean Navigator

Loggerhead Sea Turtle can sense Earth's magnetic field, helping them navigate vast ocean distances to nesting sites.

Ability

Deep Diver

Loggerhead Sea Turtle can hold its breath and dive hundreds of meters deep to find food on the ocean floor.

Measurements & details

Length
70-110 cm
Weight
80-200 kg
Lifespan
50-70 years
Top Speed
24 km/h
Swim Speed
2.5 km/h
Clutch Size
80-120
Incubation
45-80 days
Maximum Depth
280 m

Diet & Feeding

Loggerhead Sea Turtles mainly eat crunchy ocean creatures like crabs, clams, and sea urchins.

Age differences: Juveniles eat more floating plankton and pelagic invertebrates, while adults focus on benthic, hard-shelled prey.

Primary Foods

  • Crabs
  • Conchs
  • Clams
  • Sea urchins
  • Jellyfish

Foraging Method

  • Foraging

Ecological connections

eaten by

Tiger Shark

Galeocerdo cuvier

Large adults are sometimes preyed upon by Tiger Sharks.

eaten by

Bull Shark

Carcharhinus leucas

Known to prey on juvenile Loggerhead Sea Turtles.

eats

Hermit Crab

Pagurus pollicaris

A common part of the Loggerhead's diet of hard-shelled invertebrates.

symbiotic with

Turtle Barnacle

Chelonibia testudinaria

Attaches to the turtle's shell, hitching a ride through the ocean.

Traits

Also known as

Caretta TurtleLoggerhead Turtle

Safety

Danger

2/5 · Low

Look but don’t touch. Keep a safe distance and wash hands after exploring.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is Loggerhead Sea Turtle?

70-110 cm

How much does Loggerhead Sea Turtle weigh?

80-200 kg

How long does Loggerhead Sea Turtle live?

50-70 years

How fast can Loggerhead Sea Turtle move?

24 km/h

What does Loggerhead Sea Turtle eat?

Loggerhead Sea Turtles mainly eat crunchy ocean creatures like crabs, clams, and sea urchins.

How fast can Loggerhead Sea Turtle swim?

2.5 km/h

Where is Loggerhead Sea Turtle usually found?

Oceans and coastal areas

How does Loggerhead Sea Turtle hunt?

Foraging

Snap Map

Zoom in to split clusters and explore where this object has been snapped.

Loading map…

Recent Snaps

Recent snaps will appear here as new observations are added.

Where to spot

More Reptiles