Species · GBIF taxon 2442153
Olive Ridley
Lepidochelys olivaceaAlso known as Pacific Ridley Sea Turtle, Olive Ridley
Olive ridley sea turtles are best known for their spectacular synchronized mass nestings, called arribadas, where tens of thousands of females storm the same beach over a few nights. These small, ocean-dwelling turtles sport a heart-shaped, olive-green carapace that helps them blend into deep tropical waters. They spend most of their lives in the open ocean, migrating thousands of miles between feeding grounds and nesting sites.
MarineMigratoryReptile
Licensed reference(c) Bernard Gagnon, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
- diet
- Omnivorous, feeding on crabs, shrimp, jellyfish, sea urchins, and marine plants
- family
- Cheloniidae
- threats
- Bycatch in commercial fisheries, marine debris, egg poaching, and coastal development
- life Span
- Up to 50 years
VU
Capable of delivering a painful bite if cornered or handled; observe quietly from a safe distance.
Vulnerable to extinction due to severe nesting beach disturbance, egg poaching, and accidental capture in fishing nets.
Keep beaches dark during nesting season, avoid approaching nesting females, and report any stranded turtles to local authorities.- Keep your distance: Stay at least 15 meters away from nesting females on beaches to avoid disrupting them.
- Avoid artificial lights: Turn off flashlights and camera flashes on nesting beaches, as light disorients hatchlings.
- Never touch: Do not handle nesting adults or hatchlings making their way to the ocean.