Olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea)

Listing Status: Endangered and Threatened

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) are joint lead Federal agencies responsible for managing this species; the FWS manages the species on land, while NMFS manages the species in water. The information on this page displays mostly FWS data; for additional information on this species, including NMFS regulatory actions such as critical habitat designation or recovery planning, please visit the National Marine Fisheries website (https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species-directory/threatened-endangered).

General Information

The olive ridley was named for the olive color of its heart-shaped shell and is one of the smallest of the sea turtles, with adults reaching 2 to 2.5 feet in length and weighing 80 to 110 pounds. The species may be identified by the uniquely high and variable numbers of vertebral and costal scutes. Although some individuals have only five pairs of costals, in nearly all cases some division of costal scutes occurs, so that as many as six to nine pairs may be present. In addition, the vertebral scutes also show frequent division, as do the scales on the dorsal surface of the head. The prefrontal scales, however, typically number two pairs. Existing reports suggest that the olive ridley's diet includes crabs, shrimp, rock lobsters, jellyfish, and tunicates. In some parts of the world, algae has been reported as its principal food.

Population detail

The following populations are being monitored: Olive ridley sea turtle

Current Listing Status Summary

» Range Information

Current Range
Last Updated: 10-21-2015 - Wherever found, except when listed as endangered under 50 CFR 224.101
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* For consultation needs do not use only this current range map, please use IPaC.

Current range maps are only shown within the jurisdictional boundaries of the United States of America. The species may also occur outside this region.

  • Breeding colony populations on Pacific coast of Mexico

    Listing status: Endangered

    • States/US Territories in which this population is known to or is believed to occur: 
    • US Counties in which this population is known to or is believed to occur: View All
    • USFWS Refuges in which this population is known to occur: 
    • Countries in which this population is known to occur: Mexico
  • Wherever found, except when listed as endangered under 50 CFR 224.101

    Listing status: Threatened

    • States/US Territories in which this population is known to or is believed to occur: California, Hawaii, Oregon
    • US Counties in which this population is known to or is believed to occur: View All
    • USFWS Refuges in which this population is known to occur: Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument
    • Countries in which this population is known to occur: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bangladesh, Benin, Brazil, Brunei, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Federated States of Micronesia, French Guiana, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Martinique, Mauritania, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar (Burma), Namibia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, United States, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen

» Candidate Information

No Candidate information available for this species.

No Candidate Assessments available for this species.

No Candidate Notice of Review Documents currently available for this species.

No Uplisting Documents currently available for this species.

» Federal Register Documents

Federal Register Documents

» Species Status Assessments (SSAs)

Species Status Assessments (SSAs)

No Species Status Assessments (SSA's) are currently available for this species.

Special Rule Publications

» Conservation Plans

No Conservation Plans currently available for this species.

» Petitions

No Petitions currently available for this species.

» Biological Opinions

To see all FWS Issued Biological Opinions please visit the BO Report.

» Life History

No Life History information has been entered into this system for this species.

» 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.

FWS Digital Media Library -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Digital Library is a searchable collection of selected images, historical artifacts, audio clips, publications, and video." +

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