Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Subclass: Anapsida Order: Testudines Superfamily: Chelonioidea Family: Cheloniidae Genus: Caretta Species: Caretta caretta

Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta) The average loggerhead measures around 90cm long when fully grown. The adult loggerhead sea turtle weighs approximately 298 lb. The skin ranges from yellow to brown in color, and the shell is typically reddish-brown.

Loggerhead sea turtles spend most of their lives in the open ocean and in shallow coastal waters. They rarely come ashore, with the exception of the females' brief visits to construct nests and deposit eggs. Hatchling loggerhead turtles live in floating mats of Sargassum algae. Adults and juveniles live along the continental shelf, as well as in shallow coastal estuaries. Loggerheads occupy waters with surface temperatures ranging from 56-82°F Juvenile loggerheads share the Sargassum habitat with a variety of other organisms.

Feeding & Predators The loggerhead sea turtle is omnivorous, feeding mainly on bottom-dwelling invertebrates. Its large and powerful jaws serve as an effective tool for dismantling its prey. Young loggerheads are exploited by numerous predators; the eggs are especially vulnerable. Once the turtles reach adulthood, their size limits predation to large marine animals, such as sharks.

caretta/video-08c.html caretta/video-08c.html