Lepidochelys kempii

(Rüppell, 1835)

Vernacular names
English : Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle
French : Tortue de Kemp

Classification
Class : Reptilia
Order : Testudines
Family : Cheloniidae
Notes : No subspecies known.

Identification
Smallest sea-turtle species reaching a length of 70 cm and a weight of less than 45 kg. Carapace is flattened and almost fully round. Coloration usually clear grey to olive grey although juveniles have a dark carapace. Parrot-like beak.

Range and habitat
The species nests on beaches in Southern Texas, Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico and in parts of Colombia. It mostly occurs in the Gulf of Mexico now. Lives mostly in shallow areas with high concentration of crabs.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : CRITICALLY ENDANGERED
CITES : Appendix I
Status : The world’s most endangered sea turtle with highly declining population and very small range. Main threats are overexploitation of eggs by collectors and mortality caused by trawl fisheries.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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