Loggerhead sea turtle - wikipedia Loggerhead sea turtle `` Loggerhead turtle '' redirects here. Loggerhead turtle may also refer to Loggerhead musk turtle. Loggerhead sea turtle Temporal range : 40 -- 0 Ma PreЄ Є Pg Cretaceous - Recent Conservation status Vulnerable ( IUCN 3.1 ) Scientific classification Kingdom : Animalia Phylum : Chordata Class : Reptilia Order : Testudines Suborder : Cryptodira Family : Cheloniidae Subfamily : Carettinae Genus : Caretta Rafinesque, 1814 Species : C. caretta Binomial name Caretta caretta ( Linnaeus, 1758 ) Loggerhead sea turtle range Species synonymy Testudo caretta Linnaeus, 1758 Testudo cephalo Schneider, 1783 Testudo nasicornis Lacépède, 1788 Testudo caouana Lacépède, 1788 Chelone caretta Brongniart, 1805 Chelonia caouanna Schweigger, 1812 Caretta nasuta Rafinesque, 1814 Chelonia cavanna Oken, 1816 Caretta atra Merrem, 1820 Caretta cephalo Merrem, 1820 Caretta nasicornis Merrem, 1820 Chelonia caretta Bory de Saint - Vincent, 1828 Testudo corianna Gray, 1831 Chelonia pelasgorum Valenciennes in Bory de Saint - Vincent, 1833 Chelonia cephalo Gray, 1829 Chelonia ( Caretta ) cephalo Lesson in Bélanger, 1834 Chelonia caouanna Duméril & Bibron, 1835 Chelonia ( Thalassochelys ) caouana Fitzinger, 1836 Chelonia ( Thalassochelys ) atra Fitzinger, 1836 Thalassochelys caretta Bonaparte, 1838 Chelonia ( Caouanna ) cephalo Cocteau in Cocteau & Bibron in Ramon de la Sagra, 1838 Halichelys atra Fitzinger, 1843 Caounana caretta Gray, 1844 Caouana elongata Gray, 1844 Thalassochelys caouana Agassiz, 1857 Thalassochelys corticata Girard, 1858 Chelonia corticata Strauch, 1862 Thalassochelys elongata Strauch, 1862 Thalassochelys caouana Nardo, 1864 Eremonia elongata Gray, 1873 Caretta caretta Stejneger, 1873 Thalassochelys cephalo Barbour & Cole, 1906 Caretta caretta caretta Mertens & Muller, 1928 Caretta gigas Deraniyagala, 1933 Caretta caretta gigas Deraniyagala, 1939 Caretta caretta tarapacana Caldwell, 1962 Chelonia cahuano Tamayo, 1962 Caretta careta Tamayo, 1962 Genus synonymy Caretta Rafinesque, 1814 Caretta ( Thalassochelys ) Fitzinger, 1835 Thalassochelys Bonaparte, 1838 Caouana Cocteau in Ramon de la Sagra, 1838 Halichelys Fitzinger, 1843 Eremonia Gray, 1873 ? Pliochelys Portis, 1890 ? Proganosaurus Portis, 1890 The loggerhead sea turtle ( Caretta caretta ), or loggerhead, is an oceanic turtle distributed throughout the world. It is a marine reptile, belonging to the family Cheloniidae. The average loggerhead measures around 90 cm ( 35 in ) long when fully grown, although larger specimens of up to 280 cm ( 110 in ) have been discovered. The adult loggerhead sea turtle weighs approximately 135 kg ( 298 lb ), with the largest specimens weighing in at more than 450 kg ( 1,000 lb ). The skin ranges from yellow to brown in color, and the shell is typically reddish brown. No external differences in sex are seen until the turtle becomes an adult, the most obvious difference being the adult males have thicker tails and shorter plastrons ( lower shells ) than the females. The loggerhead sea turtle is found in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, as well as the Mediterranean Sea. It spends most of its life in saltwater and estuarine habitats, with females briefly coming ashore to lay eggs. The loggerhead sea turtle has a low reproductive rate ; females lay an average of four egg clutches and then become quiescent, producing no eggs for two to three years. The loggerhead reaches sexual maturity within 17 -- 33 years and has a lifespan of 47 -- 67 years. The loggerhead sea turtle is omnivorous, feeding mainly on bottom - dwelling invertebrates. Its large and powerful jaws serve as an effective tool for dismantling its prey. Young loggerheads are exploited by numerous predators ; the eggs are especially vulnerable to terrestrial organisms. Once the turtles reach adulthood, their formidable size limits predation to large marine animals, such as sharks. Loggerheads are considered an vulnerable species by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. In total, 9 distinct population segments are under the protection of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, with 4 population segments classified as `` threatened '' and 5 classified as `` endangered '' Commercial trade of loggerheads or derived products is prohibited by CITES Appendix I. Untended fishing gear is responsible for many loggerhead deaths. Turtles may also suffocate if they are trapped in fishing trawls. Turtle excluder devices have been implemented in efforts to reduce mortality by providing an escape route for the turtles. Loss of suitable nesting beaches and the introduction of exotic predators have also taken a toll on loggerhead populations. Efforts to restore their numbers will require international cooperation, since the turtles roam vast areas of ocean and critical nesting beaches are scattered across several countries. Contents 1 Description 2 Distribution 3 Habitat 4 Ecology and behavior 4.1 Feeding 4.2 Predators 4.3 Disease and parasites 5 Life history 5.1 Early life 5.2 Maturation 5.3 Reproduction 6 Taxonomy 6.1 Evolutionary history 7 Conservation 7.1 Threats 7.2 Conservation efforts 8 Symbols 9 See also 10 References 10.1 Footnotes 10.2 Bibliography 11 Further reading 12 External links Description The carapace of this loggerhead is reddish brown ; five vertebral scutes run down the turtle 's midline bordered by five pairs of costal scutes. The loggerhead sea turtle is the world 's largest hard - shelled turtle, slightly larger at average and maximum mature weights than the green sea turtle and the Galapagos tortoise. It is also the world 's second largest extant turtle after the leatherback sea turtle. Adults have an average weight range of 80 to 200 kg ( 180 to 440 lb ) and a length range of 70 to 95 cm ( 28 to 37 in ). The maximum reported weight is 545 kg ( 1,202 lb ) and the maximum carapace length is 213 cm ( 84 in ). The head and carapace ( upper shell ) range from a yellow - orange to a reddish brown, while the plastron ( underside ) is typically pale yellow. The turtle 's neck and sides are brown on the tops and yellow on the sides and bottom. The turtle 's shell is divided into two sections : carapace and plastron. The carapace is further divided into large plates, or scutes. Typically, 11 or 12 pairs of marginal scutes rim the carapace. Five vertebral scutes run down the carapace 's midline, while five pairs of costal scutes border them. The nuchal scute is located at the base of the head. The carapace connects to the plastron by three pairs of inframarginal scutes forming the bridge of the shell. The plastron features paired gular, humeral, pectoral, abdominal, femoral, and anal scutes. The shell serves as external armor, although loggerhead sea turtles can not retract their heads or flippers into their shells. Sexual dimorphism of the loggerhead sea turtle is only apparent in adults. Adult males have longer tails and claws than females. The males ' plastrons are shorter than the females ', presumably to accommodate the males ' larger tails. The carapaces of males are wider and less domed than the females ', and males typically have wider heads than females. The sex of juveniles and subadults can not be determined through external anatomy, but can be observed through dissection, laparoscopy ( an operation performed on the abdomen ), histological examination ( cell anatomy ), and radioimmunological assays ( immune study dealing with radiolabeling ). Lachrymal glands located behind each eye allow the loggerhead to maintain osmotic balance by eliminating the excess salt obtained from ingesting ocean water. On