# How Long Do Loggerhead Sea Turtles Live?

> Loggerhead Sea Turtle lifespan is typically 45–50 years; maturity at 20–30 years. What shortens or extends life, life stages, and status (Vulnerable).

- **Species:** Loggerhead Sea Turtle (*Caretta caretta*)
- **Conservation status:** Vulnerable
- **Diet:** Carnivore — crabs, molluscs, jellyfish, and fish
- **Habitat:** Temperate and tropical oceans worldwide
- **Lifespan:** 45–50 years; maturity at 20–30 years
- **Top speed:** Up to 24 km/h (15 mph) swimming
- **Canonical HTML:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/loggerhead-turtle/how-long-do-loggerhead-turtle-live/
- **Parent profile:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/loggerhead-turtle/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Quick answer

The loggerhead is a large sea turtle found in temperate and tropical oceans worldwide, named for its exceptionally big, powerful-jawed head. Adults reach about 1 m in shell length and weigh 80 to 200 kg, using their strong jaws to crush hard-shelled prey like crabs and molluscs. They are long-lived, reaching 45 to 50 years, but mature only at 20 to 30 years old. The IUCN lists the loggerhead as Vulnerable.

## Who should skip this page

Skip this if you need a prognosis for one named animal. This page is a species lifespan range.

## Appearance and adaptations

The loggerhead takes its name from its unusually large head and thick, muscular jaws, which give it a bite powerful enough to crush shellfish. Its heart-shaped shell is a warm reddish-brown above and paler yellow beneath, typically reaching around 1 m in length. Adults weigh between 80 and 200 kg, making the loggerhead one of the larger hard-shelled sea turtles. Powerful, flipper-like front limbs propel it through the water at speeds of up to 24 km/h in short bursts.

## Help protect the Loggerhead Sea Turtle

The loggerhead sea turtle is listed as Vulnerable, with habitat loss the leading threat to its future.

[Donate to protect habitat](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/appeals/habitats/)

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/loggerhead-turtle/how-long-do-loggerhead-turtle-live/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.