The Loggerhead Sea Turtel

Taxonomy
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Testudines
Family:	Cheloniidae
Genus:	Caretta
Species:	Caretta

Status:	Endangered

Caretta caretta is commonly called the "loggerhead" sea turtle due to their overly large heads which is comprised of a horny beak which is significantly thicker than in other sea turtles. The genus name "Caretta"comes from the French word "caret", meaning turtle, tortoise, or sea turtle.

Picture of a Loggerhead Sea Turtle swimming in the sea

One of the big mysteries about the Loggerhead sea turtle is why some Loggerheads live in turbid, detritus-laden, muddy bottom bays and bayous of the northern Gulf Coast, while others choose to live in the clear waters of the Bahamas and Antilles. It's not known what makes the turtle select such different habitats, or if they move between them.

Since the animals they feed on usually lives close to shore, the Loggerhead is rarely found at sea. Only if they're migrating from nesting beach to adult habitat will they be found in the open ocean. Every year thousands of Loggerheads migrate from Japan and across the North Pacific Ocean to Baja California. Here they'll feed on red crabs. Off course there's also a migration in the other direction, when the turtles return back to Japan to lay their eggs.

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