Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle, one of two surviving species in the genus Lepidochelys, is found in Mexico and the United States. This rare species is the smallest sea turtle in the world.
| Kingdom |
Animalia |
| Phylum |
Chordata |
| Class |
Reptilia |
| Order |
Testudines |
| Suborder |
Cryptodira |
| Clade |
Americhelydia |
| Family |
Cheloniidae |
| Genus |
Lepidochelys |
| Scientific Name |
Lepidochelys kempii |
| Other Names |
Atlantic Ridley Sea Turtle |
| Size |
Up to 75 cm (30 in) |
| Weight |
Up to 50 kg (110 lb) |
| Color |
Olive-gray upper shell with a creamy-white underside |
| Distribution |
Mexico, United States |
| Habitat |
Shallow inshore waters close to the coast |
| Diet |
Mollusks, crustaceans, jellyfish, crabs, fish, algae, sea urchins |
| Hibernation Fact |
Hibernates in winter |
| Predators |
Adults are preyed upon by coyotes, skunks, and raccoons while hatchlings fall prey to ghost crabs, gulls, and other sea birds |
| Breeding Season |
April to August; reaching peak in May and June |
| Mode of Reproduction |
Oviparous (egg laying) |
| Clutch Size |
Around 110 eggs |
| Incubation Period |
45 to 70 days |
| Reproductive Age |
10 to 12 years of age |
| Average Lifespan |
May live for 30 years and perhaps up to 50 years |
| IUCN Conservation Status |
Critically Endangered |
Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle Pictures Gallery
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Atlantic Ridley Sea Turtle
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Kemp Ridley Sea Turtle Habitat
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Kemp Ridley Sea Turtle
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Kemp Ridley Sea Turtles
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Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle Baby
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Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle Shell
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Kemps Ridley Sea Turtle
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Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle
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Kemps Ridley Sea Turtles
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Lepidochelys Kempii
