(Caretta caretta) The loggerhead sea turtle is a large reddish-brown sea turtle with a disproportionately large head. Adult loggerheads range in size from 0.85-l.0 meters (33-40 inches) shell length and weigh between 68-182 kilograms (150-400 pounds). Loggerhead sea turtles are the most common sea turtle encountered in the southeastern U.S., and are frequently observed around wrecks, underwater structures, and reefs, where they forage on a variety of crabs, jellyfish, and mollusks. The most significant threats to loggerheads are coastal development, commercial fisheries, and pollution. In addition, loggerhead turtles are often captured incidental to shrimp trawling. Shrimping is thought to have played a significant role in the population declines observed for this species.

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