The turtle Caretta caretta is a species of sea turtle with a worldwide distribution. It belongs to the Cheloniidae family. These turtles have, on average, a final shell length of 90 cm, although individuals up to 280 cm have been recorded. An adult turtle weighs about 135 kg, while there are records exceeding 450 kg. The color of the skin ranges from yellow to brown and the shell is usually reddish-brown. Until the turtle reaches adulthood, racial differences are not visible.
Greece is the most popular nesting area along the Mediterranean, with more than 3,000 nests per year. The Caretta turtle spends most of its life in the sea and estuaries, with females only coming ashore for a short time to lay their eggs. It has a low reproductive rate: females lay an average of four clutches of eggs and then remain inactive and do not spawn again for two to three years. It reaches sexual maturity at the age of 17-33 and has a lifespan of 47-67 years.
It is omnivorous and feeds mainly on benthic invertebrates (the living organisms that live at the bottom of the seas). Its large and powerful jaws serve as an effective tool to tear its prey to pieces. Eggs are particularly vulnerable to terrestrial predators. Once turtles reach adulthood, their large size affords them protection from most predators, with the exception of some sharks. Sea turtles are considered an endangered species and are protected by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Abandoned and in-use fishing gear is responsible for many turtle deaths. Special devices have been placed in the nets in an effort to reduce mortality, providing an escape route for the turtles. The loss of suitable nesting beaches and the introduction of new predators have also affected the turtle population. Efforts to restore their numbers require more general cooperation, given that turtles roam vast areas of the ocean and nesting beaches are scattered across different countries.