Caretta caretta

Loggerhead sea turtle [North Pacific DPS]

Family: Cheloniidae · Class: Reptilia · Order: Testudines

Conservation status: Endangered

The loggerhead sea turtle is the largest hard-shelled sea turtle, with adults measuring 70 to 95 cm (28 to 37 inches) in straight carapace length and weighing 80 to 200 kg (180 to 440 pounds). The carapace is reddish-brown to brown with a heart-shaped outline when viewed from above. The species is distinguished by its massive head, which can measure up to 25 cm (10 inches) in width, and powerful jaw muscles adapted for crushing hard-shelled prey. The plastron is typically yellow to cream-colored. Juveniles display a more pronounced keel along the carapace and darker coloration than adults. The North Pacific Distinct Population Segment encompasses loggerhead sea turtles originating from the North Pacific Ocean north of the equator and south of 60 degrees north latitude. This population primarily nests on beaches in Japan, particularly along the southern coasts of Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu islands. Juveniles and adults forage throughout the North Pacific, including waters off California, Oregon, Washington, and Baja California, Mexico. The population follows a transpacific migration pattern, with juveniles spending 15 to 20 years in the eastern Pacific before returning to western Pacific nesting areas. Loggerhead sea turtles inhabit both nearshore and pelagic environments. Juveniles associate with floating debris and algal mats in the open ocean, while adults utilize coastal waters, bays, estuaries, and the mouths of large rivers. In California waters, they are commonly observed in areas with sea surface temperatures above 17°C (63°F), typically from summer through early fall. The species shows preference for areas with rocky reefs, kelp beds, and muddy bottoms where benthic prey is abundant. Loggerheads are carnivorous, feeding primarily on bottom-dwelling invertebrates including crabs, mollusks, sea urchins, and jellyfish. Adults possess powerful jaws capable of crushing conch shells and horseshoe crabs. Nesting occurs every two to three years, with females depositing 100 to 126 eggs per clutch in beach sand. The North Pacific population nests primarily from May through August. Sexual maturity is reached at 20 to 30 years of age, making this one of the longest maturation periods among sea turtles. The North Pacific Distinct Population Segment was listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act in 2011, following designation of nine distinct population segments worldwide. According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the original 1978 listing covered the worldwide range of the species, but the 2011 final rule specifically addressed the North Pacific population. Primary threats include fisheries bycatch, particularly in longline and gillnet fisheries, coastal development affecting nesting beaches, marine pollution including plastic debris ingestion, and climate change impacts on nesting beach temperatures and ocean currents. The population has experienced significant decline, with annual nesting estimates reduced from historical levels of approximately 3,000 nests to fewer than 1,000 nests in recent years.

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, and more.