Top Loggerhead turtle facts

Find out about the lifecycle of the loggerhead turtles, who our volunteers in Greece help to protect through nesting beach surveys, harbour research and turtle rescues. 

When do the loggerhead turtles nest?

They nest on the beaches of Kefalonia in the summer at night. They can be super busy in the summer and lay up to 6 nests each. They normally lay 3-6 nests 2 weeks apart and each nest (known as a clutch) has around 90 eggs. Each mature female turtle lays her nests every 2-3 years. 

How long until the eggs hatch?

After the eggs are laid they incubate for 55 days before starting to emerge at night. The hatchlings in the nest work together to dig out of their deep nest and it takes them around 2-5 days before they reach the surface of the beach. 

Turtle gender reveal!

Did you know the temperature of the nest links to the gender of the turtles? Studies have shown that loggerhead eggs which are incubated at 29C or higher develop into females and lower temperature nest eggs develop into males. 

How can you tell the difference between a male and a female loggerhead turtle?

Male loggerhead turtles have thicker and longer tails. The plastron (belly of their shell) is also shorter. Females have shorter and thinner tails with a longer plastron. Below is a photo of Petunia, a female loggerhead, seconds before she breaks the surface of the sea to catch a breath. 

How old do they have to be before they can reproduce?

The little hatchlings have a long journey ahead of them. They will migrate and forage the seas for 15 to 25 years before they can reproduce themselves, with females often returning to the same beach they hatched from to dig their own nest and lay their eggs! 

When do loggerhead turtles mate?

In Greece, sea turtles mate with several partners in late Spring. After mating the female stays in shallow water close to the nesting beaches. 

What do loggerhead turtles eat? 

Loggerhead turtles forage to eat mainly crabs, mussels and jellyfish. Loggerhead turtles don’t eat fish in their natural diets. 

If you would like to help these incredible turtles, our team in Greece are looking for volunteers to help research and protect them on the beautiful island of Kefalonia. You can visit our Turtle Conservation and Marine and Coastal Conservation project pages to find out how you can help.