Vulnerable
IUCN Status
Known for mass arribadas
45 kg
Average Weight
Compact, agile swimmer
6-9 Pairs
Lateral Scutes
Highest scute count
100,000+
Arribada Count
Synchronized mass nesting
Biological Profile & Identification
The Olive Ridley Sea Turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) is the most abundant sea turtle species on Earth, famed for its extraordinary, synchronized mass nesting events known as Arribadas (Spanish for “Arrivals”). During an arribada, tens of thousands of female turtles emerge simultaneously onto a single stretch of beach over several consecutive nights.
Key Anatomical Characteristics
- Heart-Shaped Olive Carapace: High-domed, heart-shaped shell with an olive-green coloration and a pale yellow-green plastron.
- Variable Costal Scutes: Possesses 6 to 9 pairs of lateral scutes, often asymmetrical on either side of the shell.
- Compact Build: One of the smallest sea turtle species, allowing rapid swimming and shallow coastal maneuvering.
Top Global Sanctuaries for Olive Ridley Encounters
- Ostional Wildlife Refuge (Guanacaste, Costa Rica) — World-famous arribada destination with hundreds of thousands of nesting turtles.
- Playa La Flor (Nicaragua) — Major Pacific arribada sanctuary.
- Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary (Odisha, India) — Largest mass nesting site in Asia.
