Ribs
Fat
CONSERVATION STATUS Esophagus
Critically endangered
Endangered
Vulnerable
Insufficient data
Shell length 3.5 ft (maximum)
Scute
3.1 ft
200 ft
Female
Claw
1 in
Scute
Rib
Stomach
Liver
4 ft
Brain
500 ft
PRIMARY ADULT DIET
Invertebrate
Marine plant
Horseshoe crab
Sponge
Crustacean
Mollusk
Fish
2.1 ft
Diet Maximum diving depth
585 ft
160 ft
Lungs
INDIANOCEAN
PACIFICOCEAN
PACIFICOCEAN
ATLANTICOCEAN
SOUTHAMER.
AMERICANORTH EUROPE
ANTARCTICA
AUS.
ASIA
EQUATOR AFRICA
Population athighest risk
Range
Nestingarea
FERNANDO G. BAPTISTA, JOHN KAPPLER, DIANA MARQUES, AND EVE CONANT, NGM STAFF; MESA SCHUMACHER SOURCES: JEANETTE WYNEKEN, FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY; BRIAN HUTCHINSON, RODERIC MAST, OCEANIC SOCIETY
SEA SURVIVORS
HARD SHELL
Sea turtles have navigated the oceans since the time of the dinosaurs
more than 100 million years ago. Today all seven species are under threat
at every life stage because of human activities, from accidental capture in
fishing nets to overharvesting of eggs and widespread plastic pollution.
Six of the seven species have hard shells fused to their ribs and over-
laid with keratin scutes. They also have claws on their flippers.
Illustrations in approximate,
relative scale
All sea turtles have glands around the eyes
to remove excess salt from their bodies.
Interlocking scutes pre-vent water loss and cover
flattened, fused ribs that separate at the tips.
Adult males can be identified by their
long tails, which hold sex organs.
Front flippers act as wings for propulsion.
Rudder-like hind feet stabilize and steer.
The green turtle’s serrated beak helps
tear marine plants.
KEMP’S RIDLEYLepidochelys kempii
Accidental capture and egg overhar-vesting have made the smallest sea
turtle the world’s most threatened.
LOGGERHEADCaretta caretta
The most abundant sea turtle in the U.S. is named for its giant head. Its
strong jaws can crack conch shells.
FLATBACKNatator depressus
The flatback makes the shortest migra-tion: around Australian waters. It has a
nearly flat body with flared edges.
GREEN Chelonia mydas
Named for a layer of green fat under their shell, green turtles start as omni-
vores before turning into herbivores.