Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle
A Kemps Ridley sea turtle, Lepidochelys kempii. Photo by David Malmquist.
PIT Tag Kate Mansfield injects a PIT tag into a Kemps Ridley sea turtle in the VIMS Sea Turtle Stranding Facility. Photo by David Malmquist.
Kate Mansfield uses a scanner to check a PIT tag before releasing a Kemps Ridley sea turtle from the VIMS Sea Turtle Stranding Facility. Photo by David Malmquist.
Kate Mansfield (L) and Meredith Fagan (R) release a tagged Kemps Ridley sea turtle as part of the VIMS Sea Turtle Stranding program as students from the Williamsburg Montessori School look on. Photo by David Malmquist.
A Kemps Ridley sea turtle prepares to enter Chesapeake Bay after being tagged as part of the VIMS Sea Turtle Stranding program. Photo by David Malmquist.
A Kemps Ridley sea turtle begins to swim back into the Bay after being tagged as part of the VIMS Sea Turtle Stranding program. Photo by David Malmquist.
A submerged Kemps Ridley leaves a surface wake as it swims back into the Bay after being tagged as part of the VIMS Sea Turtle Stranding program. Photo by David Malmquist.
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Kemp’s ridleys (Lepidochelys kempii) are the second most common sea turtle in Virginia waters, with ~200-300 visiting Chesapeake Bay each summer. Those found in the Bay are typically juveniles feeding on crabs, mollusks, and other crustaceans. Kemp’s ridleys are the smallest and rarest of all sea turtles and are listed as “endangered” throughout their range. The average length of Kemp's ridleys in Chesapeake Bay is ~ 39 cm (15 in).
Status
Listed as "Endangered"; population in crisis
Size
Adults under 76 cm (30 in), 80 -100 pounds
Sexual Maturity
8-15 years
Nesting Habitat
Only major nesting site is Rancho Nuevo, Mexico; open beach
Juvenile Habitat
Gulf of Mexico (also primary adult habitat); Virginia, and Cape Cod
Diet
Primarily crabs, mollusks, and other crustaceans