Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle
Lepidochelys kempii
Part of this record is confirmed against an official source; other parts are not. See the notes below for exactly which.
Endangered Species Act status and the shared Virginia Aquarium stranding-hotline procedure are directly confirmed against Virginia DWR's own Sea Turtles in Virginia page. Identification features (smallest sea turtle, circular olive-gray carapace, triangular head, purple-gray hatchling coloring) are directly confirmed against the Virginia DWR's own Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle species page and corroborated by the National Wildlife Federation's own species guide.
The smallest sea turtle species — an adult is only about 2 feet long, far smaller than loggerhead or green sea turtle — with an almost circular, olive-gray carapace.
Identification
- Smallest of all sea turtles: adults reach only about 2 feet in length and up to 100 lbs.
- Nearly circular carapace, almost as wide as it is long, usually olive-gray; the plastron (bottom shell) is yellow-green to white in adults.
- Triangular-shaped head with a somewhat hooked beak built for crushing prey.
- Hatchlings are almost entirely dark purple/gray on both sides — a very different look from the olive-gray adult.
How you might encounter this species
The second most regularly-occurring sea turtle in Virginia waters — the world's most endangered sea turtle species, so a real, if infrequent, Virginia encounter carries particular conservation weight. Never a legal target.
- Where you might see it
- Lower Chesapeake Bay, Nearshore ocean waters
What not to do
Do not attempt to remove fishing line, a hook, or other entangling gear yourself beyond cutting the line as close to the water as safely possible. Do not attempt to lift, move, or restrain a turtle. Do not approach or handle a stranded/beached turtle beyond keeping people and pets away while awaiting a response.
What to do instead
Same guidance as loggerhead sea turtle: cut the line rather than remove the hook if one is caught while fishing, let it swim off if able, and call the Virginia Aquarium's Stranding Response Team immediately for any weakened, injured, or dead turtle — this species' endangered status makes a prompt, correct report especially valuable.
Report a stranded, injured, or entangled animal
This page is educational, not a substitute for professional wildlife-response guidance. Never attempt to rescue, handle, or disentangle a protected animal yourself — contact trained responders using the number above.