I think this turtle is adorable and really cute. It is the smallest of the species and weights between 75 and 85 pounds. It has a dark olive green to black color. It is also called “Lora” or “Carpintera”.
It is found most abundantly off the pacific coast of Costa Rica. The nesting takes place along the whole length of the country. Out of 51 beaches 48 are suitable for their nesting to occur. The most important nesting beach is at Ostional.
Turtles in large groups gather off shore of nesting beaches, and then at once many of them come ashore to nest. It has been known to inhabit coastal areas including estuaries and bays. They have an annual migration for foraging, to breeding and nesting grounds, back to foraging. It is listed as an endangered species because of the degradation of the nesting beaches. “The olive ridley may be the most abundant sea turtle on the planet, but some argue that it is also the most exploited.”
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