what kind of species are olive ridley turtles
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The olive ridley is considered the most abundant sea turtle in the world, with an estimated 800,000 nesting females annually. The olive ridley gets its name from the olive coloration of its heart-shaped top shell (carapace).
Adult turtles are relatively small. The size and morphology of the olive ridley varies from region to region, with the largest animals observed on the Pacific coast of Mexico. There are often only 5 pairs of costal "scutes" on the carapace, but that number varies. Some individuals have been documented having as many as 9 pairs of costal scutes. Each of their four flippers has 1-2 visible claws. The carapace of eastern Pacific olive ridleys is greater in height than other populations. Western Atlantic olive ridleys usually have a darker coloration than eastern Pacific olive ridleys.
The olive ridley has one of the most extraordinary nesting habits in the natural world. Large groups of turtles gather off shore of nesting beaches. Then, all at once, vast numbers of turtles come ashore and nest in what is known as an "arribada". During these arribadas, hundreds to thousands of females come ashore to lay their eggs. At many nesting beaches, the nesting density is so high that previously laid egg clutches are dug up by other females excavating the nest to lay their own eggs.
There are many theories on what triggers an arribada, including offshore winds, lunar cycles, and the release of pheromones by females. Despite these theories, scientists have yet to determine the actual cues for ridley arribadas. Not all females nest during an arribada, instead some are solitary nesters. Some olive ridleys employ a mixed nesting strategy. For example, a single female might nest during an arribada, as well as nest alone during the same nesting season. Arribada nesting is a behavior found only in the genus Lepidochelys: Kemp's ridley sea turtles and olive ridley sea turtles. Although other turtles have been documented nesting in groups, no other turtles (marine or otherwise) have been observed nesting in such mass numbers and synchrony.
Olive ridleys reach sexual maturity around 15 years, a young age compared to some other sea turtle species. Females nest every year, once or twice a season, laying clutches of approximately 100 eggs. Incubation takes about 2 months.
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Adult turtles are relatively small. The size and morphology of the olive ridley varies from region to region, with the largest animals observed on the Pacific coast of Mexico. There are often only 5 pairs of costal "scutes" on the carapace, but that number varies. Some individuals have been documented having as many as 9 pairs of costal scutes. Each of their four flippers has 1-2 visible claws. The carapace of eastern Pacific olive ridleys is greater in height than other populations. Western Atlantic olive ridleys usually have a darker coloration than eastern Pacific olive ridleys.
The olive ridley has one of the most extraordinary nesting habits in the natural world. Large groups of turtles gather off shore of nesting beaches. Then, all at once, vast numbers of turtles come ashore and nest in what is known as an "arribada". During these arribadas, hundreds to thousands of females come ashore to lay their eggs. At many nesting beaches, the nesting density is so high that previously laid egg clutches are dug up by other females excavating the nest to lay their own eggs.
There are many theories on what triggers an arribada, including offshore winds, lunar cycles, and the release of pheromones by females. Despite these theories, scientists have yet to determine the actual cues for ridley arribadas. Not all females nest during an arribada, instead some are solitary nesters. Some olive ridleys employ a mixed nesting strategy. For example, a single female might nest during an arribada, as well as nest alone during the same nesting season. Arribada nesting is a behavior found only in the genus Lepidochelys: Kemp's ridley sea turtles and olive ridley sea turtles. Although other turtles have been documented nesting in groups, no other turtles (marine or otherwise) have been observed nesting in such mass numbers and synchrony.
Olive ridleys reach sexual maturity around 15 years, a young age compared to some other sea turtle species. Females nest every year, once or twice a season, laying clutches of approximately 100 eggs. Incubation takes about 2 months.
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The olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea), also known as the Pacific ridley sea turtle, are smallest and most abundant of all sea turtles found in the world, species of sea turtle found in warm and tropical waters, primarily in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. They can also be found in warm waters of Atlantic ocean.
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Reptilia
Order:Testudines
Suborder:Cryptodira
Family:Cheloniidae
Genus:Lepidochelys
Species:L olivacea
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Reptilia
Order:Testudines
Suborder:Cryptodira
Family:Cheloniidae
Genus:Lepidochelys
Species:L olivacea
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