Scientific name : Caretta caretta
Family : Cheloniidae (hawksbill turtles, 6 species)
Size : Up to 2 m and weighs up to 500 kg
Distribution : Tropical and temperate seas worldwide, occasionally recorded in Scotland
Biology : The loggerhead turtle can be recognised by its stocky stature and red colouring.
It is mainly carnivorous, feeding on all the animals it can find : jellyfish, squid, crabs, sea urchins… and sometimes fish when it manages to catch them.
It is the most common species of turtle on the French coast, even laying eggs on Mediterranean beaches.
IUCN status : Vulnerable