Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle
Lepidochelys kempii
Conservation Status
Critically EndangeredReptilia · Cheloniidae
About
Kemp's ridley sea turtle, also called commonly the Atlantic ridley sea turtle, Kemp's ridley turtle, and Kemp's ridley, is a species of turtle in the family Cheloniidae. L. kempii is the rarest species of sea turtle and is the world's most endangered species of sea turtle as well as the smallest. It is one of two living species in the genus Lepidochelys. The species L. kempii primarily occupies habitat around the Gulf of Mexico, though its migrations into the Atlantic Ocean are being affected by rising temperatures. Rising sea temperatures expand this species range, leaving them vulnerable to cold-shocking events when weather changes. Kemp's ridley sea turtle is listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), and conservation efforts are attempting to rebuild population numbers. Human activity, including habitat destruction, climate change, and oil spills, threaten populations.
Fun Fact
Kemp's ridley sea turtles are famous for their synchronized mass nesting called 'arribada' — thousands of females emerge simultaneously on a single Mexican beach to lay eggs.
Quick Facts
Habitat
Live on Talacre beach in North Wales.
Diet
Feeds on mollusks, crustaceans (such as floating crabs and shrimp), jellyfish, fish, algae or seaweed, and sea urchins.
Lifespan
To be updated
Threats
- Historical Mass Slaughter
- Shrimp Trawl Bycatch in Gulf of Mexico
- Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Legacy
- Beach Development and Lighting