Sea Turtle Identification

If you see a turtle on the beach you may want to know what kind of turtle you found. There are five species of sea turtles that visit the Outer Banks: Loggerhead – most common, Green – common especially as juveniles, Kemp’s Ridley – common as juveniles, Hawksbill – very rare, Leatherback – uncommon especially nearshore. If you see a turtle on the beach most likely it is a Loggerhead.

Four of the species above have a hard outer shell with either 4 or 5 visible shells plates or lateral scutes on their back.

If you find five lateral scutes the turtle is either a Loggerhead or a Kemps Ridley

 Loggerhead at a glance

• Has an egg shaped shell
• Tan/blonde skin hue
• Has a proportionally large head
• Stranded turtles tend to be > 55 cm in length

Kemp’s Ridley at a glance

• Has a round shaped shell (length and width are similar)
• Dull grayish/green/brown shell
• Stranded turtles tend to be < 55 cm in length

Green and hawksbill turtles have 4 lateral scutes

 Greens at a glance

• Shell varies in browns, and appears marbled with sunburst rays in each scute.
• Scutes do not overlap.
• Underside is creamy white
• Have flat face and serrated lower jaw.

Hawksbill at a glance

• Shell is yellowish brown with a marbled tortoise-shell pattern. Scutes appear ragged.
• Scutes overlap
• Heads are slender with bird-like beak.

The only sea turtle found on the Outer Banks that does not have a hard shell with scutes is the Leatherback as shown below.