By Annemarie Kramer
Latin name:
Lepidochelys kempii
Geographic Area:
Gulf of Mexico
Weight:
Up to 45 kg (100 lbs)
Size:
Up to 70 cm (2.3 feet)
Distribution:
Mainly lives in the Gulf of Mexico. Has been observed in areas in between the western Atlantic Ocean and the southern Caribbean Sea, but always close to shore. They prefer to stay in shallow bays with sandy or muddy bottoms where molluscs and crabs live.
Nesting behavior:
This species nests almost exclusively on a single stretch of beach in the Gulf of Mexico. Only on rare occasions will a female nest solitarily or on a different beach. Kemp’s Ridleys lay their eggs during the day, coming ashore in a mass synchronous nesting event called an “arribada”, which in Spanish means arrival. Historically there were tens of thousands of females in the arribada, but now there are only about 500 nests laid per year. The females probably nest every year, with about 110 eggs per nest. The eggs hatch after approximately 6 weeks. The young turtles return to their feeding and nesting grounds when they are about 20-25 cm (8-10 inch) carapace length and reach sexual maturity at approximately 10-12 years.
Feeding behavior:
While living in the open ocean the young sea turtles feed on Sargassum seaweed and its associated animals. Later they mainly feed on crabs.
Special remarks:
The Kemp’s Ridley is the smallest and most endangered of the sea turtle species. It is rarely observed outside the Gulf of Mexico. Females nest together in large numbers, a phenomenon which is called „arribada“.
Literatur:
Lutz, P. L. & J. A. Musick (Hrsg.), 1997. The Biology of Sea Turtles. 432 Seiten. CRC Press. Boca raton, London, New York, Washington, D.C.
Lutz, P. L., J. A. Musick & J. Wyneken (Hrsg.), 2003. The Biology of Sea Turtles. Volume II. 455 Seiten. CRC Press. Boca raton, London, New York, Washington, D.C.
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