**2.2 Taxonomy and nomenclature**


#### **Table 1.**

*Kemp's ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys kempii) taxonomy [13].*

#### **Figure 2.**

*Pictures showing general morphology of Kemp's ridley. (A and B) general view; (C) Aeria l view; (D) Lateral view; and (E) Frontal view. Pictures courtesy: Fátima Y. Camacho-Sánchez.*

#### **2.3 Life cycle**

The Kemp's ridley sea turtle presents characteristics that differentiate it from other species, in addition to its small size and restricted distribution, this species, nests during the day, and as with the olive ridley sea turtle nests on mass in a

**119**

pressure [17].

*Rediscovering Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle (*Lepidochelys kempii*): Molecular Analysis and Threats*

phenomenon known as an "arribada". Kemps ridley females deposit an average of 90–100 eggs per nest. These turtles nest 2 to 3 times per season, with an interval of 14–28 days between laying each clutch of eggs. Another distinctive feature are the pores located in their plastron, known as "Rathke's gland", through which they

Globally the Kemp's ridleys sea turtle is represented by one unique population which presents one of the most restricted distributions of all sea turtle species. Kemp's ridleys are found primarily in the Gulf of Mexico and secondarily in the Atlantic Ocean, on the south-eastern coasts of the United States (USA). Approximately 70% of the population nests on a beach with a linear extension of 30.4 km, located in Rancho Nuevo, in Tamaulipas, Mexico. Ninety-seven per cent of the population lives in an area of 146 km that includes Rancho Nuevo beach and surrounding areas. A small proportion of the population is found on the coast of Veracruz, Mexico and the coast of Texas, USA (**Figure 1**). In southern Texas, South Padre Island is considered a secondary rookery for Kemp's ridley nesting after

On rare occasions, they are found off the coasts of Canada, Bermuda, Azores, Madeira and in the Mediterranean Sea [16]. However, the Gulf of Mexico is more than just the nesting ground for Kemp's ridley turtles. In addition to navigating neritic areas, both hatchling and juvenile Kemp's ridley turtles use oceanic areas of the Gulf of Mexico during their development, by entering the open ocean to forage. During migration, turtles can be found in the Northwest Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea (**Figure 2**), for example, Bermuda, Canada, France, Ireland,

The Kemp's ridley turtle shares many characteristics with other sea turtle species in terms of its life cycle. Female turtles nest on beaches, depositing their eggs beneath the sand. The eggs hatch after approximately 45–58 days and the hatchlings migrate to the sea. The following years are spent on foraging grounds where they develop into adults at which point, they return to their natal area to reproduce and nest. During the sea turtle lifecycles, three key phases occur, and these are divided

The Kemps ridley turtle uses terrestrial ecosystem during three stages of its life cycle: nesting females, eggs, and hatchlings. The principal Kemp's ridley nesting beach at Rancho Nuevo is characterised by small dunes of variable size, with vegetation that improves stability. The sand is small and fine-grained, and the beach is high energy. The nesting season runs from March to August [15]. Mass nesting events or *arribadas* occur mainly in early April through the July period. These phenomena can be triggered by meteorological conditions represented by strong winds, primarily from the north, or by a change in atmospheric

Kemp's ridley nesting typically occurs during the day; however, reports of sporadic cases of nocturnal nesting exist in Texas. Clutch incubation lasts between 45–60 days, and climatic conditions act directly on embryo development with incubation duration and hatchling sex ratios affected by temperature. Studies have shown that sex ratios are male-biased at the beginning of the nesting season when temperatures are lower. In contrast, nests produce mainly female hatchlings when

laid during the second arribada when temperatures are highest [18].

by ecosystem: terrestrial phase, neritic phase, and oceanic phase.

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.96655*

**2.4 Biogeography**

Rancho Nuevo [15].

Portugal and the United Kingdom [13, 16].

**2.5 Terrestrial zone (Hatching)**

secrete a substance that is considered a pheromone [14].

phenomenon known as an "arribada". Kemps ridley females deposit an average of 90–100 eggs per nest. These turtles nest 2 to 3 times per season, with an interval of 14–28 days between laying each clutch of eggs. Another distinctive feature are the pores located in their plastron, known as "Rathke's gland", through which they secrete a substance that is considered a pheromone [14].
