(Image credit: Bernard Gagnon)

Pacific ridleys, also known as Olive ridleys have as the name suggests have a pale green shell. They are the smallest marine turtles. Their carapace is covered with scutes (scales). The presence of more then 5 costal scutes and pores is diagnostic for the species.

Length: About 60 cm

Habitat

Open ocean, coral reefs, bays and estuaries in all tropical and sub-tropical oceans; 0-200 m depth

Log it

Turtle distribution and movement patterns are not well know, so please log this species if spotted in South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria or Western Australia

Related links/info

Species names on the Redmap site are based on the Codes for Australian Aquatic Biota or CAAB (http://www.cmar.csiro.au/caab/). This is updated regularly and lists the approved common name, family, species name and more.

Redmap species descriptions were based, with permission on the following books.

Australian Marine Life: The Plants and Animals of Temperate Waters by G. J. Edgar, Revised (2008) Reed Books, Melbourne

Fishes of Australia’s Southern Coast, Edited by M. Gomon. D. Bray and R. Kuiter (2008) Reed Books, Melbourne

Fishes of Tasmania by P. Last, E. Scott and F. Talbot (1983). Tasmanian Fisheries Development Authority, Hobart