Loggerhead sea turtle
Sternotherus odoratus
- lateral view head 1
Technically speaking this species should NEVER be found on a marine life website as it is a non-native freshwater species that is sold by the pet trade in the UK. The species is a native of SE Canada and the eastern United States of America.
It is unknow if the species was illegally released into the wild into freshwater or seawater, but as the species was found washed-up alive on the beach at Crantock, near Newquay, Cornwall, during the winter of 2015/16, I've no option but to feature the species here in case this happens again, or should someone stumble upon a naturalized colony in the wild somewhere.
After the animal was found it was taken by the finder to Blue Reef Aquarium at Newquay, where it was cared for, quarantined and later put on display.