in various fisheries and general habitat degradation. There are no historical data from which to 

 determine with certainty the past distribution and abundance of loggerhead turtles in the Pacific 

 Ocean, but contemporary field studies in Australia clearly show that populations in that area are 

 declining. 



In general, the loggerhead recovery team concluded that nesting populations are declining 

 worldwide. The most significant threats to loggerheads include coastal development/loss of 

 habitat, incidental take in commercial fisheries, boat/vessel strikes, and pollution. 



SPECIES BIOLOGY 



Adult and sub-adult loggerhead turtles have a reddish-brown carapace and medium-yellow 

 plastron. Scales on the top and sides of the head and top of the flippers are reddish-brown with 

 yellow borders. The loggerhead is named for its large head, which can reach 25 cm wide in 

 adults. Adult average size is 92 cm straight carapace length and average weight is 1 1 5 kg. 

 Mature males have comparatively narrow shells gradually tapering posteriorly, and long, thick 

 tails extending well beyond the edge of the carapace. 



Hatchlings are dull brown in color and their average size and weight at hatching is 45 mm long 

 and 20 g, respectively. Post-hatchling and juveniles spend an undetermined number of years 

 inhabiting the open ocean (pelagic) environment. At approximately 40-60 cm carapace length, 

 loggerheads begin recruiting to coastal areas where they become benthic feeders. Loggerheads 

 reach maturity at between 16 and 40 years and mating takes place in late March to early June. 

 The nesting season occurs in the spring and summer and most females nest from 3 to 5 times in a 

 single season. Females return to nest at two or three year intervals. 



SPECIES DISTRIBUTION 



The loggerhead turtle is circumglobal. occurring throughout the temperate and tropical regions of 

 the Atlantic. Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its range of habitat includes open ocean waters, 

 continental shelves, bays, lagoons, and estuaries. The largest nesting aggregation worldwide 

 occurs on Masirah Island, Oman, where approximately 30.000 females nest per year. In the LI.S.. 

 loggerheads nest primarily from North Carolina to the southwest Florida coast and constitute the 

 second largest worldwide nesting assemblage. The greatest concentration of nesting occurs along 

 the central and south-central Atlantic coast of Florida. 



In the eastern Pacific, loggerheads are reported as far north as Alaska and as far south as Chile. 

 Occasional sightings are also reported from the coast of Washington, but most records are of 

 juveniles off the coast of California. Nesting in the Pacific is restricted to the western region, 

 primarily in Japan and Australia; no loggerhead nesting occurs in the Pacific U.S. 



MAJOR IMPACTS 



Impacts in the nesting environment 



In the United States, harvesting of nesting loggerhead turtles and egg poaching is infrequent. 

 However, in other parts of the world, harvesting of nesting turtles and egg poaching is a serious 

 threat. Animal predation of eggs and hatchlings is also a concern. 



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