Caretta caretta (Loggerhead Turtle)
Loggerhead turtles are found in temperate and subtropical coastal waters and juvenile turtles occasionally occur in British waters. They have been recorded on the west coast of the Outer Hebrides from South Uist to Berneray.
Additional Information
Marine Conservation Society
This species is almost entirely carnivorous using their powerful jaw to crack open crustaceans and shellfish, as well as feeding on sponges, jellyfish and occasionally algae (Bustard, 1972). Sexual maturity can be reached as late as 37 years old. Females nest 3 - 5 times in one breeding season, returning to breed every couple of years. The female lays her eggs high up on specific tropical beaches. This can lead to predation from native species as well as humans. Hatchlings follow the light of the moon to the ocean. Light pollution from land can confuse the hatchlings diverting them away from the ocean resulting in desiccation, increased risk of predation and, hence, death. The hatchlings and small juveniles are pelagic, drifting amongst rafts of sargassum (brown algae) and flotsam of the open ocean before migrating to shallower coastal waters. Juveniles have small spikes along the spine of the shell.
International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List 2002
Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES) Appendix I
Convention of Migratory Species
OSPAR Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic.
Bern Convention Appendix II
EC Habitats Directive Annex II
Scottish Biodiversity List of species of principal importance for biodiversity conservation
Caretta caretta has a distinctive large, yellow-orange head (hence its name), which is extremely broad posteriorly. It has dark brown eyes, a parrot-like beak and extremely powerful yellow jaws. The flippers are proportionately small, and the body length is up to 1.5 m; 0.3-0.5 m in juveniles. Both the carapace and flippers are reddish-brown in colour. The underside of the body is yellow. It commonly weighs up to 180 kg.
Identifying features:
Large yellow-orange head.
Dark brown eyes.
A parrot-like beak.
Up to 1.5 m long.
Commonly weighs up to 180 kg.
Carapace is reddish-brown, whilst the underneath (plastron) is yellow.
