(DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species turtle, Kemp's ridley sea
Species Id M030074
Date 26 AUG 96
TAXONOMY
NAME - turtle, Kemp's ridley sea
OTHER COMMON NAMES -
ELEMENT CODE - 03/10/84
AOU CODE - 04/24/85
09/29/88
11/28/88
CATEGORY - Reptiles
PHYLUM AND SUBPHYLUM - Chordata,
CLASS AND SUBCLASS - Reptilia,
ORDER AND SUBORDER - Testudinata,
FAMILY AND SUBFAMILY - Cheloniidae,
GENUS AND SUBGENUS - Lepidochelys,
SPECIES AND SSP - kempi,
SCIENTIFIC NAME - Lepidochelys kempi
AUTHORITY - Garman
TAXONOMY REFERENCES - 1047
COMMENTS ON TAXONOMY -
This species is also known as Mexican ridley, Atlantic ridley, Tortuga lora,
Kemp's (Atlantic) Ridley sea turtle, bastaardschildpad, bastard-schildkrote,
batarde tortue, cahuama, cotorra, Mexican loggerhead, lora, perica,
caribbean Ridley, gulf Ridley, Kemp's Ridley, tortue batarde, tortuga
bastarda, bastard turtle, Kemp's basard turtle, parrot turtle and Kemp's
zeeschildpad *8816,1047*. Lepidochelys is the generic name used by recent
authors. It has been put in the same tribe, Carettini, with the loggerhead
*8816*.
Taxonomy - 1 (DRAFT) - Status
Species turtle, Kemp's ridley sea
Species Id M030074
Date 26 AUG 96
STATUS
Coded Status
E: Federal Endangered
Plan approved by Director
REFERENCES FOR STATUS - 1047, 828, 8816 and 274
COMMENTS ON STATUS -
This species is used commercially as food for humans and as an aphrodisiac.
Declines in numbers are due to environmental contaminents, pollution, shore-
line modification/development, oil spills, commercial exploitation,
poaching, incidental capturing/killing, and subsistence
hunting/fishing/trapping. It has had commercial and subsistance value for
its meat, skin and eggs. The eggs are thought by some to be an aphrodisiac.
It is included in A Recovery Plan for Marine Turtles. Because nearly all of
their nests are found in Mexico, regulation and/or enforcement is difficult.
This species is also protected by the Lacey Act as amended in 1981. This
species is protected by Code of VA, Sec. 29-230 to 29-237 *8816*. This
species is also listed as Endangered on Mexico's Lista de especies marinas
en peligro de extinction en Mexico. A cooperative Mexican - U.S. programme
is in progress to relocate nests to Padre Island, Texas, headstarting of
hatchlings, further protection of nesting beaches and research on fishing
gear designed to exclude turtles from trawls *8816,8850*.
Status - 1 (DRAFT) - Distribution
Species turtle, Kemp's ridley sea
Species Id M030074
Date 26 AUG 96
DISTRIBUTION
References on County Occurrence - 001, 073, 115, 131, 133, 199, 650, 700, 810, CB1, CB2, CB3 and AO1
REFERENCES FOR HYDROLOGIC UNIT CODES - 001, 073, 115, 131, 133, 199, 650, 700 and 810
REFERENCES FOR OTHER DISTRIBUTION - H
Distribution - 1 HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS
HABITAT - Aquatic
REFERENCES FOR HABITAT - 1047, 1027 and 1026
LAND USE -
Water
Bays and Estuaries
Chesapeake Bay
Atlantic Ocean Coastal Waters
Barren Land
Beaches
REFERENCES FOR LAND USE - 1047, 1027 and 8816
NATIONAL WETLAND INVENTORY CODES
NWI NWICLS NWIMOD NWISPEC
Marine, subtidal OWO
Marine, intertidal BB2
Estuarine, subtidal
Estuarine, intertidal
Marine, subtidal UB.
Estuarine, intertidal UB3
REFERENCES FOR NWI - 1047, 1027 and 1026
COMMENTS ON HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS -
This species is found on dunes, islands, sandy reefs/atolls and lagoons
*8816*. It is found on high energy sand beaches in the vicinity of Padre
Island, Texas. The area is described as well vegetated with a climax
community of shrubs, scrub and small trees. Neither berm or dune vege-
tation appears to hinder them. On the Atlantic coast, this species
appears to be both oceanic and estuarine and adult turtles are rarely
found. Bays and estuaries are of questionable usage in the Gulf of
Mexico but important on the Atlantic coast *8816*.
