The Loggerhead Turtle ( Caretta caretta ) is a sea turtle found in oceans around the world. It is a marine reptile that belongs to the Cheloniidae family. The loggerhead turtle averages 90 cm (35 in) in length when fully grown, although a specimen of 213 cm (84 in) has been discovered. The average adult loggerhead turtle weighs 135 kg (300 lb),
The largest specimen found weighed 535 kg. The skin varies from yellow to brown, and the shell is reddish-brown. There are no visible differences between males and females until the turtles reach adulthood. Males can then be identified by their broader tails and shorter plastrons than those of females.
The loggerhead sea turtle is found in the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans, as well as the Mediterranean Sea. It is primarily found in salt waters and estuaries. Females emerge from the water only to lay eggs on the beach. The loggerhead sea turtle has a low reproductive rate; females lay an average of four clutches and then go into a dormant state, not laying eggs for two to three years. The loggerhead sea turtle reaches sexual maturity at 17 to 33 years of age and has a life expectancy of 46 to 67 years.
The loggerhead is omnivorous, feeding primarily on bottom-dwelling invertebrates. Its large, powerful jaws are an effective tool for dismembering its prey.
Young turtles are prey to a wide range of predators, and eggs are particularly vulnerable. But once turtles reach adulthood, their large size and shell protect them from large marine predators such as sharks.
The loggerhead turtle is considered an endangered species and is protected by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Old, abandoned fishing nets cause many deaths among this species. Turtles can also suffocate if caught in trawler nets. Turtle excluder devices are fitted to trawler gear to reduce their impact on turtle mortality by providing an escape route. The number of suitable nesting beaches is decreasing due to rising sea levels and the artificialisation of shorelines, particularly due to tourism. The clutches now have more females than males due to the increase in sand temperatures on nesting beaches, caused by global warming. The introduction of exotic predators is also having a heavy impact on the loggerhead population. Saving the species requires increased international cooperation as nesting grounds are scattered across many countries.
Laganas Bay in Zakynthos, an Ionian island west of the Peloponnese , is the most popular with turtles: the island has a thousand nests
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