The Olive Ridley Sea Turtle | Eating Habits

While there is plenty of information on the Olive Ridley sea turtles, there is a surprising lack of data on the feeding habits of the Olive Ridley. Olive Ridleys are omnivorous, feeding on crabs, shrimp, sea grasses, algae, snails, fish, sessile, pelagic tunocates and small invertebrates. They are sometimes seen feeding on jellyfish in shallow waters. These turtles forage offshore in surface waters and can dive to depths of at least 150 meters (500 feet).

That they are omnivores are also a threat to species survival. It can be incredibly difficult to distinguish between a jellyfish and a plastic bag. Many Olive Ridley turtles have died because they tried to eat plastic because they thought it was a jellyfish or other normal turtle food.