Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta)
Taxonomy:
Listing Status: and
General Information
Loggerheads were named for their relatively large heads, which support powerful jaws and enable them to feed on hard-shelled prey, such as whelks and conch. The carapace (top shell) is slightly heart-shaped and reddish-brown in adults and sub-adults, while the plastron (bottom shell) is generally a pale yellowish color. The neck and flippers are usually dull brown to reddish brown on top and medium to pale yellow on the sides and bottom. Mean straight carapace length of adults in the southeastern U.S. is approximately 36 in (92 cm); corresponding weight is about 250 lbs (113 kg). On July 28, 1978, the Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service (Services) issued a final rule listing the loggerhead sea turtle as threatened throughout its worldwide range. On September 22, 2011, the Services determined that the loggerhead sea turtle is composed of 9 distinct population segments and listed four DPSs as threatened and five DPSs as endangered under the ESA. All but two of these DPSs are wholly foreign species.
Population detail
The FWS is currently monitoring the following populations of the Loggerhead sea turtle
-
Population location: North Pacific Ocean DPS - Loggerhead sea turtles originating from the North Pacific north of the equator and south of 60 degrees N. Lat
Listing status: Endangered
-
Population location: Northeast Atlantic Ocean DPS - Loggerhead sea turtles originating from the Northeast Atlantic Ocean north of the equator, south of 60 degrees N. Lat., and east of 40 degrees W. Long., except in the vicinity of the Strait of Gibraltar where the eastern boundary is 5 degrees 36 minutes W. Long
Listing status: Endangered
-
Population location: North Indian Ocean DPS - Loggerhead sea turtles originating from the North Indian Ocean north of the equator and south of 30? N. Lat
Listing status: Endangered
-
Population location: Loggerhead sea turtles originating from the South Pacific south of the equator, north of 60 degrees S. Lat., west of 67 degrees W. Long., and east of 141 degrees E. Long.
Listing status: Endangered
-
Population location: Mediterranean Sea DPS - Loggerhead sea turtles originating from the Mediterranean Sea east of 5 degrees 36 minues W. Long.
Listing status: Endangered
-
Population location: Loggerhead sea turtles originating from the Southeast Indian Ocean south of the equator, north of 60 degrees S. Lat., and east of 80 degrees E. Long.; South Pacific Ocean south of the equator, north of 60degrees S. Lat., and west of 141 degrees E. Long
Listing status: Threatened
-
Population location: Loggerhead sea turtles originating from the South Atlantic Ocean south of the equator, north of 60 degrees S. Lat., west of 20 degrees E. Long., and east of 67 degrees W. Long
Listing status: Threatened
- USFWS Refuges in which this population is known to occur:
San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge
- USFWS Refuges in which this population is known to occur:
San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge
-
Population location: Loggerhead sea turtles originating from the Southwest Indian Ocean north of the equator, south of 30 degrees N. Lat., east of 20 degrees E. Long., and west of 80 degrees E. Long.
Listing status: Threatened
-
Population location: Northwest Atlantic Ocean DPS - Loggerhead sea turtles originating from the Northwest Atlantic Ocean west of 40 degrees W. Long
Listing status: Threatened
- States/US Territories in which this population is known to or is believed to occur: Alabama , Florida , Georgia , Louisiana , Mississippi , North Carolina , South Carolina , Texas , Virginia
- US Counties in which this population is known to or is believed to occur: View All
- USFWS Refuges in which this population is known to occur:
Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, Egmont Key National Wildlife Refuge, J.N. 'Ding' Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Martin National Wildlife Refuge, Plum Tree Island National Wildlife Refuge
Status | Date Listed | Lead Region | Where Listed |
---|---|---|---|
1978-07-23 | Southeast Region (Region 4) | North Pacific Ocean DPS - Loggerhead sea turtles originating from the North Pacific north of the equator and south of 60 degrees N. Lat | |
1978-07-23 | Foreign (Headquarters) | Northeast Atlantic Ocean DPS - Loggerhead sea turtles originating from the Northeast Atlantic Ocean north of the equator, south of 60 degrees N. Lat., and east of 40 degrees W. Long., except in the vicinity of the Strait of Gibraltar where the eastern boundary is 5 degrees 36 minutes W. Long | |
1978-07-23 | Foreign (Headquarters) | North Indian Ocean DPS - Loggerhead sea turtles originating from the North Indian Ocean north of the equator and south of 30? N. Lat | |
1978-07-23 | Foreign (Headquarters) | Loggerhead sea turtles originating from the South Pacific south of the equator, north of 60 degrees S. Lat., west of 67 degrees W. Long., and east of 141 degrees E. Long. | |
1978-07-23 | Foreign (Headquarters) | Mediterranean Sea DPS - Loggerhead sea turtles originating from the Mediterranean Sea east of 5 degrees 36 minues W. Long. | |
1978-07-23 | Foreign (Headquarters) | Loggerhead sea turtles originating from the Southeast Indian Ocean south of the equator, north of 60 degrees S. Lat., and east of 80 degrees E. Long.; South Pacific Ocean south of the equator, north of 60degrees S. Lat., and west of 141 degrees E. Long | |
1978-07-23 | Foreign (Headquarters) | Loggerhead sea turtles originating from the South Atlantic Ocean south of the equator, north of 60 degrees S. Lat., west of 20 degrees E. Long., and east of 67 degrees W. Long | |
1978-07-23 | Foreign (Headquarters) | Loggerhead sea turtles originating from the Southwest Indian Ocean north of the equator, south of 30 degrees N. Lat., east of 20 degrees E. Long., and west of 80 degrees E. Long. | |
1978-07-23 | Southeast Region (Region 4) | Northwest Atlantic Ocean DPS - Loggerhead sea turtles originating from the Northwest Atlantic Ocean west of 40 degrees W. Long |
» Federal Register Documents
» Recovery
Date | Title | Plan Action Status | Plan Status |
---|---|---|---|
2008-12-31 | Recovery Plan for the Northwest Atlantic Population of the Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta); Second Revision | View Implementation Progress | Final Revision 2 |
1998-01-12 | Recovery Plan for U.S. Pacific Populations of the Loggerhead Turtle | View Implementation Progress | Final Revision 1 |
Date | Citation Page | Title | Document Type |
---|---|---|---|
2008-05-30 | 73 FR 31066 31067 | Recovery Plan for the Northwest Atlantic Population of the Loggerhead Sea Turtle |
|
2009-01-16 | 74 FR 2995 | Recovery Plan for the Northwest Atlantic Population of the Loggerhead Sea Turtle |
|
Date | Title |
---|---|
2007-08-27 | Loggerhead sea turtle 5-yr review |
» Critical Habitat
Date | Citation Page | Title | Document Type | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|
2014-07-10 | 79 FR 39755 39854 | Designation of Critical Habitat for the Northwest Atlantic Ocean Distinct Population Segment of the Loggerhead Sea Turtle | Final Rule | Final designated |
2013-07-18 | 78 FR 42921 42927 | Designation of Critical Habitat for the Northwest Atlantic Ocean Distinct Population Segment of the Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta) | Proposed Rule | Not Required |
2013-03-25 | 78 FR 17999 18082 | Designation of Critical Habitat for the Northwest Atlantic Ocean Distinct Population Segment of the Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta) | Proposed Rule | Not Required |
To learn more about critical habitat please see http://ecos.fws.gov/crithab
» Conservation Plans
» Petitions
» Life History
No Life History information has been entered into this system for this species.
» Other Resources
NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.
ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.
FWS Digital Media Library -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Digital Library is a searchable collection of selected images, historical artifacts, audio clips, publications, and video.