Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle
ExploreReptiles
Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle
Lepidochelys kempii
Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle is one of the smallest sea turtles. They are known for their unique nesting behavior and love to swim in warm waters.
Habitat: Coastal waters and beaches
Appearance
The Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle is the smallest sea turtle, featuring a distinctive rounded or heart-shaped, olive-gray to greenish-gray shell. Its underside, or plastron, is a pale yellow-white, setting it apart from darker-bellied relatives.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassTestudinesOrderTestudinesFamilyCheloniidaeGenusLepidochelys
Category
ReptilesRarity
Rare
Danger
2/5 · Low
Snaps
Be the first to snap!
Interesting facts
Female turtles often return to their own birth beach to lay eggs!
It's the only sea turtle species that consistently nests during the daytime!
Named after Richard M. Kemp, who first discovered and studied the species!
Their tiny hatchlings are only about the size of a quarter!
Special abilities
Ability
Synchronized Nesters
Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle can nest in huge groups called 'arribadas' that helps them overwhelm predators.
Ability
Crab Crusher Jaws
Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle has powerful jaws and a strong bite that helps them crush the shells of crabs and clams.
Ability
Coastal Navigator
Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle can navigate shallow, often murky coastal waters to find food and nesting sites.
Measurements & details
- Length
- 50-70 cm
- Weight
- 30-50 kg
- Lifespan
- 30-50 years
- Top Speed
- 24 km/h
- Swim Speed
- 3 km/h
- Clutch Size
- 50-200
- Incubation
- 45-70 days
- Maximum Depth
- 100 m
Diet & Feeding
These turtles love to crunch on crabs and other tasty crustaceans found in shallow waters!
Primary Foods
- Crabs
- Shrimp
- Mollusks
- Jellyfish
- Sea urchins
Foraging Method
- Foraging
Ecological connections
eaten by
Tiger Shark
Galeocerdo cuvier
Large sharks are significant predators of adult turtles.
eaten by
Herring Gull
Larus argentatus
Gulls frequently prey on vulnerable hatchlings running to the sea.
shelters
Floating Seaweed
Sargassum natans
Young turtles hide in sargassum beds for protection and food.
Traits
Wildlife
Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats.
Piscivorous
Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish.
Coastal
Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater.
Armored
Armored describes animals protected by a hard, external covering or shell for defense.
Marine
Marine habitats encompass all saltwater environments of the Earth's oceans, supporting an immense diversity of aquatic life.
Migratory
Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability.
Endangered
Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future.
Also known as
Atlantic RidleyRidley Sea Turtle
Collections
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 Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle?
50-70 cm
How much does Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle weigh?
30-50 kg
How long does Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle live?
30-50 years
How fast can Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle move?
24 km/h
What does Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle eat?
These turtles love to crunch on crabs and other tasty crustaceans found in shallow waters!
How fast can Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle swim?
3 km/h
Where is Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle usually found?
Coastal waters and beaches
How does Kemp's Ridley 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.
