Pacific Ridley
Lepidochelys olivacea
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassTestudines
- FamilyCheloniidae (Typical Sea Turtles)
- GenusLepidochelys (Ridley Sea Turtles)
- SpeciesLepidochelys olivacea (Pacific Ridley)
The olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea), also known commonly as the Pacific ridley sea turtle, is a species of turtle in the family Cheloniidae. The species is the second-smallest and most abundant of all sea turtles found in the world. L. olivacea is found in warm and tropical waters, primarily in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, but also in the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean. This turtle and the related Kemp's ridley sea turtle are best known for their unique synchronised mass nestings called arribadas, where thousands of females come together on the same beach to lay eggs. Wikipedia →
📅 Monthly Probability
Fewer than 5 records of Pacific Ridley at Fiordland National Park — not enough to chart months honestly.
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ostional Wildlife Refuge | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 2 | Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 3 | Las Baulas Marine National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 4 | Corcovado National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 5 | Utría National Natural Park | 🇨🇴 Colombia | |
| 6 | Santa Rosa National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 7 | Machalilla National Park | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | |
| 8 | Bahía de Loreto National Park | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 9 | Coiba National Park | 🇵🇦 Panama | |
| 10 | Manuel Antonio National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 11 | Marino Ballena National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 12 | Darién National Park | 🇵🇦 Panama | |
| 13 | El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 14 | Carara National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 15 | Fiordland National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 16 | Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 17 | Galápagos Islands | 🇪🇨 Ecuador |