Lifespan is estimated to be 50 years or more. Federally and state endangered. The Kemp's ridley sea turtle has often been confused with the larger but similar-looking loggerhead turtle. The triangular gray head has a hooked beak. The paddlelike limbs have 1 claw on the front flippers and 2 claws on the back flippers.
Hatchlings are black on both sides.
The Kemp's ridley ranges from Nova Scotia and Newfoundland south to Bermuda and west through the Gulf of Mexico. Nesting adults are usually concentrated in the Gulf of Mexico, while juvenile turtles may extend along the Atlantic coast of the United States. The species is infrequently observed on the shores of western Europe. The turtles nest from April to June on beaches in Tamaulipas, Mexico. Occasionally, they nest on Padre Island, Texas.