Caretta caretta
Loggerhead Sea Turtle
Endangered (worldwide) · IUCN Red List · As of 2015It swims thousands of kilometers and returns to the very beach where it once hatched to lay its eggs: The loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) is one of the most fascinating inhabitants of our oceans. In this profile, you will learn how it lives, what it eats, how it navigates, and what warmer sand means for its populations.
At a Glance
Carapace length
approx. 75–110 cm
Weight
approx. 90–160 kg
Life expectancy
estimated 70+ years
Distribution
all major oceans, including the Mediterranean and occasionally the North Sea
Diet
Mussels, crabs, snails, jellyfish
Nesting season (Mediterranean)
Late April–September
What does the Loggerhead Sea Turtle look like?
The loggerhead sea turtle gets its name from its strikingly large head, which is why it is called "loggerhead" in English. It has strong jaw muscles that allow it to crack even very hard shells. Its large carapace is reddish-brown and measures around 75 to 110 centimeters in adult animals. It weighs approximately 90 to 160 kilograms.
Where does the Caretta Caretta live?
Caretta caretta is at home in the subtropical and temperate waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. It also lives in the Mediterranean Sea, which hosts one of Europe's most important nesting sites: Around 60% of all Mediterranean clutches are laid on the Greek island of Zakynthos. Females come ashore to lay eggs between June and August.
Sea turtles in the North Sea
Even in the North Sea, which is too cold for them, for example on Sylt in November 2025, sea turtles are repeatedly washed ashore. The cause is likely the Gulf Stream, which drifts them into colder waters.
What does it eat?
The loggerhead sea turtle is predominantly carnivorous. Its diet mainly consists of hard-shelled animals such as mussels, crabs, and snails. Its strong jaws effortlessly crush even thick shells.
How does the Loggerhead Sea Turtle find its birth beach again?
One of the most fascinating facts about the Loggerhead Sea Turtle is its internal compass: Sea turtles perceive the Earth's magnetic field and use it for orientation on their migrations spanning thousands of kilometers. Each coastal section has a unique "magnetic signature." As a juvenile, the turtle imprints this signature and decades later, as an adult female, finds the exact region where it hatched. Researchers call this phenomenon geomagnetic imprinting.
Why are Loggerheads threatened?
Globally, the IUCN Red List classifies the loggerhead sea turtle as "endangered" (as of 2015). The Mediterranean population has recovered thanks to decades of conservation efforts and is now considered "least concern." However, this status will only be maintained as long as protection continues. Its biggest threats are:
- Bycatch: the biggest threat worldwide – animals get entangled in fishing nets and on hooks and drown.
- Plastic waste: Floating plastic bags are mistaken for jellyfish and swallowed.
- Light pollution: Artificial light on beaches disorients newly hatched juveniles, who are supposed to follow the bright ocean horizon.
- Climate change: The sex of the hatchlings depends on the sand temperature. Warmer sand results in almost exclusively female hatchlings.
In the Ecosystem
Why even a few degrees are crucial:
Did you know?
When laying eggs, sea turtles appear to be crying. In fact, they have salt glands next to their eyes, through which they excrete excess salt from the seawater they drink.
Carry on her story
Our Caretta shares the ocean with the Puffin – and with every design, we want to tell her story. The hand-drawn Caretta motif is available as a unisex T-shirt. 1% of every purchase goes to the Jordsand association for the protection of the sea and nature.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the loggerhead sea turtle endangered?
Globally, it is classified as endangered by the IUCN (as of 2015). The Mediterranean population has recovered thanks to years of conservation efforts and is considered "least concern" – however, this status will only persist as long as protection continues.
How old does a loggerhead sea turtle get?
Estimates suggest 70 years or more. However, it only reaches sexual maturity at around 35 years of age, meaning populations recover slowly.
How does the loggerhead sea turtle navigate on its migrations?
It perceives the Earth's magnetic field and uses it like a compass. This way, it finds its way over thousands of kilometers – and as an adult female, even returns to the exact coastal section where it hatched (geomagnetic imprinting).
Where does the loggerhead sea turtle lay its eggs?
On sandy beaches. In the Mediterranean, the most important nesting sites are in Greece (for example, Zakynthos); egg-laying occurs there between June and August.
Sources & References
- NOAA Fisheries. Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta). fisheries.noaa.gov
- IUCN-SSC Marine Turtle Specialist Group, 2015. Red List Assessment Caretta caretta. iucn-mtsg.org
- WWF Greece. Caretta caretta. wwf.gr
- Brothers, J. R. & Lohmann, K. J., 2015. Evidence for Geomagnetic Imprinting and Magnetic Navigation in the Natal Homing of Sea Turtles. Current Biology 25, 392–396.
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