Kemp's Ridley Turtle

The Kemp's Ridley Turtle is classified as Critically Endangered (CR), facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.

The Kemp's Ridley turtle feeds on molluscs, crustaceans, jellyfish, algae or seaweed, and sea urchins. Juvenile turtles tend to live in floating sargassum seaweed beds for their first years. More

kemp's ridley turtle nesting on a beach Kemp's Ridley Turtle (Lepidochelys kempii) Photo: National Park Service Habitat Adult Kemp's primarily occupy "neritic" habitats. Neritic zones typically contain muddy or sandy bottoms where prey can be found. More

Because the Kemp's ridley turtle at the time had only a single known nesting site (Rancho Nuevo, Mexico), inhabits a much restricted breeding range, and faces increasing threats from the human species, the Recovery Plan admits that a recovery might not be possible. More

Kemp's ridley turtles are the most endangered of all cheloniids. The species has a restricted range and nests only along a small stretch of coastline in the Gulf of Mexico. In the 1940s, more than 100,000 came ashore here in a single day to nest. More

constitutes an increasingly serious threat to Kemp's ridley turtles of all ages. Plastics, monofilament, discarded netting and many other waste items are either eaten by Kemp's ridleys or become death traps when the turtles become entangled. More

Reason for Decline: Kemp's ridley turtle populations have historically declined due to overharvesting for turtle products and eggs. They are also limited by deaths from oil spills, beach traffic, beach development and predation on nestlings. More

Age at maturity of Kemp's ridley turtles is estimated to be 8–12 years. Females then reproduce at one- to three-year intervals, most nesting every one or two years. Courtship and mating occur off the nesting beaches before nesting. More

Kemp's ridley turtles can grow up to 35 to 40kg in weight, with an average length of 69cm. Like all marine turtles, Kemp's ridleys are migratory, swimming enormous distances between feeding grounds and the nesting beach. More

Kemp's Ridley turtles can live up to 50 years in their natural habitat. More

Kemp's Ridley Turtle Conservation Of the eight species of sea turtles in the world, the Kemp's ridley, Lepidochelys kempii, is the most endangered. More

The Kemp's ridley turtle is one of the smallest of the sea turtles, with adults reaching about 2 feet in length and weighing up to 100 pounds. More

Search for Kemp's ridley turtle books and items at Amazon. Materials published by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and text from the Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary written by John A. Crawford were used to create this page about kemp's ridley turtles. More

The Kemp's Ridley Turtle is endangered. The population is stable but very low with the current estimation of 400 - 600 animals. It was listed as endangered on December 2, 1970. This is the most endangered of all sea turtles. More

Common names

atlantic ridley in English - English
Atlantic ridley sea turtle in English - English
Atlantic Ridley, Kemp’s Ridley Seaturtle in English - English
Atlantik-Bastardschildkröte in German - Deutsch
Cotorra in Spanish - español
Gulf ridley in English - English
Kemp's Ridely in English - English
Kemp's ridley in English - English
Kemp's ridley in Ukrainian - українська мова
Kemp's ridley sea turtle in English - English
Kemp's Ridley Turtle in English - English
Kemp's zeeschildpad in Dutch - Nederlands
Kemps schildpad in Dutch - Nederlands
Lépidochelyde de kemp in French - français
Lepidochelys kempii in Italian - Italiano
Mexican ridley in English - English
Ridley de kemp in French - français
Tortue de kemp in French - français
Tortuga iora in Spanish - español
Tortuga marina bastarda in Spanish - español
Tortuga-marina escamosa-del Atlántico in Spanish - español
Żółw zatokowy in Polish - polski