California Reptiles & Amphibians

Comparison of California Sea Turtles

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Back to California Sea Turtle Identification Key

Leatherback Sea Turtle - Dermochelys coriacea	Green Sea Turtle - Chelonia mydas	Pacific Hawksbill Sea Turtle - Eretmochelys imbricata bissa	Loggerhead Sea Turtle - Caretta caretta	Olive Ridley Sea Turtle - Lepidochelys olivacea
The Leatherback's huge size, smooth leathery skin, and shell with 7 prominent lengthwise dorsal ridges, or keels, and no visible scutes, differentiate it from any other sea turtle.	This is probably the most commonly-seen sea turtle in California waters.	These pictures show an Atlantic Hawksbill, but there is no difference in appearance for our purposes.	The largest sea turtle with a hard shell.	The smallest sea turtle.
© Matthew Godfrey			© Carlos Rodriguez Munoz	© William Flaxington

Dorsal ridges.	The head is not as broad as that of the Loggerhead.	Long raptor-like snout	Head is very broad. The shell is high in front.	The head is not as broad as that of the Loggerhead.

	One pair of pre-frontals	Two pairs of pre-frontals	Two pairs of pre-frontals	Two pairs of pre-frontals
			© Carlos Rodriguez Munoz	© William Flaxington
	Four costal shields on each side. The first shield does not touch the nuchal.	Four costal shields on each side	5 or more costal shields on each side. The first shield touches the nuchal.	5 - 9 costal shields on each side. The first shield touches the nuchal.
			© Carlos Rodriguez Munoz	© William Flaxington
	Adult shell is plain greenish, olive, or brown.	Marbled radiating pattern on the shell. The edge of the shell is serrated and the shields overlap like shingles.	The posterior rim of the shell is serrated.	Shell is olive to gray in color, and smooth on adults.

	Younger turtles have a mottled or radiating pattern on the shell, somewhat similar to the Hawksbill.