Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta).
Image: ukanda, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
At a glance
- IUCN category
- VU · Vulnerable
- Animal group
- Reptiles & Amphibians
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
Conservation overview
The loggerhead is a large sea turtle with a powerful head and jaws for crushing hard-shelled prey. It is assessed as Vulnerable.
It undertakes long ocean migrations between feeding and nesting areas.
Range & habitat
Temperate and tropical oceans worldwide, nesting on many continents' coasts.
Major threats
Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.
- Bycatch in fishing gear
- Loss of nesting beaches
- Pollution and climate effects
Why it matters
A wide-ranging ocean traveller, the loggerhead links the health of beaches and open seas across whole ocean basins.
Gallery
Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta), Brazil.
Image: João D'Andretta, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Sources
Sources for Loggerhead Turtle
- IUCN Red List — look up Loggerhead Turtle (authoritative status)
- NOAA Fisheries
- Animal Diversity Web
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the loggerhead have such a big head?
Why is the loggerhead turtle Vulnerable?
Last updated: