Species Profile
Environmental Conservation Online System

Kemp's Ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys kempii)

Kingdom: Animalia
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Family: Cheloniidae

Listing Status:   

Announcements

2009-03-02 -- For more information see http://www.nps.gov/pais/naturescience/kridley.htm

General Information

The Kemp’s ridley turtle is one of the smallest of the sea turtles, with adults reaching about 2 feet in length and weighing up to 100 pounds. The adult Kemp’s ridley has an oval carapace that is almost as wide as it is long and is usually olive-gray in color. The carapace has five pairs of costal scutes. In each bridge adjoining the plastron to the carapace, there are four inframarginal scutes, each of which is perforated by a pore. The head has two pairs of prefrontal scales. Hatchlings are black on both sides. The Kemp’s ridley has a triangular-shaped head with a somewhat hooked beak with large crushing surfaces. This turtle is a shallow water benthic feeder with a diet consisting primarily of crabs.

Lead Region:  Southwest Region (Region 2)
Date Listed: Dec 2, 1970

  • States/US Territories in which the Kemp's Ridley sea turtle is known to occur:  Alabama , Connecticut , Delaware , Florida , Georgia , Louisiana , Maryland , Massachusetts , Mississippi , New Jersey , New York , North Carolina , Rhode Island , South Carolina , Texas , Virginia
  • USFWS Refuges in which the Kemp's Ridley sea turtle is known to occur:  ARANSAS/MATAGORDA ISLAND NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE COMPLEX , BRETON NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , CHASSAHOWITZKA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , DELTA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , EASTERN SHORE OF VIRGINIA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE  ... Show All Refuges
  • Countries in which the the Kemp's Ridley sea turtle is known to occur:  Mexico
  • For more information:  http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wild/species/ridley/

» Federal Register Documents

Most Recent Federal Register Documents (Showing 5 of 7 : view all)
Date Citation Page Title
03/23/1999 64 FR 14051 14077 (NOAA/NMFS) Endangered and Threatened Species; Regulations Consolidation; Final Rule
03/22/1991 56 FR 12185 12186 ETWP; Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle Critical Habitat Designation Petition; 56 FR 12185 12186
06/29/1987 52 FR 24244 24262 NOAA--Sea Turtle Conservation; Shrimp Trawling Requirements; 52 FR 24244- 24262
11/29/1978 43 FR 55806 55809 Proposed Determination of Critical Habitat for the for Kemp's Ridley and Loggerhead Sea Turtles
10/04/1978 43 FR 45905 45909 Proposed Determination of Critical Habitat for Kemp's Ridley and Loggerhead Sea Turtles
Most Recent Special Rule Publications (Showing 2 of 2 )
Date Citation Page Title
03/23/1999 64 FR 14051 14077 (NOAA/NMFS) Endangered and Threatened Species; Regulations Consolidation; Final Rule
06/29/1987 52 FR 24244 24262 NOAA--Sea Turtle Conservation; Shrimp Trawling Requirements; 52 FR 24244- 24262

» Recovery

Recovery Plan Information Search
Current Recovery Plan(s)
Date Title Plan Action Status Plan Status
08/21/1992 Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle View Implementation Progress Final Revision 1
Five Year Review
Date Title
08/24/2007 Kemp's ridley 5-yr review

» Critical Habitat

Current Critical Habitat Documents (Showing 2 of 2 )
Date Citation Page Title Document Type Status
11/29/1978 43 FR 55806 55809 Proposed Determination of Critical Habitat for the for Kemp's Ridley and Loggerhead Sea Turtles Proposed Rule Not Required
10/04/1978 43 FR 45905 45909 Proposed Determination of Critical Habitat for Kemp's Ridley and Loggerhead Sea Turtles Proposed Rule Not Required

To learn more about critical habitat please see http://criticalhabitat.fws.gov

» Conservation Plans

Habitat Conservation Plans (HCP) (learn more) (Showing 5 of 11 : view all)
HCP Plan Summaries
Crum, Blaine & Linda (ABM)
FML81,LLC (Greg MIller)
FML81A, LLC (Greg Miller)
Indian River County Sea Turtle
Roberds, George

» Petitions

Most Recent Petition Findings (Showing 1 of 1 )
Date Citation Page Title Finding
03/22/1991 56 FR 12185 12186 ETWP; Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle Critical Habitat Designation Petition; 56 FR 12185 12186
  • Notice 90-day Petition Finding, Not substantial

    • » Life History

    Habitat Requirements

    Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles occur in the open ocean and gulf waters. The females come ashore only to lay eggs.

    Food Habits

    Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles eat primarily crustaceans (crabs and shrimp) but also east clams, jellyfish, and fish.

    Movement / Home Range

    Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles occur in bays and coastal water of the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico.

    Reproductive Strategy

    Males spend their entire life in the water while the female comes ashore only to nest. A female will lay eggs during the day and return to the same nesting beach the next year. Females reach sexual maturity in 10-15 years. A female may lay as many as 100 eggs during the nesting season. Eggs hatch in 50-55 days and the hatchling return to the water. Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles usually nest on Texas Gulf Coast beaches from April to July.

    Other

    Kemp's Ridley sea turtles are 27 to 32 inches (68 to 82 centimeters) long and weigh approximately 75-100 pounds (33 to 45 kilograms). The carapace is dark gray to gray-green and the lower shell is creamy tan in color. The head and flippers are spotted.

    » Other Resources

    NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

    ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.

    Last updated: November 20, 2009