Florida’s Fantastic Five: Meet Our Sea Turtles
Loggerhead
Known for its large head and powerful jaws, it thrives on crabs, and other hard-shelled prey.
Florida is home to one of the world’s largest loggerhead nesting populations.
Green
Named for the green color of their body, they feed mostly on seagrass and algae, keeping Florida’s seagrass beds healthy.
Once rare, their nesting numbers in Florida are now steadily rising.
Leatherback
The largest sea turtle in the world, has a leathery shell. It can dive thousands of feet deep in search of jellyfish.
Leatherbacks are rare, but do nest on Florida’s Atlantic coast.
Hawksbill
Recognizable by its pointed beak, the hawksbill is a reef-dwelling species. It plays an important role in coral reef health by feeding on sponges.
Critically endangered, it is less common in Florida but still found in warm waters.
Kemp’s Ridley
The smallest and rarest sea turtle in the world. Most nesting happens in Mexico, but they are occasionally spotted in Florida waters.
Known for their mass nesting events, they still remain critically endangered.
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