Kemp's+Ridley+Sea+Turtle

//Jessica Seib // Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle  Scientifically known as //Lepidochelys Kempii// Commonly known as Turtle or Tortoise

 **What category is the species:** Reptile  **What does the species look like:** The Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle is the smallest sea turtle. Adult Kemp's Ridley Turtles are about two feet in length and weigh approximately 100 pounds.  **What does the species eat:** A Kemp's Ridley Turtle's diet is mostly crabs.  **How and when do they breed:**  lay eggs between April and June off the coast of mexico. Females can nest up to four times a season, laying 110 eggs each time. **What countries/continents are they located?** Off of the coast of Mexico and United States.  **Historic range/current range:** The Kemp's Ridley turtle is the most endangered of all sea turtles. After 1947, populations decreased dramatically, with only recent increases seen due to human intervention.  **Where do they live/nest?:** The live in the oceans of coastal North America.  **Are they migratory?** Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtles do not tend to migrate.  **Above or below ground? Do they hibernate?** Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtles live in the sea.  **Predators or interspecies relationships?** They are predators (crabs).
 * <span style="color: #8fe637; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Description: **
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Habitat: **

The Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle's population decreased dramatically after it reached a peak of 40,000 nesting females in 1947. This population decline may have been related to over population. Also, a large increase in commercial fishing is thought to have disrupted the Kemp's Ridley population.
 * <span style="color: #8fe637; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Problems: **
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Why has the species become endangered: Loss or change in the environment? Loss of food supply? Are they hunted for food or value? Disease? **


 * <span style="color: #8fe637; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Solutions: **
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">What steps have been taken to protect the species? Protection efforts have been made, and regulations have been implemented against commercial fishing. **
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Have plans been made to improve the environment of the species or have they been moved to another environment **<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">**? Are there breeding programs in place to increase population? Are there any organizations that have assisted in improving the environment of the species?** Regulations have been made to protect all nesting females on the coast of North America. North America also has designated several turtle protection camps where fishing is prohibited. Mexico has also fenced in areas to prevent natural predation.

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">http://ecos.fws.gov/speciesProfile/profile/speciesProfile.action?spcode=C00O http://www.fws.gov/northflorida/seaturtles/turtle%20factsheets/kemps-ridley-sea-turtle.htm
 * <span style="color: #8fe637; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">References: **