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Olive Ridley Sea Turtle (Lepodochelys olivacea)
The olive ridley sea turtle is similar to the kemp's ridley, but it has a thinner shell, and a smaller, more lightly
built skull. The upper shell is generally higher than the kemp's ridley
and has a greater variation in the number of scutes. The shell is
heart-shaped to round, and may be grey-brown, black or olive in color. As
adults, Kemp's and olive ridleys are the smallest of the sea turtles. They
weigh as much as 45 lilograms (100 pounds), with shells generally between
0.6 - 0.8 meters (24 and 30 inches) long. Both eggs and adults are heavily
exploited. Olive ridleys in Mexico have been overharvested for
international trade with Japan. There is evidence that the turtles are
often being captured in shrimp trawls and gill nets.
ESA Status: Endangered
To report a sea turtle sighting, stranding or death
please call our hotline: 1-800-628-9944
Hawksbill Sea Turtle
| Green Sea Turtle
Leatherback Sea Turtle | Loggerhead Sea Turtle |
Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle
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