GreenChelonia mydasSea turtle figures used by permission of the Marine Turtle Specialist Group (iucn-mtsg.org)Source: Pritchard, P. C. H. and Mortimer, J. A. (1999) Taxonomy, External Morphology, and Species Identification. pp. 21-38. In: Eckert, K.L., K.A. Bjorndal, F.A. Abreu-Grobois, and M. Donnelly (Editors). 1999. Research and Management Techniques for the Conservation of Sea Turtles. IUCN/SSC Marine Turtle Specialist Group Publication No. 4. (for further details see http://www.iucn-mtsg.org/publications.htm) Illustrations by Tom McFarlandHawksbillEretmochelys imbricataLoggerheadCaretta carettaOlive RidleyLepidochelys olivaceaKemp’s RidleyLepidochelys kempiiBlack*LeatherbackDermochelys coriaceaSEATURTLE.ORGSea Turtle Identification KeyLeathery, no scutes;5 long ridgesHard carapace (shell) with large scutes (shell plates)4 costal (lateral) scutes;First costal scute does not touch nuchael5 or more costal (lateral) scutes;First costal scute touches nuchalOne pair prefrontal scalesTwo pairs prefrontal scales;overlapping scutes5 costal scutes;Nearly circularusu. 6 or more costal scutes5 or 6 costal scutes;Carapace not circularCarapace wide and almost circularRestricted primarily to the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic coast of the USAFound in tropical waters of the Pacific, Indian and South Atlantic OceansRestricted primarily to the eastern Pacific Ocean;Dark pigmentationFlatbackNatatorDepressusFound in tropical coastal waters of AustraliaCommon Name Spanish Name Scientific NameLeatherback Baula, Tortuga Laúd, Tora Dermochelys coriacea Color dark gray/black with white spots Carapace tapered; leathery with 5 ridgesMax Length 165 - 180 cm Plastron relatively smallMax Weight 400 - 500 kg Head tooth-like notch on either side of upper jaw; no scalesRange all oceans, subarctic to tropical; pelagic Green Turtle Tortuga Verde, Tortuga Blanca Chelonia mydas Color J: radiating streaks; A: brown, buff Carapace 4 costal scutesMax Length 120 cm Plastron yellowish; 4 inframarginal scutesMax Weight 230 kg Head round face; serrated jaw; 1 pair elongate prefontal scalesRange all subtropical and tropical seas; bays and coastal watersBlack Turtle* Tortuga Negra, Prieta Chelonia mydas Color black or grayish with black markings Carapace 4 costal scutesMax Length 90 cm Plastron cream to gray; 4 inframarginal scutesMax Weight 150 kg Head round face; serrated jaw; 1 pair elongate prefontal scalesRange East Pacific Ocean; bays and coastal waters *The status of the Black turtle or east Pacific green turtle, sometime referred to as Chelonia agassizii or C. mydas agassizii, remains uncertain. Recent genetic evidence supports an Atlantic-Mediterranean vs. Indian-Pacific grouping, while morphological and behavioral data suggest an east Pacific species or subspecies.Flatback Turtle Kikila, Tortuga Franca Oriental Natator depressus Color olive grey Carapace 4 costal scutes; broad and round; upturned marginsMax Length 100 cm Plastron yellowish; 4 inframarginal scutesMax Weight 90 kg Head preoccular scale; wide; flat; triangularRange tropical coastal Australia Hawksbill Turtle Tortuga Carey Eretmochelys imbricata Color amber and brown streaks Carapace 4 costal scutes; (usually) overlapping scutes; ovalMax Length 90 cm Plastron cream with dark blotches front and rear; 4 inframarginal scutesMax Weight 80 kg Head curved beak; distinct overbite; 2 pair prefrontal scalesRange all oceans; tropical waters; reef areas Loggerhead Caguama, Amarilla, Cabezona, Tortuga Boba Caretta caretta Color red brown to brown Carapace longer than wide; 5 or more costal scutes, first very smallMax Length 90 - 110 cm Plastron yellow to orange, 3 inframarginal scutesMax Weight 100 - 180 kg Head large head; 4 or more prefontal scalesRange all oceans; primarily temperate waters; near shore, often associate with structures (i.e., wrecks, platforms)Kemp’s Ridley Tortuga Lora, Cotorra Lepidochelys kempii Color gray to light olive green Carapace round; 5 (sometimes 6) costal scutesMax Length 70 cm Plastron white to yellow; 4 inframarginal scutes with poresMax Weight 40 - 50 kg Head triangular; relatively large; 2 pair prefrontal scalesRange Gulf of Mexico, eastern USA; coastal; < 16° NOlive Ridley Tortuga Golfina, Tortuga Olivacea, Parlama Lepidochelys olivacea Color gray to olive green Carapace nearly round; 6 - 9 costal scutes, number may be asymmetricalMax Length 70 - 80 cm Plastron cream/white; 4 inframarginal scutes with poresMax Weight 45 - 60 kg Head triangular; relatively large; 2 pair prefrontal scalesRange tropical waters of Pacific, Indian and South Atlantic Oceans; pelagicSpecies DescriptionsSUGGESTED REFERENCESBjorndal, KA (Editor). 1995. Biology and Conservation of Sea Turtles (Revised Edition). Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC.Eckert, KL, KA Bjorndal, FA Abreu-Grobois, and M Donnelly (Editors). 1999. Research and Management Techniques for the Conservation of Sea Turtles. IUCN/SSC Marine Turtle Specialist Group Publications No. 4.Lutz, PL, and J Musick (Editors). 1996. The Biology of Sea Turtles. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida.Produced in cooperation