Lepidochelys kempii

Kemp's Ridley Turtles are the most endangered sea turtle species and are known for their unique mass nesting behavior, called "arribadas," where thousands of females come ashore to lay their eggs simultaneously. They primarily feed on crabs, fish, jellyfish, and mollusks.

This species has a precise and synchronized nesting process, primarily occurring during the daytime. Females lay approximately 100 eggs per nest and can nest multiple times during a season. The eggs incubate for about 45 to 60 days before the hatchlings emerge and head to the sea.

Kemp's Ridley Turtles are the smallest sea turtles, with adults reaching about 60 to 70 cm in shell length and weighing around 45 kg. They have a triangular-shaped head and a carapace that is usually olive-gray.

Kemp's Ridley Turtles were once near extinction in the mid-20th century due to egg harvesting and bycatch. Their numbers have slowly increased due to strict conservation measures but remain critically low.

Listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN, Kemp's Ridley Turtles face threats from habitat loss, pollution, climate change, and incidental capture in fishing gear. Conservation efforts include protected nesting beaches, use of turtle excluder devices by fisheries, and international cooperation between countries like Mexico and the United States to protect this species.