land, the excretion of excess salt gives the false impression that the turtle is crying. Distribution Range of the loggerhead sea turtle The loggerhead sea turtle has a cosmopolitan distribution, nesting over the broadest geographical range of any sea turtle. It inhabits the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans and the Mediterranean Sea. In the Atlantic Ocean, the greatest concentration of loggerheads is along the southeastern coast of North America and in the Gulf of Mexico. Very few loggerheads are found along the European and African coastlines. Florida is the most popular nesting site, with more than 67,000 nests built per year. Nesting extends as far north as Virginia, as far south as Brazil, and as far east as the Cape Verde Islands. The Cape Verde Islands are the only significant nesting site on the eastern side of the Atlantic. Loggerheads found in the Atlantic Ocean feed from Canada to Brazil. In the Indian Ocean, loggerheads feed along the coastlines of Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and in the Arabian Sea. Along the African coastline, loggerheads nest from Mozambique 's Bazaruto Archipelago to South Africa 's St Lucia estuary. The largest Indian Ocean nesting site is Oman, on the Arabian Peninsula, which hosts around 15,000 nests, giving it the second largest nesting population of loggerheads in the world. Western Australia is another notable nesting area, with 1,000 -- 2,000 nests per year. Pacific loggerheads live in temperate to tropical regions. They forage in the East China Sea, the southwestern Pacific, and along the Baja California Peninsula. Eastern Australia and Japan are the major nesting areas, with the Great Barrier Reef deemed an important nesting area. Pacific loggerheads occasionally nest in Vanuatu and Tokelau. Yakushima Island is the most important site, with three nesting grounds visited by 40 % of all nearby loggerheads. After nesting, females often find homes in the East China Sea, while the Kuroshio Current Extension 's Bifurcation region provides important juvenile foraging areas. Eastern Pacific populations are concentrated off the coast of Baja California, where upwelling provides rich feeding grounds for juvenile turtles and subadults. Nesting sites along the eastern Pacific Basin are rare. mtDNA sequence polymorphism analysis and tracking studies suggest 95 % of the population along the coast of the Americas hatch on the Japanese Islands in the western Pacific. The turtles are transported by the prevailing currents across the full length of the northern Pacific, one of the longest migration routes of any marine animal. The return journey to the natal beaches in Japan has been long suspected, although the trip would cross unproductive clear water with few feeding opportunities. Evidence of a return journey came from an adult female loggerhead named Adelita, which in 1996, equipped with a satellite tracking device, made the 14,500 km ( 9,000 mi ) trip from Mexico across the Pacific. Adelita was the first animal of any kind ever tracked across an ocean basin. The Mediterranean Sea is a nursery for juveniles, as well as a common place for adults in the spring and summer months. Almost 45 % of the Mediterranean juvenile population has migrated from the Atlantic. Loggerheads feed in the Alboran Sea and the Adriatic Sea. Greece is the most popular nesting site along the Mediterranean, with more than 3,000 nests per year. Zakynthos hosts the largest Mediterranean nesting with the second one being in Kyparissia Bay. Because of this, Greek authorities do not allow planes to take off or land at night in Zakynthos due to the nesting turtles. In addition to the Greek coast, the coastlines of Cyprus and Turkey are also common nesting sites. One record of this turtle was made in Ireland when a specimen washed ashore on Ballyhealy Beach in Co. Wexford. Habitat Loggerhead sea turtles spend most of their lives in the open ocean and in shallow coastal waters. They rarely come ashore besides the females ' brief visits to construct nests and deposit eggs. Hatchling loggerhead turtles live in floating mats of Sargassum algae. Adults and juveniles live along the continental shelf as well as in shallow coastal estuaries. In the northwestern Atlantic Ocean, age plays a factor in habitat preference. Juveniles are more frequently found in shallow estuarine habitats with limited ocean access compared to non-nesting adults. Loggerheads occupy waters with surface temperatures ranging from 13.3 -- 28 ° C ( 56 -- 82 ° F ) during non-nesting season. Temperatures from 27 -- 28 ° C ( 81 -- 82 ° F ) are most suitable for nesting females. Juvenile loggerheads share the Sargassum habitat with a variety of other organisms. The mats of Sargassum contain as many as 100 different species of animals on which the juveniles feed. Prey found in Sargassum mats may include barnacles, crab larvae, fish eggs, and hydrozoan colonies. Some prey, such as ants, flies, aphids, leafhoppers, and beetles, are carried by the wind to the mats. Marine mammals and commercial fishes, including tuna and mahi - mahi, also inhabit the Sargassum mats. Ecology and Behavior A resting loggerhead sea turtle Loggerhead sea turtles observed in captivity and in the wild are most active during the day. In captivity, the loggerheads ' daily activities are divided between swimming and resting on the bottom. While resting, they spread their forelimbs to about midstroke swimming position. They remain motionless with eyes open or half - shut and are easily alerted during this state. At night, captives sleep in the same position with their eyes tightly shut, and are slow to react. Loggerheads spend up to 85 % of their day submerged, with males being the more active divers than females. The average duration of dives is 15 -- 30 min, but they can stay submerged for up to four hours. Juvenile loggerheads and adults differ in their swimming methods. A juvenile keeps its forelimbs pressed to the side of its carapace, and propels itself by kicking with its hind limbs. As the juvenile matures, its swimming method is progressively replaced with the adult 's alternating - limb method. They depend entirely on this method of swimming by one year old. Water temperature affects the sea turtle 's metabolic rate. Lethargy is induced at temperatures between 13 and 15 ° C ( 55 and 59 ° F ). The loggerhead takes on a floating, cold - stunned posture when temperatures drop to around 10 ° C. However, younger loggerheads are more resistant to cold and do not become stunned until temperatures drop below 9 ° C. The loggerheads ' migration helps to prevent instances of cold - stunning. Higher water temperatures cause an increase in metabolism and heart rate. A loggerhead 's body temperature increases in warmer waters more quickly than it decreases in colder water ; their critical thermal maximum is currently unknown. In February 2015, a live loggerhead turtle was found floating in British Columbian waters of 10.5 ° C with extensive algal growth on its carapace. Female - female aggression, which is fairly rare in other marine vertebrates, is common among loggerheads. Ritualized aggression escalates from passive threat displays to combat. This conflict primarily occurs over access to feeding grounds. Escalation typically follows four steps. First, initial contact is stimulated by visual or tactile cues. Second, confrontation occurs, beginning with passive confrontations characterized by wide head - tail circling. They begin aggressive confrontation when one turtle ceases to circle and directly faces the other. Third, sparring occurs with turtles snapping at each other 's