Kemp’s ridley sea turtle

Kemp's ridley is a small, gray sea turtle (Lepidochelys kempii) primarily found in the Gulf of Mexico and along the U.S. Atlantic coast. It is one of seven species of marine turtles belonging to the families Dermochelyidae and Cheloniidae. Kemp's ridleys are relatively small sea turtles, with adult shells measuring about 58–78 cm (23–31 inches) long. They are largely carnivorous, feeding on crustaceans and mollusks. These turtles, like other sea turtles, are egg-layers and females come ashore to bury their eggs in sandy environments. Kemp's ridleys, along with the olive ridley, have a nesting cycle of 1–3 years. Unfortunately, Kemp's ridley sea turtle is considered endangered, facing threats from fisheries and environmental disasters like oil spills.123