How to Identify Loggerhead Sea Turtles

Sea turtles are fascinating members of the reptile family. There are several species of sea turtles. The loggerhead sea turtle is fairly easy to identify. Loggerhead sea turtles are most commonly seen in Florida. But they also nest in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Identify loggerhead sea turtles by noticing the size of a sea turtle's head. The loggerhead sea turtle gets its name from the size of its head. Loggerheads have a larger head than other sea turtles.

2. Look at the top shell on the sea turtle. Loggerheads are a reddish-brown color on the top of their shell. The shape of the shell is also important. You can identify a loggerhead when you see an almost heart-shaped shell.

3. Check the underside of the shell on the sea turtle. The underside is a medium shade of yellow. You can also identify loggerheads by looking at the color of the neck and flippers. These are usually a medium brown to a reddish color on the top and light yellow on the sides and bottom.

4. Know that you can identify the hatchlings of loggerhead sea turtles. They vary in color from light brown to dark brown. Their flippers are a dark brown and have white around the edges. Loggerhead hatchlings are about 2 inches in length.

5. Notice the general size of a sea turtle when you see an adult. An adult loggerhead sea turtle not only has a very large head, but a large body as well. An adult loggerhead sea turtle can often grow to about 3 feet long. Their weight can be in the 200-lb. to 350-lb. range.