SEA TURTLES OF FLORIDA
FIVE OF THE SEVEN SPECIES OF SEA TURTLES ARE FOUND IN FLORIDA
  HATCHLINGS OF ALL SPECIES EMERGE AT NIGHT FROM NESTS ON BEACHES, RACE INTO THE SURF, AND SWIM OFFSHORE. AS ADULTS, EACH SPECIES HAS ITS OWN PREFERRED HABITAT.
KEMP'S RIDLEYS PROWL SHALLOW INSHORE WATERS, FORAGING AROUND MUDDY OYSTER BARS AND SALT MARSHES, WHERE THEY HUNT CRABS AND OTHER BOTTOM LIVING INVERTEBRATES.
 
  LEATHERBACKS STAY IN DEEPER OFFSHORE WATERS, GROWING TO ALMOST 1 TON IN WEIGHT ON A DIET OF JELLYFISH.
LOGGERHEADS RANGE OVER THE CONTINENTAL SHELVES AND ARE THE MOST COMMON SPECIES TO NEST ON FLORIDA BEACHES. THEY FEED ON CRABS, SOFT CORALS, SNAILS, CLAMS AND HORSESHOE CRABS.
  
  GREEN TURTLES GRAZE ON GRASS AND ALGAE IN SEAGRASS MEADOWS. MACROALGAE ON NEARSHORE HARD BOTTOM IS IMPORTANT FOR JUVENILE GREEN TURTLES.