SEATURTLE.
ORG Sea Turtle Identification Key
Leatherback
Leathery, no scutes;
Dermochelys
5 long ridges
coriacea
Green
One pair prefrontal scales
Chelonia mydas
Restricted primarily to the
eastern Pacific Ocean;
Dark pigmentation
First costal scute does not touch nuchael
Black*
4 costal (lateral) scutes;
Flatback
tropical coastal
Natator
waters of
Found in
Australia
Depressus
Hard carapace (shell) with
large scutes (shell plates)
prefrontal scales;
overlapping
Hawksbill
Two pairs
scutes
Eretmochelys
imbricata
Carapace not circular
5 or 6 costal scutes;
Loggerhead
Caretta caretta
First costal scute touches nuchal
5 or more costal (lateral) scutes;
Atlantic coast of the USA
the Gulf of Mexico and
Restricted primarily to
5 costal scutes;
Nearly circular
Kemp’s Ridley
Lepidochelys
kempii
Carapace wide and
almost circular
of the Pacific, Indian and
Found in tropical waters
South Atlantic Oceans
usu. 6 or more
Olive Ridley
costal scutes
Lepidochelys
olivacea
Sea turtle figures used by permission of the Marine Turtle Specialist Group ([Link])
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
[Link] Illustrations by Tom McFarland
Species Descriptions
Common Name Spanish Name Scientific Name
Leatherback Baula, Tortuga Laúd, Tora Dermochelys coriacea
Color dark gray/black with white spots Carapace tapered; leathery with 5 ridges
Max Length 165 - 180 cm Plastron relatively small
Max Weight 400 - 500 kg Head tooth-like notch on either side of upper jaw; no scales
Range all oceans, subarctic to tropical; pelagic
Green Turtle Tortuga Verde, Tortuga Blanca Chelonia mydas
Color J: radiating streaks; A: brown, buff Carapace 4 costal scutes
Max Length 120 cm Plastron yellowish; 4 inframarginal scutes
Max Weight 230 kg Head round face; serrated jaw; 1 pair elongate prefontal scales
Range all subtropical and tropical seas; bays and coastal waters
Black Turtle* Tortuga Negra, Prieta Chelonia mydas
Color black or grayish with black markings Carapace 4 costal scutes
Max Length 90 cm Plastron cream to gray; 4 inframarginal scutes
Max Weight 150 kg Head round face; serrated jaw; 1 pair elongate prefontal scales
Range 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 margins
Max Length 100 cm Plastron yellowish; 4 inframarginal scutes
Max Weight 90 kg Head preoccular scale; wide; flat; triangular
Range tropical coastal Australia
Hawksbill Turtle Tortuga Carey Eretmochelys imbricata
Color amber and brown streaks Carapace 4 costal scutes; (usually) overlapping scutes; oval
Max Length 90 cm Plastron cream with dark blotches front and rear; 4 inframarginal scutes
Max Weight 80 kg Head curved beak; distinct overbite; 2 pair prefrontal scales
Range 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 small
Max Length 90 - 110 cm Plastron yellow to orange, 3 inframarginal scutes
Max Weight 100 - 180 kg Head large head; 4 or more prefontal scales
Range 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 scutes
Max Length 70 cm Plastron white to yellow; 4 inframarginal scutes with pores
Max Weight 40 - 50 kg Head triangular; relatively large; 2 pair prefrontal scales
Range Gulf of Mexico, eastern USA; coastal; < 16° N
Olive Ridley Tortuga Golfina, Tortuga Olivacea, Parlama Lepidochelys olivacea
Color gray to olive green Carapace nearly round; 6 - 9 costal scutes, number may be asymmetrical
Max Length 70 - 80 cm Plastron cream/white; 4 inframarginal scutes with pores
Max Weight 45 - 60 kg Head triangular; relatively large; 2 pair prefrontal scales
Range tropical waters of Pacific, Indian and South Atlantic Oceans; pelagic
SUGGESTED REFERENCES
Bjorndal, KA (Editor). 1995. Biology and Conservation
Produced in cooperation with: 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.
