IUCN threat status:

Critically Endangered (CR)

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Along with the olive ridley, Kemp's ridley turtle used to exhibit mass synchronised nestings known as 'arribadas' (Spanish for 'mass arrivals'), where thousands of females came ashore on the same beach to nest at the same time (2). Since the precipitous fall in population numbers however, these spectacular phenomena are now much smaller (3). The nesting season peaks in May and June and unusually amongst turtles, nesting occurs during the day (3). Females lay an average of two to three clutches during the breeding season, each clutch containing about 90 eggs, they return every year or two to nest (3). During 2004, a record 42 Kemp's ridley turtle nests were found on the Texas coast. Most were located in the southern part of the state, but some nests were found on the upper part of the Texas coast as well. In addition to the Texas nests, four others were found in the U.S. during 2004 in northwest Florida (7). Adults are carnivorous bottom-feeders, eating a wide range of prey including fish, jellyfish, although crabs are the mainstay of their diet (2).

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Source: ARKive

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