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Bio - Diversity  Aug 17, 2026 •  Admin

Mumbai Police personnel recently rescued a distressed 100-kg Loggerhead sea turtle after finding it struggling to swim and floating on the surface of the Arabian Sea.

About Loggerhead Sea Turtle

It is a species of oceanic turtle belonging to the family Cheloniidae.

Scientific Name: Caretta caretta 

It is the world’s largest hard-shelled turtle, slightly larger at average and maximum mature weights than the green sea turtle and the Galapagos tortoise.

It is also the world’s second largest extant turtle after the leatherback sea turtle. 

Loggerhead Sea Turtle Habitat and Distribution

Loggerheads live in oceans all over the world, except in the coldest seas. 

The majority of loggerhead nesting occurs in the western rims of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, primarily in Oman, the United States, and Australia. 

They may be found hundreds of miles out to sea, as well as in inshore areas such as bays, lagoons, salt marshes, and creeks.

Loggerhead Sea Turtle Features

Loggerheads are named for their relatively large heads, which support powerful jaws and enable them to feed on hard-shelled prey, such as whelks and conchs.  

Adult loggerheads typically have shell lengths between 0.9 and 1.2 meters (3 to 4 feet).  

They have a large, reddish-brown, hard shell; a pale yellow underbelly (or ‘plastron’); and four flippers with two (or sometimes three) claws on each. 

Adult males are distinguished by long tails that extend beyond the rear carapace and a narrowing of the carapace that tapers towards the rear. 

They use the geomagnetic field as a map when navigating large distances.

Lifespan: Loggerheads can live up to 80 years or more. 

Loggerhead Sea Turtle Conservation Status

It is classified as 'Vulnerable' under the IUCN Red list.

Source: The Tribune / Mumbai Police personnel recently rescued a distressed 100-kg