jaws. The final stage, separation, is either mutual, with both turtles swimming away in opposite directions, or involves chasing one out of the immediate vicinity. Escalation is determined by several factors, including hormone levels, energy expenditure, expected outcome, and importance of location. At all stages, an upright tail shows willingness to escalate, while a curled tail shows willingness to submit. Because higher aggression is metabolically costly and potentially debilitating, contact is much more likely to escalate when the conflict is over access to good foraging grounds. Further aggression has also been reported in captive loggerheads. The turtles are seemingly territorial, and will fight with other loggerheads and sea turtles of different species. Feeding An adult Aurelia jellyfish which loggerheads eat during migration through the open sea The loggerhead sea turtle is omnivorous, feeding mainly on bottom - dwelling invertebrates, such as gastropods, bivalves, and decapods. It has a greater list of known prey than any other sea turtle. Other food items include sponges, corals, sea pens, polychaete worms, sea anemones, cephalopods, barnacles, brachiopods, isopods, Portuguese men o ' war, insects, bryozoans, sea urchins, sand dollars, sea cucumbers, starfish, fish ( eggs, juveniles, and adults ), hatchling turtles ( including members of its own species ), algae, and vascular plants. During migration through the open sea, loggerheads eat jellyfish, floating molluscs, floating egg clusters, squid, and flying fish. Loggerheads crush prey with their large and powerful jaws. Projecting scale points on the anterior margin of the forelimbs allow manipulation of the food. These points can be used as `` pseudo-claws '' to tear large pieces of food in the loggerhead 's mouth. The loggerhead will turn its neck sideways to consume the torn food on the scale points. Inward - pointing, mucus - covered papillae found in the fore region of the loggerhead 's esophagus filter out foreign bodies, such as fish hooks. The next region of the esophagus is not papillated, with numerous mucosal folds. The digestion rate in loggerheads is temperature - dependent ; it increases as temperature increases. Predators A horned ghost crab ( Ocypode ceratophthalma ) preying on a loggerhead hatchling in Gnaraloo, Western Australia. Ghost crabs are one of the chief causes of egg and hatchling mortality in sea turtles. The red fox is a predator of loggerhead nests in Australia. Loggerheads have numerous predators, especially early in their lives. Egg and nestling predators include ghost crabs, oligochaete worms, beetles, fly larvae, ants, flesh flies, snakes, gulls, corvids, opossums, bears, rats, armadillos, mustelids, skunks, canids, procyonids, cats, pigs, and humans. During their migration from their nests to the sea, hatchlings are preyed on by dipteran larvae, crabs, toads, lizards, snakes, seabirds such as frigatebirds, and other assorted birds and mammals. In the ocean, predators of the loggerhead juveniles include portunid crabs and various fishes, such as parrotfishes and moray eels. Adults are more rarely attacked due to their large size, but may be preyed on by large sharks, seals, and killer whales. Nesting females are attacked by flesh flies, feral dogs, and humans. Salt marsh mosquitos can also pester nesting females. In Australia, the introduction of the red fox ( Vulpes vulpes ) by British settlers in the 19th century led to significant reductions in loggerhead sea turtle populations. In one coastal section in eastern Australia during the 1970s, predation of turtle eggs destroyed up to 95 % of all clutches laid. Aggressive efforts to destroy foxes in the 1980s and 1990s has reduced this impact ; however, it is estimated that it will be the year 2020 before populations will experience complete recovery from such dramatic losses. Along the southeastern coast of the United States, the raccoon ( Procyon lotor ) is the most destructive predator of nesting sites. Mortality rates of nearly 100 % of all clutches laid in a season have been recorded on some Florida beaches. This is attributed to an increase in raccoon populations, which have flourished in urban environments. Aggressive efforts to protect nesting sites by covering them with wire mesh has significantly reduced the impact of raccoon predation on loggerhead sea turtle eggs. On Bald Head Island in North Carolina, wire mesh screens are used on every confirmed nest to prevent excavation by resident red foxes. A new concern with the steel cage technique is interference with the normal development of the nestlings ' magnetic sense due to the use of ferrous wire, which may disrupt the turtles ' ability to navigate properly. Efforts are underway to find a nonmagnetic material that will prevent predators gnawing through the barrier. Up to 40 % of nesting females around the world have wounds believed to come from shark attacks. Disease and parasites Infectious bacteria such as Pseudomonas and Salmonella attack loggerhead hatchlings and eggs. Fungi such as Penicillium infect loggerhead sea turtle nests and cloacae. Fibropapillomatosis disease caused by a form of the herpes - type virus threatens loggerheads with internal and external tumors. These tumors disrupt essential behaviors and, if on the eyes, cause permanent blindness. Trematodes of the family Spirorchiidae inhabit tissues throughout the body of the loggerhead, including vital organs, such as the heart and the brain. Trematode infection can be highly debilitating. For example, inflammatory trematode lesions can cause endocarditis and neurological disease. A nematode, Angiostoma carettae, also infects loggerheads, causing histologic lesions in the respiratory tract. More than 100 species of animals from 13 phyla, as well as 37 kinds of algae, live on loggerheads ' backs. These parasitic organisms, which increase drag, offer no known benefit to the turtle, although the dulling effect of organisms on shell color may improve camouflage. Life History Early life Play media Hatchling running to sea Hatchlings range in color from light brown to almost black, lacking the adult 's distinct yellows and reds. Upon hatching, they measure about 4.6 cm ( 1.8 in ) and weigh about 20 g ( 0.7 oz ). The eggs are typically laid on the beach in an area above the high - tide line. The eggs are laid near the water so the hatchlings can return to the sea. The loggerhead 's sex is dictated by the temperature of the underground nest. Incubation temperatures generally range from 26 -- 32 ° C ( 79 -- 90 ° F ). Sea turtle eggs kept at a constant incubating temperature of 32 ° C become females. Eggs incubating at 28 ° C become males. An incubation temperature of 30 ° C results in an equal ratio of male to female hatchlings. Hatchlings from eggs in the middle of the clutch tend to be the largest, grow the fastest, and be the most active during the first few days of sea life. After incubating for around 80 days, hatchlings dig through the sand to the surface, usually at night, when darkness increases the chance of escaping predation and damage from extreme sand surface temperatures is reduced. Hatchlings enter the ocean by navigating toward the brighter horizon created by the reflection of the moon and starlight off the water 's surface. Hatchlings can lose up to 20 % of their body mass due to evaporation of water as they journey from nest to ocean. They initially use the undertow to push them five to 10 m away from the shore. Once in the ocean, they swim for about 20 hours, taking them far offshore. An iron compound, magnetite, in their brains allows the turtles to perceive the