The 'arribada' turtles
BreedingAfter reaching sexual maturity when they are about 12 years old, many thousands of females emerge from the sea and nest simultaneously over a period of two to three days. These arribadas (a Spanish word meaning 'mass arrivals') may be an adaptation against predation, and one reason for the success of this species.
However, the olive ridley often chooses small, narrow beaches and their nests may be so closely packed that subsequent waves of females often dig up other nests in efforts to lay their own eggs. Arribadas may be repeated two to seven times a season.
Each female digs an average of between two to four nests per nesting year, laying about 100 eggs in each. Evidence suggests that the olive ridley nests at intervals of one, two, three and four years. Characteristically, ridley turtles rock from side to side compacting the sand over the nest to disguise it.
Diet
This species feeds essentially on crabs and shrimps, but also jellyfish, small invertebrates, tunicates, small invertebrates and fish eggs. Individuals have been captured in prawn trawls at depths of 80 to 110 m, and are therefore considered capable of foraging at these depths.