Description of the Olive Ridley Turtle
(Lepidochelys olivacea)
Colouration*HeadLimbsCarapacePlastronWeightDistribution
![taxlo-lo-nesting-c-s-a-eckert-widecast](https://widecast.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/TAXLO-Lo-nesting-c-S-A-Eckert-WIDECAST-300x239.jpg)
*source: Pritchard & Mortimier (1999)
![lo-at-sea-head-c-s-a-eckert-widecastlarge](https://widecast.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Lo-at-sea-head-c-S-A-Eckert-WIDECASTlarge-1-300x200.jpg)
![taxlo-lo-head-profile](https://widecast.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/TAXLO-LO-head-profile-300x218.gif)
Two claws on each flipper (some adults may lose the secondary claw on the front flippers).
Short and wide, but narrower and higher than in L. kempii; high vertebral projections in juveniles; carapace smooth but elevated and somewhat tectiform (tent-shaped) in adults (especially in the East Pacific); five to nine pairs of costal scutes (usually six to eight) often with asymmetrical configuration; carapace scutes slightly overlapping in juveniles, non-overlapping in adults; straight carapace length (SCL) to 72 cm.
![taxlo-lo-nancite-best-c-s-cornelius](https://widecast.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/TAXLO-Lo-Nancite-best-c-S-Cornelius-300x237.jpg)
![taxlo-lo-juv-ventral2-etp-1993-c-robert-l-pitman](https://widecast.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/TAXLO-Lo-juv-ventral2-ETP-1993-c-Robert-L-Pitman-300x239.jpg)
![taxlo-lo-ventral](https://widecast.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/TAXLO-LO-ventral-284x300.gif)
Typically 35-50 kg.
Tropical waters of Pacific, Indian and South Atlantic Ocean.