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Olive ridley turtle on wet sand with a reflection of the turtle visible

Olive ridley turtle

Olive ridley turtles would once arrive in huge flotillas to nest at sandy beaches, but human influence on their habitat has changed that. One of the smallest species of sea turtle, they are now critically endangered and efforts to protect their nesting sites are being made in many areas.

Scientific name: Lepidochelys olivacea

Rank: Species

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Distribution

The Olive ridley turtle can be found in a number of locations including: Africa, Asia, Australia, Great Barrier Reef, Indian subcontinent, North America, South America. Find out more about these places and what else lives there.

Habitats

The following habitats are found across the Olive ridley turtle distribution range. Find out more about these environments, what it takes to live there and what else inhabits them.

Behaviours

Discover what these behaviours are and how different plants and animals use them.

Additional data source: Animal Diversity Web

Conservation Status

Vulnerable

  1. EX - Extinct
  2. EW
  3. CR - Threatened
  4. EN - Threatened
  5. VU - Threatened
  6. NT
  7. LC - Least concern

Population trend: Decreasing

Year assessed: 2008

Classified by: IUCN 3.1

About

The olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea), also known as the Pacific ridley sea turtle, is a medium-sized species of sea turtle found in warm and tropical waters, primarily in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

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