ECOREGION -
Southeastern Mixed Forest: Flat Plains
REFERENCES FOR ECOREGION - 1047
Habitat Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Food Habits
Species turtle, Kemp's ridley sea
Species Id M030074
Date 26 AUG 96
FOOD HABITS
TROPHIC LEVEL -
Omnivore
REFERENCES FOR TROPHIC LEVEL - 1047
LIFESTAGE FOOD FOOD PART
General Animals Adult stage
General Crustaceans Adult stage
General Malacostraca Adult stage
General Echinoderms Adult stage
General Sea/Heart Urchins Adult stage
General Starfish Adult stage
General Osteichthyes Adult stage
General See Comments; Food See Comments
REFERENCES FOR GENERAL FOOD - 1047 and 1027
COMMENTS ON FOOD -
This species eats mainly crabs, including Arenaeus, Calappa, Callinectes,
Hepatus and Ovalipes *1047,1027*. They feed on shallow water benthic
invertebrates with a preference for decapod crustaceans. The dominant
food is brachyuran crabs and portunid crabs are well represented. They
also consume small mollusks such as snails or small clams. On the nest-
ing grounds the diet changes to more active prey such as squid, jelly-
fish or fish, with some vegetation *8816*.
COMMENTS ON ADULT FOOD -
COMMENTS ON JUVENILE FOOD -
Nothing is known about the food of pelagic, very young juveniles, but
presumably it is mostly coelenterates and other surface dwelling creatures
*8816*.
Food Habits - 1 (DRAFT) - Environment Associations
Species turtle, Kemp's ridley sea
Species Id M030074
Date 26 AUG 96
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G = General A = Adult
LIM = Limiting RA = Resting Adult
J = Juvenile FA = Feeding Adult
RJ = Resting Juvenile BA = Breeding Adult
FJ = Feeding Juvenile P = Pupae
L = Larvae E = Egg
RL = Resting Larvae
FL = Feeding Larvae
LIFESTAGE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G Aquatic Habitat Zonation: Shallows with emergent vegetation [littoral zone]
G Aquatic Habitat Zonation: Open water [pelagic zone]
G Water Depth Preference: Specified in Comments
G Decaying Animals/Remains: Specified in Comments
G Coastal Wetlands: Coastal open fresh water
G Shrubs: Specified in Comments
LIM Coastal Features: Sand beaches
BA Coastal Features: Sand beaches
BA Coastal Features: Specified in Comments
REFERENCES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ - 1047 and 1027
REFERENCES FOR LIMITING ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ - 1047
REFERENCES FOR BREEDING ADULT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ - 1047
COMMENTS ON ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS -
This species inhabits shallow coastal waters *1047,1027* and is associated
with tropical and subtropical shorelines of red mangrove (Rhizophora
mangle) *1047,1027*.
COMMENTS ON BREEDING ADULT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ -
With few exceptions, all nesting occurs on 24 km of beach in Tamaulipas,
Mexico *1047*.
Environment Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species turtle, Kemp's ridley sea
Species Id M030074
Date 26 AUG 96
LIFE HISTORY
Physical description: The weight of this species is 35-42 kg and the length
56-79 cm. The adults have an olive green carapace and yellow plastrom. The
carapace is heart-shaped, keeled, and has 5 pairs of pleural shields. The
head is triangular and gray. The limbs are paddle-like and gray. The
hatchlings are all black *1047,1027,1026*. This is the smallest of the sea
turtles. The beak is parrot-like and the color ranges from light gray to
grayish-brown or even an olive green. The plastron is white or yellowish.
The adult males tail extends beyond the rear edge of the shell while the
adult females tail barely extends beyond this edge *8816*. Reproduction:
Breeding does not occur in Virginia. With few exceptions, breeding occurs
only on a 24 km of beach in Tamaulipas, Mexico. In that area the breeding
season is from April-June. There is 1 breeding season per year and the
females nest 3 times per season. The internesting period is 10-28 days.
There are 110 eggs per clutch, and the females nest during daylight after
strong winds. Copulation occurs just offshore from the nesting beach
*1047,1028. A sand beach in which the back berm and foredunes are well above
high tide levels is necessary for egg laying. The optimum moisture content
at the nest site ranges from 10-20 percent saturation. The females
consistently used nest sites with a mean of 14 percent moisture from
1983-1985. The vegetation at Rancho Nuevo consists of railroad vine
(Ipomoea sp.) and related primary succession species. The dune itself is
well vegetated. The minimum breeding age in the wild is seven years. In
captivity, the age of maturity is five and one half years. Breeding takes
place at the nesting beach at nesting season and they come ashore to lay, in
mass, during daylight hours. As many as 200 females may come ashore to lay
eggs. Copulating pairs have been seen in Apri, May and June. A female may
lay four clutches per year but the average 1.304 and the incubation period
is from 45-70 days *8816*. Behavior: This species is an opportunistic feeder
on concentrations of portunid crabs and may feed in groups. They exhibit
aggressive behavior toward each other in captive rearing. This species is
mostly dinural, both in feeding and nesting. The female turtle deposits the
eggs in the beach sand and abandons the area. Submerged aquatic vegetation
is a primary habitat for juvenile Ridleys in the Chesapeake Bay, Virginia.
It has been inferred that males are more pelagic than females, which are
restricted to shallow waters just offshore. The average movement of turtles
is between 18-37 km per day, but individuals have been known to move as much
as 35 km in a day, although this may be influenced by the Gulf Stream
current. The young drift in a clockwise direction around the Gulf passing
by southern Florida and along the Atlantic coast to New England *8816*.
