– The leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) lives mainly in warmer climates such as tropical South Pacific waters near Indonesia.

The green turtles (Chelonia mydas) inhabit the Great Barrier Reef off Australia and Costa Rica’s Pacific coast.

The Hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) are found on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean. Considered to be threatened, they are protected in many areas through conservation efforts.

The Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) is known more commonly as Caretta caretta, although it has several other names, including the loggerhead turtle. They can be found along both coasts of Florida and parts of the eastern coastline of North America, among other areas. Like some other sea turtles, this one is endangered due to loss of habitat and poachers taking them for their shells. One would presume that they live longer than most sea turtles since their lifespan has not been documented thoroughly yet, but estimates range from 50 to 75 years old.

Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea)
The Olive Ridley sea turtle, also known as the Pacific Ridley sea turtle, is the most common sea turtle in world coastal waters. It is a small to medium-sized species with adults reaching an average length of around 70 cm and a weight of about 25 kg. The carapace (shell) of adult female olive ridley sea turtles tend to be narrower than other species, but they are still very wide compared to others because it has the widest tail fluke among all sea turtles. They can live up to 69 years in deep ocean waters ranging from tropical regions to sub-Antarctic regions, namely the eastern Pacific Ocean and the western Indian Ocean. Their homing instincts allow them to return to the same beaches where they were born within a few years. Olive Ridley sea turtles occupy a wide range of marine habitats, including shallow coral reefs and seagrass beds. When swimming in pelagic (open water) environments, it is common for this turtle species to dive down as far as 300 meters deep!

The Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys kempii) is the most endangered of all sea turtles. It is named after American whaling captain William Foster (the “Bully”) Kemp, who was also the first to report a large nesting aggregation in St. Joseph Bay, Florida, on May 10th, 1823. Since this date, they have been known as Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles. They are currently threatened by poaching and accidental capture in commercial longline fisheries, shrimp trawling activities, habitat loss from coastal erosion and development, nest depredation by native birds, and hatchling disorientation from artificial lighting at night. Overall, it is believed that approximately 12-15% of the wild population perish every year through these combined threats.

Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles are the smallest among all sea turtle species, with adults reaching a length of around 35-40 cm and only weighing about 15 kg (less than half the weight of an adult female Olive Ridley). In addition, their shells are very flat to make flippers more effective for swimming. These factors make them highly vulnerable to longline gear that can accidentally entangle them.
The Kemp’s ridley typically inhabits warm tropical waters above the Florida Keys, South Padre Island, Galveston Island in Texas, and Mexico. Still, they have also been found in some sub-Antarctic regions like New Zealand.

The flatback sea turtle (Natator Depressus) is the third smallest of all sea turtle species. It is black or brown with a large, somewhat flattened carapace and a small head. Adults usually reach an average length of 30-45 cm and weigh around 40 kg (less than half the weight of an adult female Olive Ridley). Despite their small size, they are known to be one of the fiercest predators in their environment. To hunt for food, they will ambush fish, shrimp, etc., by using their flipper claws to hold onto rocks until they get close enough, then lunge forward to catch them with their mouth! They have even been observed eating jellyfish when there is otherwise little food during summertime!
This species is listed as Least Concern.