Sea turtle species found in Brazil

Five of the world’s seven species of sea turtle are found in Brazil.

However, all are considered vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and two of the Brazilian turtles are threatened with extinction.

According to the Tamar Project, sea turtles have existed for more than 150 million years.

Tartarugas marinhas encontradas no Brasil — Sea turtles found in Brazil

Sea turtles live in tropical waters and in Brazil they are often found in Recife, Pernambuco.

A female can lay four to six eggs per season.

It is estimated that of every 100 hatchlings born, only one will survive to adulthood.

mapa das espécies de tartarugas marinhas encontradas no litoral brasileiro — Map of sea turtle species found along the coast

Video about sea turtles

Tartarugas marinhas do Brasil06:24

Projeto Tamar

Espécies de tartarugas marinhas no Brasil

As incríveis tartarugas marinhas06:20

5 species of turtles found in Brazil

1. loggerhead sea turtle

Scientific name: Caretta caretta

Tartaruga Cabeçuda ou Mestiça — Loggerhead sea turtle

Characteristics: This species of sea turtle can reach up to 136 cm in length and weigh between 100 and 180 kg.

The loggerhead takes its name from the size of its head and its extremely powerful jaws.

Its population is estimated at 60,000 females of reproductive age. The main nesting areas for the loggerhead turtle in Brazil are in northern Bahia, Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro and Sergipe.

2. Green Turtle

Scientific name: Chelonia mydas

Tartaruga Verde ou Aruanã — Green or Aruanã Turtle

Characteristics: The green turtle can reach up to 143 cm in length and weigh around 200 kg. Their habitat is coastal waters with plenty of vegetation and they are rarely seen on the high seas.

The population is estimated at 203,000 females of reproductive age.

Spawning takes place mainly on Trindade Island (ES), Atol das Rocas (RN) and Fernando de Noronha (PE).

3. Coriaceous turtle

Scientific name: Dermochelys coriacea

Tartaruga de Pente ou Legítima — Hawksbill Turtle

Characteristics: The hawksbill turtle is listed by the IUCN as a critically endangered species.

The main causes are the exploitation of their eggs on beaches, loss and degradation of their habitat, capture and entanglement in fishing nets.

They can grow to 114 cm in length and weigh up to 150 kg. Spawning is most common on the north coast of Bahia and Sergipe and on the south coast of Rio Grande do Norte.

4. Leatherback or giant turtle

Scientific name: Eretmochelys imbricata

Tartaruga de Couro ou Gigante — Leatherback or giant turtle

Features: The leatherback turtle is the largest of all the species and is also critically endangered.

Animals up to 182cm long have been recorded in Brazil.

They can weigh up to 700 kg. The giant leatherback population is estimated at 34,000 females of reproductive age, and regularly spawns on the north coast of Espírito Santo.

5. Olive Ridley Turtle

Scientific name: Lepidochelys olivacea

Characteristics: The Olive Ridley is the smallest of the species found in Brazil. It can reach up to 82 cm in length and weighs an average of 40 kg.

The world population is estimated at 800,000 females of reproductive age. The spawning area is between the south coast of the state of Alagoas and the north coast of Bahia.