While they’ve got an unusual name, loggerheads are one of the most common sea turtle types in the Mediterranean. They’re also the most abundant of the sea turtle species to nest in the States.
The loggerhead gets its name for its big head, which is needed to support its strong jaw muscles. This strong jaw is used to crack open into hard-shelled prey - but more on this later!
Size of Loggerhead Sea Turtles
The size of loggerhead sea turtles can range from 2.75 - 4 feet (84 - 122 cm). They also commonly weigh around 175 - 400 pounds (79 - 181 kg). Of course, there are still loggerhead turtles outside of this range. The heaviest loggerhead recorded was a mighty 1201.52 pounds (545 kg).
Where Do Loggerhead Sea Turtles Live??
A loggerhead sea turtle’s habitat can be in various places across the world, but they’re mainly located in subtropical and temperate climates in the following areas:
Oceans:
- Atlantic
- Pacific
- Indian
Seas:
- Mediterranean
They usually feed in shallow waters and around coastal bays and estuaries. They mate every 2 - 3 years and typically nest near where they hatched.
What Do Loggerhead Sea Turtles Eat?
Both juvenile and adult loggerheads eat a variety of bottom-dwelling prey, including mollusks, clams, crabs, shrimp, fish, sponges, sea urchins, squid, and octopuses. These turtles need their strong jaws to tuck into the harder-shelled prey on this list.
During migration, they might also eat jellyfish, floating mollusks, and more!
How Long Do Loggerhead Turtles Live For?
Loggerhead sea turtles can live long lives, up to 70 - 80 years, and some can live even longer than that! The female loggerheads start to mate once they’ve reached maturity, typically around 35 years old.
External threats like fishing and coastal developments can cut their life short.
Are Loggerhead Turtles Endangered?
Yes, loggerhead sea turtles are at risk of extinction in the wild. They’re protected by the Endangered Species Act, with nine distinct population segments listed as threatened or endangered.
Why are loggerhead turtles endangered? Factors connected to climate change and fishing threaten these turtles.
Across the world, hundreds of thousands of sea turtles become bycatch every year, accidentally caught up by shrimp trawl nets and longline hooks - including loggerheads. These nets and hooks may damage or drown the turtles.
Human developments on the coast also contribute to their endangerment, affecting loggerhead nesting beaches. Seawalls can impact a beach’s sand to the point where they’re unsuitable for nesting, while artificial lights can stop female loggerheads from coming up to nest.
Why is this bad? There’s more to loggerheads than meets the eye. These turtles play an essential role in the ocean’s ecological balance. How loggerhead turtles eat hard-shelled prey helps balance ocean floor sediments, as it recycles important nutrients.
These turtles are also homes for other plants and animals. Small colonies of species are carried on their shells, so threatening the loggerhead’s habitat also threatens the habitat of other species.
How to Save Loggerhead Sea Turtles
Everyone can do their bit to help protect loggerheads and other sea turtle species. These efforts include:
- Opt for seafood from suppliers that practice sustainable fishing methods.
- Volunteer in coast and beach clean-ups.
- When leaving the beach, take everything with you, fill in any holes, and destroy sand castles. This can help remove obstacles for loggerhead sea turtles looking to nest.
You must keep your distance if you come across a stranded loggerhead turtle. Don’t disturb the turtle with flash photography or other bright lights, and warn others around you to do the same. You should report all sightings to your nearest sea turtle rescue center, which will be able to give the turtle the support it needs.
Our SEA LIFE teams rescue and care for struggling turtles worldwide. Learn more about our turtle rescue and conservation efforts.
Meet Ted!
You can visit Ted, our loggerhead sea turtle, at SEA LIFE Orlando! Ted was initially involved in testing the Turtle Excluder Device (or…T.E.D.), built to protect turtles from getting caught up in fishing nets.
Several attempts were made to release Ted back into the wild, but every time, Ted would come back to the shore to see his human pals! So now, Ted lives in our SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium, where he gets to make even more human friends.
You can also meet our green sea turtle Chely during our Turtle Experience, a behind-the-scenes turtle tour with one of our aquarists.
