Growing to about 90 cm long and 454 kg (1000 lb) in weight, the Loggerhead Sea Turtle is the largest of the hard shelled turtles. They have yellow to brown skin and a reddish-brown shell. Male and females look the same when they are juveniles, adults males however have a thicker tail and shorter plastron (underside of shell) than females.
The shell of a turtle is divided into a carapace (top) and plastron (bottom). Each of these sections is made up of 'scutes,' which are the plates making up the shell. The Loggerhead Sea Turtle has five vertebral scutes down the mid-line of their carapace, along with five pairs of coastal scutes bordering them. The carapace is then bordered by 11-12 pairs of scutes, as well as a 'Nuchal' scute at the base of the head. The Carapace is connected to the plastron by 3 pairs of infragmental scutes. The plastron then features paired gular, humeral, pectoral, abdominal, femoral, and anal scutes.
The tough shell of a sea turtle acts as external armor against any potential threats, a very useful defense mechanism. They can also protect themselves with their powerful jaws.
The Loggerhead turtle breaths air, which has caused them to develop an ability to slow their heartbeat down to a slow as one beat every 15 minutes as they sleep. They are often seen swimming to the surface in the morning to take their first breath of the day.
The shell of a turtle is divided into a carapace (top) and plastron (bottom). Each of these sections is made up of 'scutes,' which are the plates making up the shell. The Loggerhead Sea Turtle has five vertebral scutes down the mid-line of their carapace, along with five pairs of coastal scutes bordering them. The carapace is then bordered by 11-12 pairs of scutes, as well as a 'Nuchal' scute at the base of the head. The Carapace is connected to the plastron by 3 pairs of infragmental scutes. The plastron then features paired gular, humeral, pectoral, abdominal, femoral, and anal scutes.
The tough shell of a sea turtle acts as external armor against any potential threats, a very useful defense mechanism. They can also protect themselves with their powerful jaws.
The Loggerhead turtle breaths air, which has caused them to develop an ability to slow their heartbeat down to a slow as one beat every 15 minutes as they sleep. They are often seen swimming to the surface in the morning to take their first breath of the day.