Loggerhead Turtle
Caretta caretta
Identification: A large turtle (shell up to 110 cm) with a broad, triangular head and powerful crushing jaws. The shell is heart-shaped with five large scales down either side. Reddish brown.
Distribution: Found in coastal, tropical and subtropical waters around the world.
Habitat: Shallow, inshore waters with a soft bottom, rocky and coral reefs.
Food: Feeds on molluscs, crustaceans, sea urchins and jellyfish.
Breeding: Lays around 125 small eggs per clutch - nesting occurs from late November to late January. In Queensland, nesting occurs on the Bundaberg coast and on the islands of the southern Great Barrier Reef.