Earth 's magnetic field, for navigation. Many hatchlings use Sargassum in the open ocean as protection until they reach 45 cm ( 18 in ). Hatchling loggerheads live in this pelagic environment until they reach juvenile age, and then they migrate to nearshore waters. Maturation A mature loggerhead sea turtle When ocean waters cool, loggerheads must migrate to warmer areas or hibernate to some degree. In the coldest months, they submerge for up to seven hours at a time, emerging for only seven minutes to breathe. Although outdone by freshwater turtles, these are among the longest recorded dives for any air - breathing marine vertebrate. During their seasonal migration, juvenile loggerheads have the ability to use both magnetic and visual cues. When both aids are available, they are used in conjunction ; if one aid is not available, the other suffices. The turtles swim at about 1.6 km / h ( 0.9 kn ; 0.4 m / s ) during migration. Like all marine turtles, the loggerhead prepares for reproduction in its foraging area. This takes place several years before the loggerhead migrates to a mating area. Female loggerheads first reproduce at ages 28 -- 33 in Southeastern United States and Australia, and at ages 17 -- 30 in South Africa. Age at first reproduction in the Mediterranean, Oman, Japan, and Brazil are unknown. Nesting loggerheads have a straight carapace length of 70 -- 109 cm ( 28 -- 43 in ). Because of the large range, carapace length is not a reliable indicator of sexual maturity. Their estimated maximum lifespan is 47 -- 67 years in the wild. Reproduction Loggerhead turtle track on a beach A loggerhead sea turtle laying eggs Female loggerheads first reproduce between the ages of 17 and 33, and their mating period may last more than six weeks. They court their mates, but these behaviors have not been thoroughly examined. Male forms of courtship behavior include nuzzling, biting, and head and flipper movements. Studies suggest females produce cloacal pheromones to indicate reproductive ability. Before mating, the male approaches a female and attempts to mount her, while she resists. Next, the male and female begin to circle each other. If the male has competitors, the female may let the males struggle with each other. The winner then mounts the female ; the male 's curved claws usually damage the shoulders of the female 's shell during this process. Other courting males bite the male while he is attempting to copulate, damaging his flippers and tail, possibly exposing bones. Such damage can cause the male to dismount and may require weeks to heal. While nesting, females produce an average of 3.9 egg clutches, and then become quiescent, producing no eggs for two to three years. Unlike other sea turtles, courtship and mating usually do not take place near the nesting beach, but rather along migration routes between feeding and breeding grounds. Recent evidence indicates ovulation in loggerheads is mating - induced. Through the act of mating, the female ovulates eggs which are fertilized by the male. This is unique, as mating - induced ovulation is rare outside of mammals. In the Northern Hemisphere, loggerheads mate from late March to early June. The nesting season is short, between May and August in the Northern Hemisphere and between October and March in the Southern Hemisphere. Loggerheads may display multiple paternity. Multiple paternity is possible due to sperm storage. The female can store sperm from multiple males in her oviducts until ovulation. A single clutch may have as many as seven fathers, each contributing sperm to a portion of the clutch. Multiple paternity and female size are positively correlated. Two hypotheses explain this correlation. One posits that males favor large females because of their perceived higher fecundity ( ability to reproduce ). The other states, because larger females are able to swim more quickly to mating grounds, they have longer mating periods. All sea turtles have similar basic nesting behaviors. Females return to lay eggs at intervals of 12 -- 17 days during the nesting season, on or near the beach where they hatched. They exit the water, climb the beach, and scrape away the surface sand to form a body pit. With their hind limbs, they excavate an egg chamber in which the eggs are deposited. The females then cover the egg chamber and body pit with sand, and finally return to the sea. This process takes one to two hours, and occurs in open sand areas or on top of sand dunes, preferably near dune grasses that the females can use to camouflage the nest. The nesting area must be selected carefully because it affects characteristics such as fitness, emergence ratio, and vulnerability to nest predators. Loggerheads have an average clutch size of 112.4 eggs. Taxonomy Carl Linnaeus gave the loggerhead its first binomial name, Testudo caretta, in 1758. Thirty - five other names emerged over the following two centuries, with the combination Caretta caretta first introduced in 1902 by Leonhard Stejneger. The English common name `` loggerhead '' refers to the animal 's large head. The loggerhead sea turtle belongs to the family Cheloniidae, which includes all extant sea turtles except the leatherback sea turtle. The subspecific classification of the loggerhead sea turtle is debated, but most authors consider it a single polymorphic species. Molecular genetics has confirmed hybridization of the loggerhead sea turtle with the Kemp 's ridley sea turtle, hawksbill sea turtle, and green sea turtles. The extent of natural hybridization is not yet determined ; however, second - generation hybrids have been reported, suggesting some hybrids are fertile. Evolutionary History Although evidence is lacking, modern sea turtles probably descended from a single common ancestor during the Cretaceous period. Like all other sea turtles except the leatherback, loggerheads are members of the ancient family Cheloniidae, and appeared about 40 million years ago. Of the six species of living Cheloniidae, loggerheads are more closely related to the Kemp 's ridley sea turtle, olive ridley sea turtle, and the hawksbill turtle than they are to the flatback turtle and the green turtle. Around three million years ago, during the Pliocene epoch, Central America emerged from the sea, effectively cutting off currents between the Atlantic and Indo - Pacific Oceans. The rerouting of ocean currents led to climatic changes as the Earth entered a glacial cycle. Cold water upwelling around the Cape of Good Hope and reduction in water temperature at Cape Horn formed coldwater barriers to migrating turtles. The result was a complete isolation of the Atlantic and Pacific populations of loggerheads. During the most recent ice age, the beaches of southeastern North America were too cold for sea turtle eggs. As the Earth began to warm, loggerheads moved farther north, colonizing the northern beaches. Because of this, turtles nesting between North Carolina and northern Florida represent a different genetic population from those in southern Florida. The distinct populations of loggerheads have unique characteristics and genetic differences. For example, Mediterranean loggerheads are smaller, on average, than Atlantic Ocean loggerheads. North Atlantic and Mediterranean loggerhead sea turtles are descendants of colonizing loggerheads from Tongaland, South Africa. South African loggerhead genes are still present in these populations today. Conservation Many human activities have negative effects on loggerhead sea turtle populations. The prolonged time required for loggerheads to reach sexual maturity and the high mortality rates of eggs and young turtles from natural