The loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta), or loggerhead, is an oceanic turtle distributed throughout the world. It is a marine reptile, belonging to the family Cheloniidae. The skin ranges from yellow to brown in color, and the shell is typically reddish-brown. There are no external differences in gender until the turtle becomes an adult, the most obvious difference being that adult males have thicker tails and shorter plastrons than the females.
Ten Facts about Loggerhead
- The loggerhead measurers up to 213 centimeters (84 in) long when fully grown.
- The adult loggerhead sea turtle weighs approximately 135 kilograms (300 lb).
- They sexual maturity within 17-33 years.
- Lifespan of 47-67 years.
- Predators include sharks, other fish such as parrotfish, moray eels, portunid crabs, gulls, monk seals, and killer whales.
- The loggerhead sea turtle is omnivorous, feeding mainly on bottom dwelling invertebrates, such as gastropods, bivalves, and decapods.
- Loggerhead sea turtle eggs that are kept at a constant incubating temperature of 32 °C (90 °F) become females. Eggs incubating at 28 °C (82 °F) become males.
- Female loggerheads first reproduce at ages 28-33 in Australia, & at ages 17-30 in South Africa.
- Male forms of courtship behavior include nuzzling, biting, and head and flipper movements.
- Loggerhead sea turtles have an average clutch size of 110 eggs.
