Loggerhead turtle - Ecology & Habitat
A species with a predilection for both jellyfish and urchins
Loggerheads are widely distributed in coastal waters, mainly in subtropical and temperate regions and travel large distances following major warm currents like the Gulf Stream and California Current. Nesting beaches are distributed in more temperate latitudes than those of other marine turtles. The major Atlantic nesting grounds are in Florida and South Carolina, while important nesting grounds are found in Oman (Middle East), Japan and Australia (Great Barrier Reef) in the Pacific.
BreedingThe age of sexual maturity is uncertain; it has been estimated at between 10 and 30 years but studies in Australia indicate that it may be between 34 and 37 years. Nesting frequency is also uncertain.
Females nest an average of three to five times per season, but they have been documented nesting up to six times in and between 40 and 190 eggs are laid per clutch. As with the other marine turtles, the loggerhead does not appear to nest every year: data from the USA suggests that nesting takes place about every two years.
Diet
Loggerheads are carnivorous throughout their life, eating bottom dwelling molluscs (conches, clams), crabs, urchins and sponges, as well as free swimming jellyfish and seemingly impenetrable prey such as the queen conch.
