Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle

Female turtles lay their eggs on a beach along the east coast of Mexico. It is the only known major nesting beach in the world for this turtle. Females nest in large groups called "arribazones". Groups of females move onto the beach to lay their eggs over a period of a few days. Each turtle digs a hole in the sand, deposits her eggs, and returns to the sea. In 50-55 days, the eggs hatch and the baby turtles (hatchlings) rush to the water and out to sea. After at least 10 years at sea, adult females return to nest at the same beach where they hatched. Male turtles never leave the water. They appear in waters near the nesting beach during the breeding season to mate with the females. Other than that, we know little about the males.

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