A olive turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) is the smallest and most abundant of all sea turtles found in the world.
This species of sea turtle is found in warm, tropical waters, mostly in the Pacific and Indian oceans. They can also be found in the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
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These turtles are best known for their mass nesting called arribada, where thousands of females gather on the same beach to lay eggs.
These animals reach up to 2 meters in length, their carapace is olive-colored, heart-shaped and rounded. Males and females are the same size. However, females have a slightly more rounded carapace than males.
It has paddle-shaped forelimbs, each with two forelimbs. The upper parts are grayish green or olive green in color, but sometimes appear reddish due to algae growing on the carapace.
Olive turtles rarely weigh more than 50 kg. A study done in Oaxaca, Mexico found that adult males range from 25 to 46 kg. Females weigh between 35 and 45 kg.
The olive ridley has a circumtropical distribution. She lives in tropical and warm waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans of India, Arabia, Japan, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.
In the Atlantic Ocean, it has been observed off the west coast of Africa and the northern coasts of Brazil, Suriname, Guyana, French Guiana and Venezuela. They are believed to use the coastal waters of over 80 countries.
Mating is often done in the vicinity of nesting beaches. Gahirmatha beach in Kendrapara district of Odisha (India), which is now part of the Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary, is the largest breeding ground for these turtles.
They generally begin to congregate near beaches about two months before nesting season, although this can vary over their range.
Beach fidelity is common but not absolute. Nesting events are generally nocturnal, but diurnal nesting has been reported, especially during large arrivals.
The exact age of sexual maturity is unknown. The female remains close to shore for the incubation period, which is 45 to 51 days. The average clutch size is 116 eggs.
It is predominantly carnivorous, especially in the early stages of its life cycle. Their fangs consist of protochordates or invertebrates, which can be caught in shallow marine waters or in estuarine habitats.
Jellyfish, tunicates, sea urchins, bryozoans, bivalves, snails, shrimp, crabs and lobsters are on the menu.
It is classified as vulnerable according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). Large-scale commercial exploitation and the fur trade is primarily responsible.
The Convention on Migratory Species and the Inter-American Convention for the Protection and Conservation of Sea turtles also protect olive ridley turtles, leading to increased conservation of this animal.
