Loggerhead (caretta caretta))

The loggerhead has adapted to its sea life. It has long flippers and special glands that help it to drink salt water. While the loggerhead is a relatively slow swimmer, it can show amazing bursts of speed when it feels threatened. The natural threats to this sea turtle are sharks and orcas.

In the U.S., Pacific loggerheads were listed as endangered in 2011 due to 80 percent population declines. Atlantic loggerheads retained threatened status despite major population declines.

Loggerheads live in coastal bays, estuaries, lagoons, and open oceans in warm and temperate waters. Loggerheads occur worldwide, in areas such as North and South America, Europe, Australia, Africa and Asia. The loggerhead is the most common sea turtle found in the United States.

Download a fact sheet on the loggerhead sea turtle here.