North Inlet - Winyah Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. Loggerhead sea turtles nest on South Carolina beaches from May to August. Adult and juvenile sea turtles can be observed in South Carolina estuaries during most months of the year where they feed on a variety of shellfish.




Image ID: nerr0347, NOAA National Estuarine Research Reserve Collection
Location: Vicinity of Georgetown, South Carolina

Source:
The NOAA Photo Library http://www.photolib.noaa.gov
The National Oceanic & Atmospheric Adminstration (NOAA) http://www.noaa.gov/


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The loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) is a species of oceanic turtle distributed throughout the world. Caretta caretta is a marine reptile, belonging to the family Cheloniidae. The skin ranges from yellow to brown in color, and the shell is typically reddish brown. Caretta caretta is found in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, as well as the Mediterranean Sea.
Order: Testudines > Suborder: Cryptodira > Superfamily: Chelonioidea > Family: Cheloniidae > Subfamily: Carettinae > Genus: Caretta >
Species: Caretta caretta