Seven species of sea turtles can be found around the world. They inhabit temperate, subtropical and tropical waters of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Five species of sea turtles occur in the Azores
Loggerhead
Caretta caretta
The most abundant species in Azorean waters. Individuals are exclusively juveniles originating mainly from nesting beaches in Florida, USA. From shortly after hatching of the eggs until 15 years of age, the loggerhead sea turtle demonstrates a strictly oceanic behavior.
Scientific name ≡ Caretta caretta
Common name ≡ Loggerhead
Conservation status ≡ Listed as Vulnerable under the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species; Listed as Threatened or Endangered under the U.S. Federal Endangered Species Act
Size ≡ Between 8.5 and 82 cm of curved carapace length in the Azores; adults are approx. 1m
Weight ≡ Average of 14kg in the Azores; adult weight between 70 and 170kg
Diet ≡ Oceanic stage juveniles feed mainly on gelatinous organisms such as the Portuguese man-of-war (Physalia physalis); adults prey mainly on hard-shelled organisms such as crabs, molluscs and other invertebrates
Green turtle
Chelonia mydas
Occasional species in the Azores, the second most sighted but much less frequently compared to the loggerhead sea turtle. Has a cryptic behavior (i.e. spend more time underwater than on the surface) and can be found in coastal habitats near the islands.
Scientific name ≡ Chelonia mydas
Common name ≡ Green turtle
Conservation status ≡ Listed as Threatenedunder the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species; Listed as Threatened or Endangered under the U.S. Federal Endangered Species Act
Size ≡ Between 12 and 63.5cm of curved carapace length in the Azores; adults between 83 and 114cm; maximum length recorded was 152cm
Weight ≡ adults weight between 110 and 190kg
Diet ≡ changes during its life; younger individuals feed on small invertebrates and algae; adults are strictly herbivorous
Leatherback
Dermochelys coriacea
The largest sea turtle species occurring in the Azores yet sightings of this species are not very frequent.
Scientific name ≡ Dermochelys coriacea
Common name ≡ Leatherbackr
Conservation status ≡ Listed as Vulnerable under the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species; Listed as Endangered under the U.S. Federal Endangered Species Act
Size ≡ Between 130 and 183 cm; maximum length recorded was 305 cm from tip of the beak to the tip of the tail
Weight ≡ adults weight between 300 and 500kg
Diet ≡ feed almost exclusively on jellyfish
Hawksbill
Eretmochelys imbricata
There are a few records of this species in the Azores in the last decades.
Scientific name ≡ Eretmochelys imbricata
Common name ≡ Hawksbill
Conservation status ≡ Listed as Critically Endangered under the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species; Listed as Endangered under the U.S. Federal Endangered Species Act
Size ≡ adults between 70 and 89cm of carapace length; one of the smaller sea turtle species
Weight ≡ adults weight between 46 and 70kg
Diet ≡ sponges, anemones, squid and shrimp
Kemp’s Ridley
Lepidochelys kempii
There are a few records of this species in the Azores in the last decades.
Scientific name ≡ Lepidochelys kempii
Common name ≡ Kemp’s Ridley
Conservation status ≡ Listed as Critically Endangered under the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species; Listed as Endangered under the U.S. Federal Endangered Species Act
Size ≡ adults between 58 and 66cm of carapace length
Weight ≡ adults weight between 32 and 49kg
Diet ≡ crabs, clams, mussels, anemones, squid, shrimp, jellyfish and sea urchins