Loggerhead Turtle
| Name: | Loggerhead Turtle |
| Scientific Name: | Caretta caretta |
| Family: | Marine Turtles |
| Taxonomic: | Cheloniidae |
| ID Group: | Rays, Sharks, Dolphins, Turtles |
| Size: | 2.5 - 3.5 ft. |
| Depth Range: | On the reef (10 – 60 ft.) |
| Sightings: | Seen very rarely |
This Turtle has a short, thick neck and a large, round head. Its tall, rounded shell is reddish-brown and often covered with barnacles. It has three plates between its eyes, with the middle one being smaller.
The Loggerhead Turtle spends nearly its entire life in the water, surfacing occasionally to breathe. Females come ashore every few years to lay eggs, always returning to their birthplace. They face threats from fishing nets, plastic pollution, and boat traffic. Since they take about 35 years to mature and begin reproducing, maintaining a healthy population is challenging.