Size
Adults average about 90 cm carapace length; large specimens can reach about 200 kg.
Species Guide
What to know about loggerhead turtles
A clean field guide focused on habitat, identification, behavior, and conservation context without burying the useful parts.
The loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) is a marine reptile in the family Cheloniidae found in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans and the Mediterranean Sea. Adults average about 90 cm carapace length and roughly 135 kg in weight, with the largest individuals near 200 kg. Skin color ranges from yellow to brown and the shell is typically reddish brown. No external sex differences are evident until adulthood, when males develop thicker tails and shorter plastrons than females. Loggerheads spend most of their lives in saltwater and estuarine habitats; females come ashore briefly to lay eggs. They reach sexual maturity within about 17–33 years and have been reported to live roughly 47–67 years. Loggerheads are omnivorous and feed mainly on bottom-dwelling invertebrates, using their large, powerful jaws to break apart prey. Eggs and young are vulnerable to numerous predators, while adult turtles are largely preyed upon only by large marine animals such as large sharks.
Loggerheads are considered Vulnerable. Key conservation measures include legal protections, restrictions on international trade, use of turtle excluder devices in trawl fisheries, and efforts to protect and restore nesting beaches; international cooperation is needed due to their wide-ranging movements.
Widely distributed across major oceans and the Mediterranean; spends most of life in saltwater and estuarine habitats and nests on beaches, with females coming ashore to lay eggs.
Identification
How to identify loggerhead turtles
The visual markers divers can use underwater, plus the species most likely to cause confusion.
Key identification markers
Coloration
Skin ranges from yellow to brown and the carapace is typically reddish brown.
Sexual dimorphism (adult)
Adult males have thicker tails and shorter plastrons than females.
Jaws
Large, powerful jaws adapted for crushing and dismantling prey.
Range and Movement
How loggerhead turtles move through the world
The broad range, seasonal movement, or migratory behavior that shapes where divers encounter this species.
Widely distributed across major oceans and the Mediterranean; spends most of life in saltwater and estuarine habitats and nests on beaches, with females coming ashore to lay eggs.
Diet
What loggerhead turtles tend to eat
Useful feeding context that often explains habitat, movement, and encounter style.
Omnivorous, feeding mainly on bottom-dwelling invertebrates; uses large powerful jaws to break apart prey.
Conservation
What is happening with Loggerhead Turtles
Status, pressure, and protection context grounded in cited sources rather than filler.
Loggerheads are considered Vulnerable. Key conservation measures include legal protections, restrictions on international trade, use of turtle excluder devices in trawl fisheries, and efforts to protect and restore nesting beaches; international cooperation is needed due to their wide-ranging movements.
Main threats
Fishing gear and bycatch
Untended fishing gear and capture in trawls cause many deaths; turtles can suffocate or become trapped without escape routes.
Loss of nesting habitat
Coastal development and loss of suitable nesting beaches reduce available nesting sites and contribute to population declines.
Human disturbance and artificial lighting
Coastal lighting and nearby housing developments can disorient hatchlings and disturb nesting females.
Predation of eggs and hatchlings
Eggs and young are vulnerable to numerous terrestrial and marine predators, including introduced exotic predators on nesting beaches.
Protections and controls
CITES Appendix I
Commercial international trade of loggerheads or derived products is prohibited under CITES Appendix I.
U.S. Endangered Species Act
Nine distinct population segments are protected under the ESA, with four listed as threatened and five as endangered.
Turtle Excluder Devices
Turtle excluder devices have been implemented in trawl fisheries to reduce mortality by providing escape routes.
Responsible Encounters
How to dive with loggerhead turtles
Conservation-minded guidance for divers who want the encounter without adding pressure.
Give loggerhead turtle space, avoid blocking the animal's path, and follow local site and operator rules for wildlife interactions with turtles.
Field Notes
Interesting things worth knowing
Useful species context that makes the encounter more meaningful once you are underwater.
Field notes
Long maturation and lifespan
Loggerheads reach sexual maturity at about 17–33 years and can live roughly 47–67 years.
Low reproductive rate
Females typically lay an average of four egg clutches then become quiescent for two to three years.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Clear planning and conservation answers written for search visibility and AI retrieval.
Research Sources
Loggerhead Turtle information sources
Primary and credible references behind the field-guide and conservation claims on this page.
Sources 2Last Updated
Loggerhead sea turtle · Encyclopedia · Wikipedia
Primary wildlife guide source.
Caretta caretta · Taxonomy · WoRMS
Taxonomy reference.
Related Species
More in Turtles
Related species guides in the same encounter family.
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