Facts About the Loggerhead Turtle

The loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) is a marine sea turtle that is named for its large head, which supports powerful jaw muscles that enable it to feed on hard-shelled prey. This species is found throughout the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans.

This species is listed as endangered in the United States, and its populations continue to decline globally. The loss of critical nesting beaches and a host of exotic predators have all contributed to the population decline. The introduction of turtle excluder devices to reduce coastal development and allow hatchlings to escape has helped, but the continued loss of nesting beaches and other threats will require international cooperation in order to restore this important species.

Many Native American cultures associate sea turtles with longevity and the cycles of life. The thirteen scales on the back of a turtle’s shell are sometimes seen as representing the thirteen moons in a year. The Anishinaabe tell the story of how the world rests on the back of Great A’Tuin, the World Turtle. The Discworld in the books by Terry Pratchett is said to be carried on the backs of four elephants, who in turn rest on the giant turtle Great A’Tuin.

Sea turtles ingest plastic marine debris, which can kill them by obstructing the digestive tract or causing nutrient dilution that slows growth and sexual maturation. Humans can also injure sea turtles by picking them up by the tail, which can crush or pierce their internal organs and vertebral column.