While my kids were in Mexico a couple of weeks ago they got some great shots of an Olive ridley sea turtle swimming in Zihuatanejo Bay.
I did a bit of research and found that they get their name because of the olive/grayish-green color of their heart-shaped carapace (top shell),
These turtles live in the Pacific and Indian oceans and in tropical areas of the Atlantic. Although considered abundant, in some areas they are listed as endangered due to loss of habitat and pollution.
They are the 2nd smallest sea turtle,. If they survive to adulthood they can live up to 50 years.
Olive Ridley sea turtles are omnivores, eating both plants and animals. Their diet includes algae, jellyfish, crabs, shrimp, mollusks, and sometimes fish. often diving to depths of 500 feet (150 m) to feed on bottom-dwelling crustaceans. That's impressive. When I have gone scuba diving the deepest I have gone is 60 feet.
Olive Ridley turtles can hold their breath for several hours, depending on their activity level, but they must surface to breathe.
Living in the middle part of the US, far from any ocean, it's always quite thrilling to see the creatures that live in the sea!
