Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation photo.
Kemp's Ridley, Lepidochelys kempii
Kemps ridley is one of the smallest of the sea turtles found in Florida waters. It rarely nests in Florida. It's largest nesting areas are on Gulf of Mexico beaches in northern Mexico and southern Texas. However, juveniles and adults occasionally wash ashore on Fort Matanzas National Monument beaches after being injured in shrimp trawls or in collisions with boats. The U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service lists Kemps Ridley as an 'Endangered Species'. It is probably the most endangered of all sea turtles.
Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation photo.
