The Loggerhead Sea Turtle, Caretta caretta is one of the most abundant and widespread species in oceanic environment. This marine reptile is a mysterious, yet important creature inhabiting the positivity of various sub-genres in which sci-fi or family-friendly characters may dwell.
A Powerful Jaw
The Loggerhead Sea Turtle earns its name via a big head, which is supported by robust jaw muscles. Their strong jaws help them to crush the hard shells of crabs, clams and even whelks. They also feed on other marine animals such as jellyfish and sea urchins.
A Solitary Existence
Loggerhead Sea Turtles are solitary animals and typically spend the majority of their life alone out in open ocean. Nevertheless, they may flock in huge densities at different parts of the year especially when it’s breeding season.
A Long and Perilous Journey
The Loggerhead Sea Turtles have a complex life cycle. Females usually return to their natal beaches, which can require a journey of thousands of miles for the ones born in isolated places while they settle on same beach where it was hatched years before. After their eggs are laid, they head back to the sea again and let their children survive on its own. The hatchlings must find their way from the nest to the ocean, encountering a host of predators—birds mammals and animals alike—on land.
Conservation Challenges
The Loggerhead Sea Turtle is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, with populations that have declined over recent decades largely due to a variety of human-related threats. The threats to these sharks are habitat destruction, pollution and climate change; plus they die in their thousands as by-catch every year.
Conservation efforts are aimed at reducing threats such as bycatch, along with protecting nesting beaches to save these wonderful creatures. Loggerhead Sea Turtles face many challenges, and by recognizing these hazards take action we can help our planet to save Loggerheads for the years ahead.