phenomena compound the problems of population reduction as a consequence of human activities. Threats Loggerhead sea turtle nest roped off as part of the Sea Turtle Protection Project on Hilton Head Island Loggerhead sea turtles were once intensively hunted for their meat and eggs ; consumption has decreased, however, due to worldwide legislation. Despite this, turtle meat and eggs are still consumed in countries where regulations are not strictly enforced. In Mexico, turtle eggs are a common meal ; locals claim the egg is an aphrodisiac. Eating turtle eggs or meat can cause serious illness due to harmful bacteria, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Serratia marcescens, and high levels of toxic metals that build up through bioaccumulation. The US West Coast is a critical migratory corridor for the Pacific loggerheads, in which these turtles swim across the Pacific to California 's coast from breeding grounds in Japan. Important foraging habitats for juveniles in the central North Pacific have been revealed through telemetry studies. Along with these foraging habitats, high levels of bycatch from industrial - scale fisheries have been found to overlap ; with drift gillnets in the past and longline fisheries presently. Many juvenile loggerheads aggregate off the coast of Baja California Sur, Mexico, where small coastal fisheries increase these turtles ' mortality risk ; fishers have reported catching dozens of loggerheads with bottom - set gear per day per boat. The most common commercial fishery that accidentally takes loggerheads are bottom trawls used for shrimp vessels in the Gulf of California. In 2000, between 2,600 and 6,000 loggerheads were estimated to have been killed by pelagic longlining in the Pacific. Fishing gear is the biggest threat to loggerheads in the open ocean. They often become entangled in longlines or gillnets. According to the 2009 status review of loggerheads by the Fisheries Service, drowning from entanglement in longline and gillnet fishing gear is the turtles ' primary threat in the North Pacific. They also become stuck in traps, pots, trawls, and dredges. Caught in this unattended equipment, loggerheads risk serious injury or drowning. Turtle excluder devices for nets and other traps reduce the number being accidentally caught. Nearly 24,000 metric tons of plastic are dumped into the ocean each year. Turtles ingest a wide array of this floating debris, including bags, sheets, pellets, balloons and abandoned fishing line. Loggerheads may mistake the floating plastic for jellyfish, a common food item. The ingested plastic causes numerous health concerns, including intestinal blockage, reduced nutrient absorption and malnutrition, suffocation, ulcerations, or starvation. Ingested plastics release toxic compounds, including polychlorinated biphenyls, which may accumulate in internal tissues. Such toxins may lead to a thinning of eggshells, tissue damage, or deviation from natural behaviors. Artificial lighting discourages nesting and interferes with the hatchlings ' ability to navigate to the water 's edge. Females prefer nesting on beaches free of artificial lighting. On developed beaches, nests are often clustered around tall buildings, perhaps because they block out the man - made light sources. Loggerhead hatchlings are drawn toward the brighter area over the water which is the consequence of the reflection of moon and star light. Confused by the brighter artificial light, they navigate inland, away from the protective waters, which exposes them to dehydration and predation as the sun rises. Artificial lighting causes tens of thousands of hatchling deaths per year. Destruction and encroachment of habitat by humans is another threat to loggerhead sea turtles. Optimum nesting beaches are open - sand beaches above the high - tide line. However, beach development deprives them of suitable nesting areas, forcing them to nest closer to the surf. Urbanization often leads to the siltation of sandy beaches, decreasing their viability. Construction of docks and marinas can destroy near - shore habitats. Boat traffic and dredging degrades habitat and can also injure or kill turtles when boats collide with turtles at or near the surface. Annual variations in climatic temperatures can affect sex ratios, since loggerheads have temperature - dependent sex determination. High sand temperatures may skew gender ratios in favor of females. Nesting sites exposed to unseasonably warm temperatures over a three - year period produced 87 -- 99 % females. This raises concern over the connection between rapid global temperature changes and the possibility of population extinction. A more localized effect on gender skewing comes from the construction of tall buildings, which reduce sun exposure, lowering the average sand temperature, which results in a shift in gender ratios to favor the emergence of male turtles. Conservation efforts Loggerhead sea turtle escapes from fishing net through a turtle excluder device Since the loggerhead occupies such a broad range, successful conservation requires efforts from multiple countries. A loggerhead sea turtle, Evelyn, is equipped with a satellite tag and a SeaTag - GEO solar - powered geomagnetic tag Loggerhead sea turtles are classified as vulnerable by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and are listed under Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, making international trade illegal. In the United States, the Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service classify them as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. Loggerheads are listed as endangered under both Australia 's Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and Queensland 's Nature Conservation Act 1992. The Convention on Migratory Species works for the conservation of loggerhead sea turtles on the Atlantic coast of Africa, as well as in the Indian Ocean and southeast Asia. Throughout Japan, the Sea Turtle Association of Japan aids in the conservation of loggerhead sea turtles. Greece 's ARCHELON works for their conservation. The Marine Research Foundation works for loggerhead conservation in Oman. Annex 2 of the Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife Protocol of the Cartagena Convention, which deals with pollution that could harm marine ecosystems, also protects them. Conservation organizations worldwide have worked with the shrimp trawling industry to develop turtle exclusion devices ( TEDs ) to exclude even the largest turtles. TEDs are mandatory for all shrimp trawlers. In many places during the nesting season, workers and volunteers search the coastline for nests, and researchers may also go out during the evening to look for nesting females for tagging studies and gather barnacles and tissues samples. Volunteers may, if necessary, relocate the nests for protection from threats, such as high spring tides and predators, and monitor the nests daily for disturbances. After the eggs hatch, volunteers uncover and tally hatched eggs, undeveloped eggs, and dead hatchlings. Any remaining live hatchlings are released or taken to research facilities. Typically, those that lack the vitality to hatch and climb to the surface die. Hatchlings use the journey from nest to ocean to build strength for the coming swim. Helping them to reach the ocean bypasses this strength - building exercise and lowers their chances of survival. Symbols Colombian 1000 peso coin, with an image of a Loggerhead sea turtle and text `` Tortuga Caguama - Caretta caretta '' on the obverse. The loggerhead sea turtle appears on the $1000 Colombian Peso coin. In the United States, the loggerhead sea turtle is the official state reptile of South Carolina and also the state saltwater reptile of Florida. See also Turtles portal Adelita, the first sea turtle tracked across an ocean basin. Sea turtle threats References Footnotes ^ Jump up to : Spotila 2004, p. 59 Jump up ^ Casale, P. & Tucker, A.D. ( 2017 ). `` Caretta caretta ''. