Classification / Names Common names | Synonyms | CoL | ITIS | WoRMS

Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range Ecology

Benthopelagic; oceanodromous (Ref. 1397); depth range 0 - 200 m (Ref. 1397), usually 0 - 40 m (Ref. 78527). Tropical; 12°C - 20°C (Ref. 1397); 61°N - 42°S, 180°W - 180°E (Ref. 1397)

Distribution Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Introductions

Circumglobal.

Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: L_m ?, range 74 - 92 cm Max length : 125 cm CL male/unsexed; (Ref. 417); common length : 100.0 cm CL male/unsexed; (Ref. 417)

Short description Morphology

In adults, the carapace in dorsal view is heart-shaped; its width about 76 to 86 percent of its length. Head large; broad and subtriangular; 23 to 28 percent of carapace length; with 2 pairs of prefrontal scales; and commonly one inter-prefrontal; horny beak very strong; comparatively thicker than in other sea turtles. Carapacial scutes: thin; but hard and very rough; commonly covered with barnacles. 5 pairs of laterals; the anterior touching the precentral scute; 5 centrals (neurals); and commonly 12 or 13 pairs of marginals; including the postcentral or pygal scute. Underneath the bridge of the plastron; 3 pairs of inframarginal scutes which rarely have pores. Fore flippers relatively short and thick; each with 2 visible claws on anterior margin; rear flippers with 2 or 3 claws. Hatchlings and juvenile turtles have blunt spines on the carapace scutes; forming 3 longitudinal keels that disappear during the juvenile stage. Color: Adults have constant dorsal pattern; easily recognizable by the reddish brown coloration; sometimes with dark streaks (South African turtles); that become orange-creamy on the flanks and yellow-creamy underneath. Hatchlings are dark brown dorsally with the flippers pale brown marginally and underneath; and the plastron usually is much paler.

Migratory (Ref. 417). Inhabits shallow thermocline at 50 m with strong thermal and chlorophyll gradients and surface convergent fronts (Ref. 78527), continental shores of warm seas and common in shallow waters (Ref. 1397) and brackish water estuaries (Ref. 417). Feed widely on variety of invertebrates especially bony fishes (Ref. 804). Nesting grounds associated with underwater "refuges": crevices in rocky or reef points, near to the nesting beaches. Nesting season occurs in summer and spring with variations according to the latitude and geographical characteristics of the coasts. Deposit 40 to 190 eggs on each occasion with a mean of 110 eggs and a maximum of 560 eggs per season. Reproductive cycle is 2 to 3 years; but in some, population may shift from 1 cycle to another (Ref. 1397).

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae

Nesting grounds associated with underwater "refuges": crevices in rocky or reef points, near to the nesting beaches. Summer and spring with variations according to the latitude and geographical characteristics of the coasts. Renesting frequency intervals of 2 weeks, depositing on each occasion 40 to 190 eggs. Mean of 110 eggs laid with a maximum of 560 eggs per season. Reproductive cycle is 2 to 3 years; but in some, population may shift from 1 cycle to another (Ref. 1397). Reproductive interval is much shorter for males compared to females (Ref. 86782).

Main reference References | Coordinator | Collaborators

Hirth, H.F. 1993. (Ref. 97534)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)

Vulnerable (VU) (A2b); Date assessed: 23 August 2015

CITES status (Ref. 108899)

Appendix I: International trade banned

CMS (Ref. 116361)

Appendix I & II: Endangered migratory species conserved through agreements

Threat to humans

Human uses

Fisheries: commercial
FAO - Fisheries: landings, species profile | FishSource | Sea Around Us

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Preferred temperature (Ref. 115969): 18 - 29.1, mean 27.4 (based on 4372 cells).

Resilience (Ref. 69278): Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (K=0.03-0.12; tm=21).

Vulnerability (Ref. 71543): Very high vulnerability (80 of 100).

Price category (Ref. 80766): Unknown.

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