Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle
Identification: Carapace length 53 to 75 cm. Body mass 32 to 48 kg. Carapace is nearly round. Flippers have fore usually only 1 claw in adults: hind 1 or 2 claws. Colour on back olive grey, brown or greyish black; often with light striping. Belly uniform white or yellowish.
Range: Restricted and now rare. Adults largely confined to the Gulf of Mexico. Juveniles reach N. European Coasts and Atlantic Coast of W Africa. Mostly found off E. USA Coast.
Habitat: Adults largely confined to the Gulf of Mexico. Juveniles frequently found in bays, coastal lagoons and river mouths.
Habits: Most of the population nests on one beach 40 km long (Gulf of Mexico). Average number of clutches per female is 1.5 per season. Carnivorous: eating mainly crustaceans associated with sandy and muddy seabeds. Also molluscs, sea urchins, jellyfish and fish.
How to find: Juveniles reach N. European Coasts. But quite rare.