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2017 : e. T3897A119333622. doi : 10.2305 / IUCN. UK. 2017 - 2. RLTS. T3897A119333622. en. Retrieved 27 December 2017. ^ Jump up to : Dodd 1988, p. 1 ^ Jump up to : Dodd 1988, p. 2 Jump up ^ `` Loggerhead Turtle ( Caretta caretta ) ''. NOAA Fisheries. NOAA. 22 February 2017. Retrieved 20 April 2018. ^ Jump up to : Ernst 2009, p. 37 Jump up ^ Dodd Jr, C.K. ( 1988 ). Synopsis of the biological data on the loggerhead sea turtle Caretta caretta ( Linnaeus 1758 ) ( No. FWS - 88 ( 14 ) ). FLORIDA COOPERATIVE FISH AND WILDLIFE RESEARCH UNIT GAINESVILLE. Jump up ^ Wood, Gerald ( 1983 ). The Guinness Book of Animal Facts and Feats. ISBN 978 - 0 - 85112 - 235 - 9. ^ Jump up to : Wynne 1999, p. 104 ^ Jump up to : Bolten, A.B. ( 2003 ). `` Loggerhead Turtle ( Caretta caretta ) ''. NOAA Fisheries. NOAA Fisheries. Archived from the original on May 27, 2010. Retrieved January 31, 2010. ^ Jump up to : Conant 2009, p. 7 ^ Jump up to : Wynne 1999, p. 110 Jump up ^ SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment ( 2010 ). `` Sea Turtles : Physical Characteristics ''. SeaWorld / Busch Gardens Animals. Archived from the original on May 27, 2010. Retrieved 2010 - 05 - 26. A sea turtle can not retract its limbs under its shell as a land turtle can. ^ Jump up to : Valente 2007, p. 22 Jump up ^ Peaker 1975, p. 231 ^ Jump up to : Spotila 2004, p. 164 ^ Jump up to : Spotila 2004, p. 165 ^ Jump up to : Spotila 2004, p. 166 ^ Jump up to : Conant 2009, p. 8 Jump up ^ C. Michael Hogan. 2011. Coral Sea. Encyclopedia of Earth. Eds. P. Saundry & C.J. Cleveland. National Council for Science and the Environment. Washington DC ^ Jump up to : Bowen 1995, p. 3731 Jump up ^ Bowen 1995, p. 3733 Jump up ^ Wallace J., Nichols ( 2008 ). `` Voyage of the Lonely Turtle -- Interview : Wallace J. Nichols ''. PBS. Educational Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 2010 - 05 - 29. Retrieved 2010 - 05 - 30. Jump up ^ Conant 2009, p. 20 Jump up ^ Spotila 2004, pp. 165 -- 66 ; Dimopoulos, D. `` Caretta caretta / Kiparissia -- Application of Management Plan for Caretta caretta in southern Kyparissia Bay ''. ec.europa.eu. European Commission. p. 1. Archived from the original on August 25, 2017. Retrieved 2017 - 11 - 18. Jump up ^ `` Zakynthos Airport ''. Zakynthos Internet Services. 2010. Archived from the original on May 27, 2010. Retrieved April 12, 2010. Night flights are banned on Zakynthos, so as not to disturb the endangered Caretta Carettaturtles which nest their eggs on the beaches of Zante. Jump up ^ Murray, T. and Doyle, T. 2013. Loggerhead Turtle ( Caretta caretta ( L. ) ) in Co. Wexford. Ir. Nat. J. 32 : 153 -- 154 ^ Jump up to : Spotila 2004, p. 172 Jump up ^ Spotila 2004, p. 174 Jump up ^ Conant 2009, p. 11 ^ Jump up to : Ernst 2009, p. 39 Jump up ^ Ross, Steve ( 2009 ). `` Sargassum : A Complex ' Island ' Community at Sea ''. NOAA. Archived from the original on May 27, 2010. Retrieved May 27, 2010. ^ Jump up to : Ernst 2009, p. 44 Jump up ^ Ernst 2009, p. 43 ^ Jump up to : Ernst 2009, p. 40 Jump up ^ Halpin, Luke R ; Seminoff, Jeffrey A ; Hanke, Gavin F ( 2018 - 03 - 01 ). `` First Photographic Evidence of a Loggerhead Sea Turtle ( Caretta caretta ) in British Columbia ''. Northwestern Naturalist. 99 ( 1 ) : 73 -- 75. doi : 10.1898 / NWN17 - 26.1. ISSN 1051 - 1733. ^ Jump up to : Schofield, Gail ; Katselidis, KA ; Pantis, JD ; Dimopoulos, P ; Hays, GC ( 2007 ). `` Female - female aggressions : structure of interaction and outcome in loggerhead sea turtles ''. Marine Ecology Progress Series. Inter-Research. 336 ( 1 ) : 267. doi : 10.3354 / meps336267. ISSN 1616 - 1599. Retrieved May 28, 2010. ^ Jump up to : Ernst 2009, p. 50 ^ Jump up to : Ernst 2009, p. 52 Jump up ^ Sabrina Trocini ( 2013 ). Health assessment and hatching success of two Western Australian loggerhead turtle ( Caretta caretta ) populations ( PDF ) ( Ph. D. ). Murdoch University. Jump up ^ Brandon T. Barton ( 2009 ). Cascading effects of predator removal on the ecology of sea turtle nesting beaches ( PDF ) ( Thesis ). University of Idaho. Jump up ^ Nick Atkinson ( September 27, 2008 ). `` Do n't Tread On Me ''. Conservation, University of Washington. Retrieved November 14, 2013. ^ Jump up to : Ernst 2009, p. 53 ^ Jump up to : Spotila 2004, p. 171 ^ Jump up to : National Research Council 1990, p. 62 ^ Jump up to : NOAA Fisheries ( 2010 ). `` Threats to Marine Turtles ''. Endangered marine animal preservation. NOAA Fisheries Office of Protected Resources. Archived from the original on May 27, 2010. Retrieved February 7, 2010. ^ Jump up to : Flint, Mark ( November 2009 ). `` Postmortem diagnostic investigation of disease in free - ranging marine turtle populations : a review of common pathologic findings and protocols ''. Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation. Archived from the original on May 27, 2010. Retrieved May 27, 2010. ^ Jump up to : Manire, Charles ( March 2008 ). `` Lungworm infection in three loggerhead sea turtles, Caretta caretta ''. Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine. ( subscription required ) ^ Jump up to : Spotila 2004, p. 177 ^ Jump up to : Miller 2003, p. 128 Jump up ^ Yntema 1982, p. 1013 ^ Jump up to : Fish and Wildlife Research Institute ( September 2009 ). `` Artificial Lighting and Sea Turtle Hatchling Behavior ''. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Coastal Carolina University. Archived from the original on May 27, 2010. Retrieved April 12, 2010. ^ Jump up to : Spotila 2004, p. 21 Jump up ^ Spotila 2004, p. 22 Jump up ^ Hochscheid, S. ; F. Bentivegna ; G.C. Hay ( 2005 ). `` First records of dive durations for a hibernating sea turtle ''. Biol. Lett. 1 ( 1 ) : 82 -- 6. doi : 10.1098 / rsbl. 2004.0250. PMC 1629053. PMID 17148134. Archived from the original on May 27, 2010. Retrieved April 12, 2010. ^ Jump up to : Avens, Larisa ( 2003 ). `` Use of multiple orientation cues by juvenile loggerhead sea turtles Caretta caretta ''. The Journal of Experimental Biology. The Company of Biologists. 206 ( 1 ) : 4317. doi : 10.1242 / jeb. 00657. Jump up ^ The relationship between loggerhead turtle ( Caretta caretta ) movement patterns and Mediterranean currents, BENTIVEGNA F. ( 1 ) ; VALENTINO F. ( 1 ) ; FALCO P. ( 2 ) ; ZAMBIANCHI E. ( 2 ) ; HOCHSCHEID S. ( 1 ) ; Marine biology, 2007, vol. 151, no5, pp. 1605 -- 1614 ( 10 page ( s ) ( article ) ) ( 1 p. 1 / 4 ) ^ Jump up to : Miller 2003, p. 125 ^ Jump up to : Spotila 2004, p. 16 ^ Jump up to : Miller 2003, p. 126 ^ Jump up to : Miller 2003, p. 127 ^ Jump up to : Spotila 2004, p. 170 ^ Jump up to : Manire, Charles ( 2008 ). `` Mating - induced ovulation in loggerhead sea turtles, Caretta caretta ''. Zoo Biology. ( subscription required ) ^ Jump up to : Zbinden, Judith ( September 2007 ). `` High frequency of multiple paternity in the largest rookery of Mediterranean loggerhead sea turtles ''. Molecular Ecology. ( subscription required ) Jump up ^ Pearce, D.E. ( 2001 ). `` Turtle Behavior Systems : Behavior, Sperm Storage, and Genetic Paternity ''. The Journal of Heredity. Archived from the original on May 27, 2010. Retrieved April 29, 2010. ^ Jump up to : Lasala, Jacob ; Harrison, J.S. ; Williams, K.L. ; Rostal, D.C. ( November 2013 ). `` Strong male - biased operational sex ratio in a breeding population of loggerhead turtles ( Caretta caretta ) inferred by paternal genotype reconstruction analysis ''. Ecology and Evolution. 