Nesting Loggerhead Sea Turtles By Kelly Jean Sullivan

 

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In the United States, the Northwest Atlantic Ocean DPS of loggerhead turtles nests primarily along the Atlantic coast of Florida, South Carolina, Georgia, and North Carolina and along the Florida and Alabama coasts in the Gulf of Mexico. Total estimated nesting in the United States is more than 100,000 nests per year.

What are Loggerheads known for?

Facts. Loggerhead turtles are named for their large heads that support powerful jaw muscles, allowing them to crush hard-shelled prey like clams and sea urchins. They are less likely to be hunted for their meat or shell compared to other sea turtles

How many eggs do Loggerheads lay?

Females return to their nesting beach every two or more years (average 2.7 years) to lay an average of 4.1 clutches, one about every 14 days (Witherington et al. 2006). Each nest contains an average of 114 eggs 

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How long does it take a loggerhead to lay eggs?

If the female does reject the male loggerhead she will close her cloaca and swim to the bottom of the water (Duermit, 2007). After mating, females return to the beach they were born on for 12 to 17 days to lay their eggs (Drakes, 2012; Duermit, 2007)

Size: Typically 2.5 to 3.5 feet in carapace length (80 to 110 cm). Weight: Adult weigh between 155 and 375 pounds (70 to 170 kg). Diet: Primarily carnivorous and feed mostly on shellfish that live on the bottom of the ocean. They eat horseshoe crabs, clams, mussels, and other invertebrates