Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle
Lepidochelys kempii
Conservation Status:
State Status: Critically Imperiled
State Listing: Endangered
Global Assessment: Critically Endangered
Sea turtle sightings are very rare in Connecticut, as they migrate to the northern parts of the Atlantic Ocean as the water heats up in the spring. They may be spotted in Long Island Sound from May to November.
Description
The Kemp's ridley is the smallest sea turtle, only growing to about two and a half feet long and weighing around one hundred pounds. They have an oval shaped shell colored an olive or gray. The plastron is pale, and the tops of their limbs are gray while the bottoms are usually white. They have triangular, beaked heads and flipper-like limbs.
Habitat
These turtles can be found in oceans. Their range is restricted from the Gulf of Mexico to Nova Scotia, staying off the coasts of North America.
Behavior
These turtles are fully aquatic, leaving the water only to lay eggs. They eat mollusks, jellyfish, algae, and seaweed. These are the only sea turtles that nest during the day. Most females lay their eggs together on a specific beach located in Mexico. April to August, large groups will gather offshore and nest together, each laying about one hundred eggs. They live around thirty years.
Range
Present
