Olive Ridley Turtle
Olive Ridley Turtle
Lepidochelys olivacea
Protected Status
ESA Endangered
Mexico's Pacific coast breeding populations
ESA Threatened
All other populations
CITES Appendix I
Throughout Its Range
Quick Facts
Weight
100 pounds
Lifespan
Unknown
Length
22 to 31 inches
Threats
Harvest,
Entanglement,
Marine debris,
Disease,
Chemical pollution,
Noise,
Habitat degradation and loss
Location
Pacific Islands,
Southeast,
West Coast
About the Species
The olive ridley sea turtle is considered the most abundant sea turtle in the world, with an estimated 800,000 nesting females annually. It gets its name from the olive coloration of its heart-shaped top shell (carapace). Their nesting behavior is called "arribada" nesting, where large groups gather and come ashore and nest all at once. This nesting behavior makes the olive ridley sea turtle vulnerable to harvest of eggs and even adult turtles.
The breeding populations on the Pacific Coast of Mexico are listed as endangered and all other populations are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
NOAA Fisheries is committed to conserving and protecting olive ridley sea turtles. Our scientists and partners use a variety of innovative techniques to study and protect this species.
Protected Status
ESA Endangered
- Mexico's Pacific coast breeding populations
ESA Threatened
- All other populations
CITES Appendix I
- Throughout Its Range
Scientific Classification
| Kingdom | Animalia | Phylum | Chordata | Class | Reptilia | Order | Testudines | Family | Cheloniidae | Genus | Lepidochelys | Species | olivacea |
|---|
