The loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) is an omnivore that mostly eats hard-shelled and soft-bodied invertebrates such as crabs, conchs, whelks, clams, jellyfish and squid. Its diet changes as it grows, from small animals in floating seaweed as a hatchling to crab- and mollusk-crushing as an adult. Its food web includes predators at every stage of life.
What Loggerheads Eat
Loggerheads have a big head and powerful jaws that crush shells. According to the U.S. National Park Service, invertebrates seem to be their most important food source, with prey including sponges, jellyfish, marine worms, squid, conchs, whelks, bivalves, shrimp, crabs, sea urchins and starfish, plus some algae and seagrass.
Diet by Life Stage
- Hatchlings and young turtles: after they reach the ocean, they drift in floating mats of Sargassum seaweed, which shelter small animals they can eat.
- Juveniles: they feed on surface-dwelling animals such as jellyfish and other floating invertebrates in open water.
- Adults: they spend more time in coastal waters feeding on bottom-dwelling prey like crabs, whelks and clams.
The Loggerhead Food Web
- Producers: algae, seagrass and Sargassum, at the base.
- Primary consumers: small invertebrates that graze on algae and detritus.
- Loggerheads: they eat many of those invertebrates and the animals that feed on them.
- Predators of turtles: eggs and hatchlings are eaten by animals such as ghost crabs, raccoons, foxes, dogs, seabirds and fish. Larger sharks and other big predators may take bigger turtles.
Human Threats
Loggerheads are threatened by fishing gear (bycatch), loss of nesting beaches, coastal lighting that confuses hatchlings, plastic pollution and climate change. Protecting nesting beaches, using turtle-friendly gear and reducing plastic waste all help.
Why They Matter
By eating hard-shelled invertebrates and jellyfish, loggerheads help keep prey populations in balance. As nest eggs break down on beaches, they also add nutrients to dune ecosystems.
Related Reading
If you’re studying sea turtles, compare this with our green sea turtle food chain page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are loggerheads herbivores?
No. They mainly eat animals, with some algae and seagrass as well.
What eats loggerhead turtles?
Eggs and hatchlings face many predators, while adults have few natural enemies other than large sharks.
Can I feed a wild sea turtle?
No. Feeding wild sea turtles is harmful and often illegal. If you see an injured turtle, contact local wildlife authorities.
Bottom Line
Loggerheads are shell-crushing omnivores that eat crabs, mollusks and jellyfish, and they face predators and human threats at every life stage.
