Sea Turtles

Loggerhead sea turtles inhabit estuaries, lagoons, bays and ship channels in warm and temperate seas and oceans worldwide. Known nesting grounds for this species are located in the wider Caribbean, Southeastern United States, the Yucatan in Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama and Columbia, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Cuba, Brazil, Laganas and Kalimaki in Greece and in Dalyan beach in Turkey.

Sexual maturity is reached somewhere between 15 to 20 years of age. Like most species of sea turtles, adult males differ in appearance from females in having a much larger and stronger tail. The pair breeds at sea and the female comes ashore to nest. In the U.S., loggerheads nest during the months of April to July. Generally, 105 to 120 eggs are laid per clutch. A single female may lay several clutches per season. Some nest every year, others nest in alternate years. Egg incubation ranges from 55 to 60 days. Like most sea turtles, it nests at night. This species is primarily carnivorous and feeds on a variety of crabs, jellyfish, shellfish and sponges. Some loggerheads bury themselves in the mud during the winter months. Dredges excavating ship channels frequently injure or kill the dormant turtles.