1. ECOS
2. Species Profile for Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta)

Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta)

Listing Status:    and  

General Information

Loggerheads were named for their relatively large heads, which support powerful jaws and enable them to feed on hard-shelled prey, such as whelks and conch. The carapace (top shell) is slightly heart-shaped and reddish-brown in adults and sub-adults, while the plastron (bottom shell) is generally a pale yellowish color. The neck and flippers are usually dull brown to reddish brown on top and medium to pale yellow on the sides and bottom. Mean straight carapace length of adults in the southeastern U.S. is approximately 36 in (92 cm); corresponding weight is about 250 lbs (113 kg). On July 28, 1978, the Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service (Services) issued a final rule listing the loggerhead sea turtle as threatened throughout its worldwide range. On September 22, 2011, the Services determined that the loggerhead sea turtle is composed of 9 distinct population segments and listed four DPSs as threatened and five DPSs as endangered under the ESA. All but two of these DPSs are wholly foreign species.

Population detail

The FWS is currently monitoring the following populations of the Loggerhead sea turtle 

• Population location: South Pacific Ocean DPS - Loggerhead sea turtles originating from the South Pacific Ocean west of 67? W. Long., and east of 141? E. Long.

  Listing status:  Endangered

• Population location: Northeast Atlantic Ocean DPS - Loggerhead sea turtles originating from the Northeast Atlantic Ocean north of the equator, south of 60? N. Lat., and east of 40? W. Long., except in the vicinity of the Strait of Gibraltar where the eastern boundary is 5?36′ W. Long

  Listing status:  Endangered

• Population location: Mediterranean Sea DPS - Loggerhead sea turtles originating from the Mediterranean Sea east of 5?36′ W. Long.

  Listing status:  Endangered

• Population location: North Indian Ocean DPS - Loggerhead sea turtles originating from the North Indian Ocean north of the equator and south of 30? N. Lat

  Listing status:  Endangered

• Population location: North Pacific Ocean DPS - Loggerhead sea turtles originating from the North Pacific north of the equator and south of 60� N. Lat

  Listing status:  Endangered

  • States/US Territories in which this population is known to or is believed to occur:  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
    

• Population location: South Atlantic Ocean DPS - Loggerhead sea turtles originating from the South Atlantic Ocean west of 20? E. Long. and east of 67? W. Long.

  Listing status:  Threatened

  • USFWS Refuges in which this population is known to occur:  San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge
    

• Population location: Southwest Indian Ocean DPS - Loggerhead sea turtles originating from the Southwest Indian Ocean west of 80? E. Long. and east of 20? E. Long.

  Listing status:  Threatened

• Population location: Southeast Indo-Pacific Ocean DPS - Loggerhead sea turtles originating from the Southeast Indian Ocean east of 80? E. Long. and from the South Pacific Ocean west of 141? E. Long.

  Listing status:  Threatened

• Population location: Northwest Atlantic Ocean DPS - Loggerhead sea turtles originating from the Northwest Atlantic Ocean west of 40� W. Long

  Listing status:  Threatened

  • States/US Territories in which this population is known to or is believed to occur:  Alabama , Florida , Georgia , Louisiana , Mississippi , North Carolina , South Carolina , Texas , Virginia
  • 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:  Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, Egmont Key National Wildlife Refuge, J.N. 'Ding' Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Martin National Wildlife Refuge, Plum Tree Island National Wildlife Refuge
    

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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.