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Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle
(Lepidochelys kempii)
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Animal Type
Turtles
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Exhibits
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Range
Atlantic Ocean
Overview
The Kemp's ridley sea turtle is the most endangered sea turtle species. Adults' shells are typically grey or greyish green on top and light tan on the bottom. Kemp's ridleys are the smallest species of sea turtle.
These marine reptiles lay perfectly round eggs about the size of a golf ball. Kemp's ridleys nest every one to three years, usually laying three nests with over 100 eggs each. They engage in a nesting pattern called arribadas, where they nest in large groups. Female Kemp's ridleys are the only sea turtles that nest during the day.
Journey With a Kemp's Ridley
Life as a Kemp's ridley sea turtle is no easy feat. They face challenges their whole lives all while on an incredible oceanic journey.
Quick Facts
Learn more about Kemp's ridley sea turtles! Did you know that they are one of the most common sea turtle species in the Chesapeake Bay?
Kemp's ridley sea turtles are primarily found in the Gulf of Mexico and along the Atlantic Coast of the United States.
As opportunistic hunters, Kemp's ridleys have a diverse diet. They often eat shrimp, crab, clams, sea urchins, squid, jellyfish and fish.
Adult Kemp's ridleys weigh between 70 and 100 pounds. Their shells are greater than 24 inches long.
Under the Endangered Species Act, the Kemp's ridley sea turtle is listed as critically endangered. In the 1940s, hundreds of thousands of Kemp's ridleys were seen nesting in Rancho Nuevo, Mexico. However, their population had declined to only a few hundred by the 1980s.
Egg collection, fisheries, bycatch, marine debris and other human activities caused the sharp decline and continue to affect the struggling population. Conservation efforts focus on protecting nesting beaches, reducing the impact of fisheries and restoring critical habitat.
At the Aquarium, Kemp's ridleys are one of the species most frequently cared for by National Aquarium Animal Rescue. Our Animal Rescue and Animal Health teams treat sea turtles for illnesses and injuries—which are often the result of cold-stunning—before returning them to the ocean.
Predators like coyotes, raccoons, birds and crabs destroy eggs and eat hatchlings. Only large sharks can prey on adults. However, humans are the biggest threat to Kemp's ridleys due to bycatch in fishing gear, destruction of nesting habitat, entanglement in marine debris, vessel strikes and the effects of climate change.
Act Today Support Sea Turtle Conservation
Contact your members of Congress to urge them to pass the bipartisan Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance and Rehabilitation Act, which would provide federal funding for organizations that rescue and rehabilitate sea turtles.
Explore Similar Animals
The National Aquarium—and the aquatic world—is full of amazing animals like this one.
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South American Yellow-Footed Tortoise (Chelonoidis denticulata)
These tortoises can live for more than 50 years.
Pig-Nosed Turtle (Carettochelys insculpta)
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Broad-Shelled Turtle (Chelodina expansa)
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