Loggerhead sea turtle

Description:

The loggerhead sea turtle is found in shallow coastal waters in tropical and warm temperate seas all over the world. This sea turtle has powerful jaws so it can crush the hard-shelled, bottom-dwelling invertebrates such as conchs, clams, crabs, shrimp, oysters and horseshoe crabs that make up its prey. The loggerhead has been swimming in the oceans for millions of years, dating back to before the time of the dinosaurs. It spends its entire life in the ocean except for the nesting season when the females crawl onto beaches to lay eggs in a nest scooped from the sand. The hatchlings emerge from the nest after 45 to 60 days and make their way to the ocean. Very little is known about where the young turtles spend their early lives.

Notes:

Photographed at the Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta