(Caretta caretta)

The loggerhead prefers to nest and forage in warm, temperate climates rather than in the tropics. The loggerhead's name refers to its extraordinarily large head, which houses powerful jaw muscles and large beak for crushing its crustacean prey. Click here to see a loggerhead swimming at Arkive.org.

How big? Adults can weigh up to 180 kg and grow to over 1m long.

What's on the menu? Loggerhead turtles are mainly carnivorous throughout their lives, feeding on crabs, mussels and clams on the seabed, and jellyfish and swimming crabs out in the open ocean. Click here to see a loggerhead feeding on a crab at Arkive.org. Loggerheads have also been known to mistake plastic litter for jellyfish. Plastic can block a turtle's gut once ingested leading to death by starvation. Please dipose of your litter responsibly!

Where do they live? Loggerheads can be found in temperate and subtropical coastal waters worldwide, although they tend not to nest in the tropics. They nest at a few sites in the Mediterranean, and along the coasts of Oman, South Africa, Australia and south east USA. Juvenile loggerhead turtles occasionally occur in UK waters.


Endangered? The loggerhead is listed as endangered by the World Conservation Union (IUCN). They are threatened by tourism development at the nesting beaches and bycatch in marine fisheries, especially shrimp trawls and long lines set for tuna and swordfish.

If you want to find out more about loggerhead turtles and how you can help them, why not Adopt-a-Turtle?