Ridley sea turtle
Encyclopedia
Ridley sea turtles are a genus of sea turtle
s comprising two species: Kemp's ridley sea turtle and the olive ridley sea turtle.
Kemp's ridley sea turtles are currently on the New York
and federal endangered species lists.
, cephalopods, clams, and some marine vegetation.
claimed that "ridley" was a common Florida
n term.
Sea turtle
Sea turtles are marine reptiles that inhabit all of the world's oceans except the Arctic.-Distribution:...
s comprising two species: Kemp's ridley sea turtle and the olive ridley sea turtle.
Kemp's ridley sea turtles are currently on the New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and federal endangered species lists.
Anatomy
Adult ridley sea turtles grow to a length of 20-28 inches (51–71 cm). They have a weight of 80-110 pounds (36–50 kg). They feed on crabs, fishFish
Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
, cephalopods, clams, and some marine vegetation.
Etymology and taxonomic history
The etymology of "ridley" is a subject of speculation. Prior to being known as ridleys, the French naturalist Bernard Germain de Lacépède referred to the Lepidochelys species as "bastard turtles". Renowned sea turtle conservationist Archie CarrArchie Carr
Archie Fairly Carr, Jr. was an American herpetologist, ecologist and a pioneering conservationist. He was a Professor of Zoology at the University of Florida. In 1987 he was awarded the Eminent Ecologist Award by the Ecological Society of America...
claimed that "ridley" was a common Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
n term.