Loggerhead Sea Turtle: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Turtles · day 3 of 7

Five facts

1. In 1996, a loggerhead named Adelita swam 14,500 km across the Pacific, the first animal tracked across a whole ocean basin.
2. Loggerhead dives usually last 15 to 30 minutes, but they can stay underwater for more than ten hours.
3. Loggerheads have massive, crushing jaws that can shatter hard-shelled prey such as whelks, conchs and horseshoe crabs.
4. Loggerheads need 17 to 33 years to grow up and can live 47 to 67 years.
5. Baby loggerheads make their home in floating rafts of Sargassum seaweed.

The quiz

1. How far did Adelita swim across the Pacific?

• 1,450 km
• 14,500 km (correct)
• 4,500 km
• 24,500 km

Adelita swam 14,500 km across the Pacific.

2. How long can a loggerhead stay submerged?

• Up to one hour
• Up to two hours
• Up to three hours
• More than ten hours (correct)

Loggerheads can stay underwater for more than ten hours.

3. What can a loggerhead's jaws shatter?

• Hard-shelled prey like whelks and conchs (correct)
• Solid rock
• Coral reefs
• Steel fishing nets

Their jaws can shatter whelks, conchs and horseshoe crabs.

4. At what age do loggerheads reach maturity?

• 3-8 years
• 6-10 years
• 17-33 years (correct)
• 40-50 years

Loggerheads reach maturity within 17-33 years.

5. Where do hatchling loggerheads live?

• In deep coral caves
• In floating mats of Sargassum algae (correct)
• Inside sponge colonies
• Buried in beach sand

Baby loggerheads live in floating mats of Sargassum seaweed.

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