Loggerhead Sea TurtleCaretta carettaWhere and when to see them

The loggerhead is a large marine turtle named for its broad head and powerful jaws. Adults occupy warm-temperate and subtropical seas, while young turtles may spend years travelling through oceanic habitats. Females return to sandy shores to lay eggs, but otherwise these are marine animals, not regular land inhabitants. Long migrations connect feeding grounds and nesting beaches, exposing different populations to fisheries, vessel traffic, coastal development and artificial lighting.

Size

70–110 cm curved carapace length

Weight

70–180 kg

Lifespan

Not reliably established

Status

Vulnerable

Loggerheads alternate feeding activity with long resting periods and surface regularly to breathe. Females usually nest at night, excavating an egg chamber with their rear flippers before covering the clutch and returning to sea. Several clutches may be laid within one season, followed by years without nesting. Hatchlings emerge together and orient toward the open horizon. Adults can navigate across large distances, although their routes and destinations vary among populations. Loggerhead females exhibit strong nest site fidelity, often returning to the same general area or even the same beach to lay clutches. Males spend their entire lives at sea, never returning to land after hatching. They can remain submerged for several minutes during routine activities, but deep or prolonged dives can last for over an hour.

• Loggerhead jaws are adapted to breaking hard-shelled prey.
• Incubation temperature influences whether hatchlings develop as males or females.
• Females can lay several separate clutches in one nesting season.
• Young loggerheads may cross entire ocean basins before settling into coastal feeding habitats.

Nesting observation is most plausible from late spring through summer in Florida and the Mediterranean, and mainly summer into autumn in Cape Verde. Portugal and Croatia are primarily marine-observation contexts. Local protected-beach rules and authorized programs determine suitable viewing dates. In the Mediterranean, nesting occurs from May to August, with peak activity in June and July. Cape Verde's nesting season is predominantly from June to October, with July and August being the busiest months. Observing adult turtles from a boat is possible year-round in many parts of their range, depending on local conditions.

Adults use continental shelves, coastal bays, estuaries and offshore waters, often feeding over sandy or mixed seabeds. Juveniles also inhabit oceanic convergence zones. Nesting requires suitable sandy beaches with access from the sea and relatively undisturbed, appropriately warm incubation conditions. Loggerheads frequently utilize shallow coastal waters during their foraging activities. They often migrate long distances between feeding grounds and nesting beaches. Juveniles also use sargassum beds as important nursery habitats for protection and food.

Strong jaws allow loggerheads to crush hard-shelled prey, including crabs, molluscs and other bottom-dwelling invertebrates. They also eat softer animals and occasional fish. Oceanic juveniles consume floating or near-surface organisms, so diet changes with age and habitat. Their powerful jaws enable them to consume a wide range of prey, including conchs, clams, and sea urchins. Younger turtles, especially in oceanic phases, feed on jellyfish and other pelagic organisms. They are opportunistic feeders, adapting their diet to local prey availability.

Common name

Loggerhead Sea Turtle

Scientific name

Caretta caretta

Animal group

Reptiles

Size

70–110 cm curved carapace length

Weight

70–180 kg

Lifespan

Not reliably established

Status

Vulnerable

Identification

Compared with green and hawksbill turtles, loggerheads have a disproportionately broad head and typically five pairs of costal scutes on a reddish-brown shell. Key distinguishing features include their large head and strong, hooked upper jaw, which is adapted for crushing. The carapaces are typically heart shaped and range from reddish brown to olive brown. Unlike green turtles, loggerheads have two prefrontal scales between their eyes.