3 ( 14 ) : 4736. doi : 10.1002 / ece3. 761. Jump up ^ Miller 2003, p. 131 Jump up ^ Miller 2003, p. 133 Jump up ^ Dodd 1988, p. 4 Jump up ^ Wynne 1999, p. 97 Jump up ^ Marquez 1990, p. 14 Jump up ^ James 2004, p. 581 Jump up ^ Witherington 2006, p. 12 ^ Jump up to : Spotila 2004, p. 167 Jump up ^ Spotila 2004, p. 178 ^ Jump up to : Aguirre, A. ; Susan C. Gardner ; Jesse C. Marsh ; Stephen G. Delgado ; Colin J. Limpus ; Wallace J. Nichols ( September 2006 ). `` Hazards Associated with the Consumption of Sea Turtle Meat and Eggs : A Review for Health Care Workers and the General Public '' ( PDF ). EcoHealth. 3 ( 3 ) : 141 -- 53. doi : 10.1007 / s10393 - 006 - 0032 - x. Retrieved 2010 - 03 - 02. Jump up ^ Dellios, Hugh ( September 18, 2005 ). `` Mexico Cracks Open Myth of Sea Turtle Eggs ''. Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on May 27, 2010. Retrieved March 16, 2010. Jump up ^ Craven, Kathryn ; Taylor, Judy ( September 11, 2007 ). `` Marine Turtle Newsletter : Identification of Bacterial Isolates from Unhatched Loggerhead ( Caretta caretta ) Sea Turtle Eggs in Georgia, USA ''. Armstrong Atlantic State University, Dept. Biology. Archived from the original on May 28, 2010. Retrieved March 16, 2010. ^ Jump up to : Peckham, S. Hoyt ; Diaz, David Maldanado ; Walli, Andreas ; Ruiz, Georgita ; Crowder, Larry B. ; Nichols, Wallace J. ( October 2007 ). Allen, Colin, ed. `` Small - scale fisheries bycatch jeopardizes endangered Pacific loggerhead turtles ''. PLoS ONE. 2 ( 10 ) : e1041. Bibcode : 2007PLoSO... 2.1041 P. doi : 10.1371 / journal. pone. 0001041. PMC 2002513. PMID 17940605. Archived from the original on 2010 - 10 - 25. Retrieved 2010 - 10 - 25. ^ Jump up to : National Marine Fisheries 1998, p. 23 Jump up ^ National Research Council 1990, p. 114 Jump up ^ National Research Council 1990, p. 115 Jump up ^ Lorne 2007, p. 23 Jump up ^ N. Mrosovsky & Jane Provancha ( 1992 ). `` Sex ratio of hatchling loggerhead sea turtles : data and estimates from a 5 - year study ''. Canadian Journal of Zoology. 70 ( 3 ) : 530 -- 538. doi : 10.1139 / z92 - 080. Jump up ^ Janzen 1994, p. 7489 Jump up ^ Convention on Migratory Species ( 2004 ). `` Memorandum of Understanding concerning Conservation Measures for Marine Turtles of the Atlantic Coast of Africa ''. Convention on Migratory Species. UNEP / CMS Secretariat. Archived from the original on May 27, 2010. Retrieved 2010 - 05 - 26. The project aims to create a monitoring and protection network for nesting and feeding sites in close collaboration with local communities, fishermen, travel operators and coastal developers. Jump up ^ Convention on Migratory Species ( 2004 ). `` Memorandum of Understanding concerning Conservation Measures for Marine Turtles of the Indian Ocean and South - East Asia ''. Convention on Migratory Species. UNEP / CMS Secretariat. Archived from the original on May 28, 2010. Retrieved 2010 - 05 - 26. In the context of sustainable development, the conservation and management of marine turtles globally and within the Indian Ocean -- South - East Asian region presents a formidable challenge. Jump up ^ Bullock, Dusty ( 2008 ). `` What is the Sea Turtle Association of Japan ? ''. Sea Turtle Association of Japan. Sea Turtle Association of Japan. Archived from the original on May 27, 2010. Retrieved 2010 - 05 - 26. Our most important activities are counting nesting turtles, and marking them to enable discrimination, using consistent methods throughout Japan. Jump up ^ Rees, Alan ( 2005 ). `` Archelon, the Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece : 21 Years Studying and Protecting Sea Turtles ''. Archelon. British Chelonia Group. Archived from the original on May 30, 2010. Retrieved 2010 - 05 - 27. Archelon is involved with the turtles, not only through nest management and turtle rehabilitation, but also with stakeholders Jump up ^ Marine Research Foundation ( 2004 ). `` Ongoing Conservation Initiatives ''. Marine Research Foundation. Marine Research Foundation. Archived from the original on May 30, 2010. Retrieved 2010 - 05 - 29. This project aimed to continue to build on Oman 's programme to conduct surveys, develop survey protocols and provide equipment and material and personnel support for Government rangers Jump up ^ European Environment Agency ( 2010 ). `` Legislative instrument details : Cartagena Convention ''. European Environment Agency. European Environment Agency. Archived from the original on May 31, 2010. Retrieved 2010 - 05 - 31. The Cartagena Convention requires Parties to adopt measures aimed at preventing, reducing and controlling pollution of the following areas : pollution from ships ; pollution caused by dumping ; pollution from sea - bed activities ; airborne pollution ; and pollution from land - based sources and activities. Jump up ^ seaturtle.org ( 2009 - 12 - 11 ). `` Job Board ''. seaturtle.org. seaturtle.org. Archived from the original on May 28, 2010. Retrieved 2010 - 05 - 27. collect biopsy samples for DNA studies, cage nests to prevent egg depredation, record location of nests and non-nesting emergences. Jump up ^ Conant 2009, p. 13 Jump up ^ Whitmeyer, Steven J. ( 2009 ). Field geology education : historical perspectives and modern approaches. The Geological Society of America. p. 238. ISBN 978 - 0 - 8137 - 2461 - 4. Jump up ^ `` State symbols / Fla. cracker horse / loggerhead turtle ( SB 230 ) ''. Florida House of Representatives. 2008. Archived from the original on 2011 - 10 - 08. Retrieved 2011 - 08 - 10. Jump up ^ Shearer 1994, p. 323 Bibliography Bowen, B.W. ; Abreu - Grobois, F.A. ; Balazs, G.H. ; Kamezaki, N ; Limpus, C.J. ; Ferl, R.J. ( 1995 ). `` Trans - Pacific migrations of the loggerhead turtle ( Caretta caretta ) demonstrated with mitochondrial DNA markers '' ( PDF ). Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 92 ( 9 ) : 3731 -- 4. Bibcode : 1995PNAS... 92.3731 B. doi : 10.1073 / pnas. 92.9. 3731. PMC 42035. PMID 7731974. Archived from the original ( PDF ) on May 30, 2010. Retrieved May 27, 2010. Committee on Sea Turtle Conservation, National Research Council ( 1990 ). Decline of the Sea Turtles : Causes and Prevention. The National Academies Press. ISBN 0 - 309 - 04247 - X. Archived from the original on May 30, 2010. Retrieved May 28, 2010. Conant, Therese A. ; Peter H. Dutton ; Tomoharu Eguchi ; Sheryan P. Epperly ; Christina C. Fahy ; Matthew H. Godfrey ; Sandra L. MacPherson ; Earl E. Possardt ; Barbara A. Schroeder ; Jeffrey A. Seminoff ; Melissa L. Snover ; Carrie M. Upite & Blair E. Witherington ( August 2009 ). Loggerhead Sea Turtle ( Caretta caretta ) 2009 Status Review Under the U.S. Endangered Species Act ( PDF ). Loggerhead Biological Review Team. Archived from the original ( PDF ) on May 30, 2010. Retrieved May 27, 2010. Dodd, Kenneth ( May 1988 ). `` Synopsis of the Biological Data on the Loggerhead Sea Turtle Caretta caretta ( Linnaeus 1758 ) '' ( PDF ). Biological Report. FAO Synopsis NMFS - 149, United States Fish and Wildlife Service. 88 ( 14 ) : 1 -- 83. Archived from the original ( PDF ) on May 30, 2010. Retrieved May 27, 2010. Ernst, C.H. ; Lovich, J.E. ( 2009 ). Turtles of the United States and Canada ( 2nd ed. ). JHU Press. ISBN 978 - 0 - 8018 - 9121 - 2. Retrieved May 27, 2010. James, Michael C. ; Kathleen Martin ; Peter H. Dutton ( 2004 ). `` Hybridization Between a Green Turtle, Chelonia mydas, and Loggerhead Turtle, Caretta caretta, and the First Record of a Green Turtle in Atlantic Canada '' ( PDF ). Canadian Field - Naturalist. Archived from the original ( PDF ) on 2010 - 06 - 02. Retrieved 2010 - 06 - 02. Janzen, Fredric J ( August 1994 ). `` Climate change and temperature - dependent sex determination inreptiles '' ( PDF ). PopulationBiology. 