Foraging juveniles, subadults and adults are found chiefly in the area from
the Florida keys to High Island, Texas in U.S. waters *8816*. Limiting
factors: Limiting factors include man, and a single nesting beach *1047*.
Population parameters: The sex ratio is assumed to be 1:1. The total
mortality was 0.897 in 1977 and 0.847 in 1979 with survival rates of 0.408
and 0.428. Other data indicates a 3-4 percent decline per year. In 1947,
100,000 females nested, in the early 1970's 2-3,0000 and and in 1986, 572
females nested *8816* Aquatic/terrestrial associations: There is a preditaor
prey relationship between the Ridley and brachyuran crabs. Many mature
females have medium size barnacles attached to the head, carapace and
plastron. They are preyed upon by coyotes, sand crabs, red drum, jackfish,
sharks and avian predators *8816*.
Life History - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species turtle, Kemp's ridley sea
Species Id M030074
Date 26 AUG 96
LIFE HISTORY CODES -
Breeding Spawning Season: April
Breeding/Spawning Season: May
Breeding/Spawning Season: June
Breeding/Spawning Season: July
Nest/Den Site: Primary cavity (excavates its own)
Nest/Den Site: Bare ground (no or sparce vegetation)/
Average Number of Offspring/Reproductive Effort: 101-
Number of Broods/Litters (Reproductive Efforts) Per Ye
Nest/Den Site: Depression
REFERENCES FOR LIFE HISTORY- 1047, 1027, 1026, 1028, 8816, 8818, 8819 and 8850
Life History - 2 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species turtle, Kemp's ridley sea
Species Id M030074
Date 26 AUG 96
MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
RESULT MANAGEMENT PRACTICE
Beneficial Prohibiting harvest of species being described
Beneficial Transplanting wild animals
Beneficial Stocking captive-reared wild-strain animals
Beneficial Restricting/regulating human use of habitats
Beneficial Restricting/regulating human disturbance of populations
Beneficial Public education - law enforcement
Beneficial Installing protective fences
Beneficial Maintaining undisturbed/undeveloped areas
Beneficial Predator control
Existing Prohibiting harvest of species being described
Existing Transplanting wild animals
Existing Stocking captive-reared wild-strain animals
Existing Restricting/regulating human use of habitats
Existing Restricting/regulating human disturbance of populations
Existing Public education - law enforcement
Existing Installing protective fences
Existing Maintaining undisturbed/undeveloped areas
Existing Other management practices [specified in comments]
Existing Predator control
REFERENCES FOR BENEFICIAL MANAGEMENT PRACTICES - 1047, 1026 and 8850
REFERENCES FOR EXISTING MANAGEMENT PRACTICES - 1047 and 1026
COMMENTS ON MANAGEMENT PRACTICES -
The Mexican government has protected the breeding beach with military
personnel *1047*. There is a complete management plan available in the
Recovery Plan. The primary efforts to attain cooperation with Mexico include
1) mitigate factors affecting terrestrial mortality and/or stress, 2) assess
and monitor population levels on beaches, 3) Prevent extinction by
establishing captive breeding colonies and 4) mitigate factors affecting
marine mortality and/or stress *8816*.
Management Practices - 1 (DRAFT) - References
Species turtle, Kemp's ridley sea
Species Id M030074
Date 26 AUG 96
References
828 Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife. 1983. Republication of the lists of
endangered and threatened species. Federal Register
17.11-17.12:1-24.
1026 Bustard, R. 1973. Sea Turtles, Natural History and Conservation.
Taplinger Publ. New York, N.Y:22.
1027 Carr, A.F. 1952. Handbook of Turtles. Turtles of the United States,
Canada, and Baja California. Comstock Publ. Assoc. Cornell Univ.
Press, Ithaca, N.Y:542.
1028 Carr, A.F.. 1967. So Excellent a Fishe...
1047 Serv., U.S. Fish and Wildl. 1980. Selected vertebrate endangered
species of the sea coast of the United States: Kemp's (Atlantic)
ridley sea turtle.
8816 Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife. 1988. Endangered Species Information
System Booklet: Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle.
8818 Keinath, J.A., Musick, J.A., Byles, R.A. 1987. Aspects of the
biology of Virginia's sea turtles: 1979-1986. Virginia J. Science
38 (4):329-336.
8819 Bellmund, S., Musick, J.A., Klinger, R.E., Byles, R.A., Keinath, J.A.,
Barnard, D.E. 1987. Ecology of sea turtles in Virginia. VIMS
Special Scientific Report 119. VA Inst. Marine Sci., Coll. Wm. and
Mary. Gloucester Point, VA:48.
8850 Service , U.S. Fish and Wildlife. 1985. A recovery plan for marine
turtles. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Atlanta, GA:363.
9286 Virginia Dept. Game Inland Fisheries. 1988. Proceedings of symposium
on species of special concern in Virginia. In Press.
References - 1