The loggerhead is readily identified by its reddish brown coloration and broad head. Young turtles are brown with light margins below. The front and back flippers have 2 claws. The loggerhead ranges through the North and South Atlantic, occasionally entering the Mediterranean Sea, from Newfoundland to the British Isles, and south to Argentina, the Canary Islands and the western coast of tropical Africa. Nesting also occurs on some beaches and bays in the Caribbean.
Loggerheads mate in offshore waters near beach nesting areas.
The females come onto the beaches at night, digging their nests above the high-tide mark. The reasons for this are unknown. The females usually produce 2 to 3 clutches per season. They are sexually mature at 6 to 7 years of age, and they nest every second or third year. Sea turtle populations have historically declined due to overharvesting for food and turtle products.