Atlantic Ridley
Lepidochelys kempii
Photo by M. Godfrey
Description: The Atlantic Ridley is the smallest turtle in the Atlantic Ocean. It is unique in its almost circular shell.
Atlantic Ridley (Lepidochelys kempii)
Photos by J.D. Willson unless otherwise noted
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Atlantic Ridley Sea Turtle - Lepidochelys kepii
Description: 23-29 1/2" (58-74.9 cm). Paddle-like flippers, large size and an oceanic lifestyle are characteristic of this species.
OTHER NAMES: Atlantic Ridley, Tortuga Lora (Mexico).
DESCRIPTION: One of the smallest sea turtles with adult carapaces measuring approximately 60 to 70 centimeters (23.6 to 27.6 inches) long straight-line carapace length (Magnuson et al.
Kemp's ridley sea turtle, Lepidochelys kempii (Garman, 1880), aka atlantic ridley, gulf ridley and mexican ridley, is a close relative of the olive ridley sea turtle and is one of the the smallest sea turtles.
The Atlantic Ridley Turtle, Lepidochelys kempii, is found primarily along the Gulf Coast although juveniles have been seen along the Atlantic during the summer. It has a heart-shaped olive-green shell and olive head and flippers.
Common Name: Kemp's ridley, Atlantic Ridley, Gulf Ridley, Mexican Ridley; Lépidochelyde de Kemp, Ridley de Kemp, Tortue de Kemp (Fr); Cotorra, Tortuga Lora, Tortuga marine bastarda (Sp)
Scientific Name: Lepidochelys kempii ...
The most common turtle found is the Atlantic ridley (aka Kemp's ridley), partly because conservation measures have increased its population.
They are not only predators, they are also prey: some bony fish, as well as some sharks and rays, feed on juveniles and larger crabs, and the blue crab is the preferred food of the Atlantic Ridley sea turtle.
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The Atlantic ridley, Lepidochelys kempi, the smallest of the Atlantic sea turtles and an endangered species, is found from the Gulf of Mexico northward along the Atlantic coast to Massachusetts.
nesting beach on the Gulf of Mexico was discovered with females nesting by the tens of thousands. Since then, the number of nesting females has declined to only 200 in 1988. Because of its precipitous decline in numbers, the Atlantic ridley was ...
The 2-ft (60-cm) long, gray Atlantic ridley, Lepidochelys kempii, breeds only in the Gulf of Mexico, although the young are often carried by the Gulf Stream to the Carribean Sea and Europe.
 See also: Ridley, Turtle, Sea Turtle, Shell, Loggerhead
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