91 ( 16 ) : 7487 -- 7490. Retrieved 2010 - 06 - 03. Lorne, Jacquelyn ; Michael Salmon ( 2007 - 04 - 11 ). `` Effects of exposure to artificial lighting on orientation of hatchling sea turtles on the beach and in the ocean '' ( PDF ). Endangered Species Research. 3 : 23. doi : 10.3354 / esr003023. Archived from the original ( PDF ) on May 30, 2010. Retrieved May 27, 2010. Márquez, R. ( 1990 ). `` Sea Turtles of the World : an Annotated and Illustrated Catalogue of Sea Turtle Species Known to Date ''. FAO Fisheries Synopsis. 11 ( 125 ). Retrieved 2010 - 05 - 31. Miller, Jeffrey D. ; Limpus, Collin J. ; Godfrey, Matthew H. ( 2003 ). `` Nest site selection, oviposition, eggs, development, hatching and emergence of loggerhead turtles '' ( PDF ). In Bolten, Alan ; Witherington, Blair. Loggerhead Turtles. Smithsonian Books. pp. 125 -- 143. ISBN 1588341364. Retrieved February 28, 2013. National Marine Fisheries Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ( 1998 ). `` Recovery Plan for U.S. Pacific Populations of the Loggerhead Turtle ( Caretta caretta ) '' ( PDF ). Silver Spring, MD. : National Marine Fisheries Service. Archived from the original ( PDF ) on 2010 - 10 - 25. Retrieved 2010 - 10 - 25. Peaker, Malcolm ; Linzell, J. ( 1975 ). Salt Glands in Birds and Reptiles. ISBN 0 - 521 - 20629 - 4. Shearer, Benjamin F. ; Shearer, Barbara S. ( 1994 ). State names, seals, flags, and symbols ( 2nd ed. ). Westport, Connecticut : Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 0 - 313 - 28862 - 3. Spotila, James R. ( 2004 ). Sea Turtles : A Complete Guide to their Biology, Behavior, and Conservation. Baltimore, Maryland : The Johns Hopkins University Press and Oakwood Arts. ISBN 0 - 8018 - 8007 - 6. Valente, A.L.S. ( 2007 ). Diagnostic Imaging of the Loggerhead Sea Turtle, Caretta Caretta ( PDF ). ISBN 978 - 8469166239. Archived from the original ( PDF ) on May 30, 2010. Retrieved May 27, 2010. Witherington, Blair ( 2006 ). `` Ancient Origins ''. Sea Turtles -- An Extraordinary Natural History of Some Uncommon Turtles. St Paul, Minnesota : MBI Publishing Company. ISBN 0 - 7603 - 2644 - 4. Retrieved 2010 - 06 - 04. Wynne, Kate ; Schwartz, Malia ( 1999 ). Guide to Marine Mammals and Turtles of the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. illustrated by Garth Mix ( 2nd ed. ). Rhode Island Sea Grant. ISBN 0 - 938412 - 43 - 4. Yntema, C. ; N. Mrosovsky ( 1982 ). `` Critical periods and pivotal temperatures for sexual differentiation in loggerhead sea turtles '' ( PDF ). Canadian Journal of Zoology. 60 ( 5 ) : 1012 -- 1016. doi : 10.1139 / z82 - 141. ISSN 1480 - 3283. Archived from the original ( PDF ) on 30 May 2010. Retrieved 25 May 2010. Further reading Bolten, Alan B. ; Witherington, Blair E. ( 2003 ). Loggerhead Sea Turtles. Washington, D.C. : Smithsonian Books. ISBN 1 - 58834 - 136 - 4. Lutz, Peter L. ; Musick, John A. ; Wyneken, Jeanette ( 1997 ). The Biology of Sea Turtles. 1. Boca Raton, Florida : CRC Press. ISBN 0 - 8493 - 8422 - 2. Lutz, Peter L. ; Musick, John A. ; Wyneken, Jeanette ( 2003 ). The Biology of Sea Turtles. 2. Boca Raton, Florida : CRC Press. ISBN 0 - 8493 - 8422 - 2. Gulko, D. ; Eckert, K.L. ( 2004 ). Sea Turtles : An Ecological Guide. Honolulu, Hawai'i : Mutual Publishing. ISBN 1 - 56647 - 651 - 8. External links Wikispecies has information related to Caretta caretta Wikimedia Commons has media related to Loggerhead sea turtle. A 3D animation of a sea turtle. Loggerhead sea turtle media at ARKive Turtle family Cheloniidae Genus Species of the subfamily Carettinae Caretta Loggerhead sea turtle Lepidochelys Kemp 's ridley sea turtle Olive ridley sea turtle Genus Species of the subfamily Cheloniinae Chelonia Green sea turtle Eretmochelys Hawksbill sea turtle Natator Flatback sea turtle Phylogenetic arrangement based on turtles of the world 2012 update : annotated checklist. Extinct turtles not included. Extant turtle taxonomy Kingdom : Animalia Phylum : Chordata Class : Reptilia Subclass : Anapsida Order : Chelonii or Testudines Suborder Superfamily Family Subfamily Genus Cryptodira Chelydridae Chelydra Macrochelys Chelonioidea Cheloniidae Carettinae Caretta Lepidochelys Cheloniinae Chelonia Eretmochelys Natator Dermochelyidae Dermochelys Kinosternoidea Dermatemydidae Dermatemys Kinosternidae Kinosterninae Kinosternon Sternotherus Staurotypinae Claudius Staurotypus Testudinoidea Emydidae Deirochelyinae Chrysemys Deirochelys Graptemys Malaclemys Pseudemys Trachemys Emydinae Clemmys Emys Glyptemys Terrapene Geoemydidae Geoemydinae Batagur Cuora Cyclemys Geoclemys Geoemyda Hardella Heosemys Leucocephalon Malayemys Mauremys Melanochelys Morenia Notochelys Orlitia Pangshura Sacalia Siebenrockiella Vijayachelys Rhinoclemmydinae Rhinoclemmys Platysternidae Platysternon Testudinidae Aldabrachelys Astrochelys Chelonoidis Chersina Cylindraspis Geochelone Gopherus Homopus Indotestudo Kinixys Malacochersus Manouria Psammobates Pyxis Stigmochelys Testudo Trionychia Carettochelyidae Carettochelys Trionychidae Cyclanorbinae Cyclanorbis Cycloderma Lissemys Trionychinae Amyda Apalone Chitra Dogania Nilssonia Palea Pelochelys Pelodiscus Rafetus Trionyx Pleurodira Chelidae Chelinae Acanthochelys Chelus Mesoclemmys Phrynops Platemys Rhinemys Chelodininae Chelodina Elseya Elusor Emydura Flaviemys Myuchelys Pseudemydura Rheodytes Hydromedusinae Hydromedusa Pelomedusidae Pelomedusa Pelusios Podocnemididae Erymnochelys Peltocephalus Podocnemis Phylogenetic arrangement based on turtles of the world 2012 update : annotated checklist. Extinct turtles not included. Portal Book See also List of Testudines families Taxon identifiers Wd : Q192095 ARKive : caretta - caretta EoL : 1056566 EPPO : KARTCA Fauna Europaea : 214780 Fossilworks : 173404 GBIF : 2442178 iNaturalist : 39665 ITIS : 173830 IUCN : 3897 NCBI : 8467 NZOR : e7eaeae6 - 87ea - 42a7 - 8b58 - de6f2f580b65 Species+ : 10836 SPRAT : 1763 uBio : 7005384 WoRMS : 137205 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Loggerhead_sea_turtle&oldid=839084109 '' Categories : IUCN Red List vulnerable species Caretta Sea turtles Turtles of Asia Turtles of North America Reptiles of Colombia Reptiles of Costa Rica Reptiles of Guatemala Reptiles of Honduras Reptiles of Japan Reptiles of Mexico Reptiles of Nicaragua Reptiles of Pakistan Reptiles of Panama Reptiles of Western Australia Fauna of Cuba Fauna of Iran Fauna of Oman Fauna of the United Arab Emirates Reptiles described in 1758 Endangered fauna of Australia EPBC Act endangered biota Nature Conservation Act endangered biota Endangered fauna of North America Turtles of Australia Hidden categories : Pages containing links to subscription - only content Featured articles Articles with ' species ' microformats ARKive links Talk Contents About Wikipedia Wikispecies Afrikaans Asturianu Azərbaycanca বাংলা Български Brezhoneg Català Cebuano Čeština Corsu Cymraeg Deutsch Ελληνικά Español Euskara فارسی Français Galego 한국어 Hrvatski Italiano עברית Кыргызча Latina Lietuvių Magyar Bahasa Melayu Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Norsk nynorsk پنجابی Polski Português Русский Sardu Shqip Sicilianu Simple English Slovenčina Slovenščina Српски / srpski Suomi Svenska Tagalog தமிழ் ไทย Türkçe Українська Tiếng Việt Winaray Zazaki 中文 45 more Edit links This page was last edited on 1 May 2018, at 04 : 28. 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Question: what is the classification of a loggerhead sea turtle
Answer: polymorphic