Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempii)

photo by Kim Bassos-Hull

The Kemp’s ridley is the smallest of all sea turtle species, growing to two feet and weighing approximately 90 lbs. The shell ranges in color from an olive to gray-green and is oval or heart shaped. Kemp’s ridleys live in shallow coastal areas, bays, and lagoons primarily in the Gulf of Mexico. Click here to learn about our work to protect the Kemp's Ridley in Texas.

Download a fact sheet about the Kemp's ridley here.

The only U. S. nesting site for the Kemp's ridely is in Texas, click here for interactive map.