Green Turtle 62 cm - Soft Toy

Physical Characteristics
Turtle Size: 36 in (90 cm) Weight: 253 lbs (115 kg) The largest of all hard-shelled turtles, the Leatherback Turtles are bigger but have soft shells. Loggerheads have massive heads, strong jaws, and a reddish-brown shell, or carapace. Adult males reach about three feet (nearly one meter) in shell length and weigh about 250 pounds (113 kilograms), but large specimens of more than 1,000 pounds (454 kilograms) have been found.

Habitat
Loggerhead turtles are the most abundant of all the marine turtle species in U.S. waters. But persistent population declines due to pollution, shrimp trawling, and development in their nesting areas, among other factors, have kept this wide-ranging sea-goer on the threatened species list since 1978. Their enormous range encompasses all but the most frigid waters of the world's oceans. They seem to prefer coastal habitats, but often frequent inland water bodies and will travel hundreds of miles out to sea.

Behaviour
Mature female turtles will often return, sometimes over thousands of miles, to the beach where they hatched to lay their eggs. Sea turtles can move through the water at speeds of up to 15 miles (24 kilometers) per hour.

Breeding
Worldwide population numbers are unknown, but scientists studying Turtle nesting populations are seeing marked decreases despite endangered species protections. After approximately 60 days, the hatchlings emerge usually at night when protection from predation is greater. Because they usually follow the brightest light to the ocean's edge, artificial lights from human activity can lead them astray. Once in the ocean they use ocean currents to travel to the Sargasso Sea using the Sargassum as protection until they mature.

Diet
Turtles are primarily carnivores, munching jellyfish, conchs, crabs, and even fish, but will eat seaweed and sargassum occasionally.

Strange and Interesting Facts
Loggerhead Sea Turtles were once intensively hunted for their meat and eggs, along with their fat which was used in cosmetics and medication. The Loggerhead Sea Turtles were also killed for their shells, which are used to make items such as combs. As a result, both subspecies are now internationally protected.