Fun Sea Turtle Facts

February 1, 2021
All is quiet on the sea turtle front this time of year,
so we thought we'd take this time to share a few fun facts about sea turtles.
​Did you know...
  • Five types of sea turtles can be found in Florida: Loggerhead, Leatherback, Green, Hawksbill and Kemp's Ridley.
  • All five of Florida's sea turtles species are ENDANGERED.
  • Sea turtles have been around for more than 100 million years, which means that they shared the planet with dinosaurs!
  • The top shell of a sea turtle is called the carapace and the bottom shell is called the plastron.
  • The Leatherback is the only sea turtle without a hard shell. Instead, it has a tough, flexible, rubbery carapace.
  • ​Sea turtles cannot retract their heads into their shells. Their body shape is adapted for swimming, making it flatter than its dome-shaped counterpart, the land turtle. Flatter shells leave no room for heads to retract.
  • The temperature of the sand in which the eggs are laid determines the gender of the baby turtles.  Warmer temperatures produce more females and cooler temperatures produce more males. 
  • Male turtles hatch on land and make their way to the ocean. They will never return to land again, spending their entire lives at sea. Females, however, return to shore to nest.​
​​​~Volusia/Flagler Turtle Patrol

Florida Sea Turtles

There are 5 species of sea turtles found along Florida's Beaches.

LOGGERHEAD

The Loggerhead Turtle is the most common turtle on  our beaches. She is named for her immense, block-like head and strong jaws.

LEATHERBACK

The Leatherback Turtle is the largest turtle. She has a leathery shell, can reach up to 7 feet in length and weigh up to 1,500 pounds.

GREEN

The Green Turtle gets her name from the color of her fat. She is an herbivore, eating plants, sea grasses,
​ and algae.

HAWKSBILL

The Hawksbill Turtle has a beautiful, distinct carapace (shell). It is  tortoiseshell in color and almost heart-shaped. 

KEMP'S RIDLEY

The Kemp's Ridley is the most endangered sea turtle in the world. She is relatively small, weighing less than 100 pounds.
If you find a sick or injured sea turtle, please do not place it back in the water.
Call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at 1-888-404-FWCC (3922) for assistance.