Loggerhead [Caretta]

Description

Caretta is a genus that encompasses the loggerhead sea turtle, Caretta caretta, known for its large head and powerful jaw muscles, which are used to crush hard-shelled prey such as crabs and mollusks. These turtles have a reddish-brown carapace and a slightly lighter plastron. Loggerhead turtles inhabit the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, as well as the Mediterranean Sea. They are highly migratory and use a variety of habitats during their complex life cycle, including open ocean, coastal waters, and terrestrial nesting beaches. Loggerheads are considered vulnerable due to threats like bycatch in fishing gear, loss of nesting habitats, and pollution.

Species

Taxonomy