Olive ridley turtle

What is the scientific name of the olive ridley turtle?

The scientific name of the olive ridley turtle is Lepidochelys olivacea, in the family Cheloniidae. In Indonesian it is called Penyu lekang.

What kind of animal is the olive ridley turtle?

The olive ridley turtle is a marine animal in the family Cheloniidae. By diet it is a carnivore (meat-eater): a eater of marine invertebrates (jellyfish, snails, shrimp, crabs).

Where does the olive ridley turtle live in Indonesia?

In Indonesia, this guide records the olive ridley turtle in: Indonesian seas; nesting recorded in Gianyar, Bali (2022), and a stranding at Gili Air, West Nusa Tenggara (2025).

What does the olive ridley turtle eat?

The olive ridley turtle is a eater of marine invertebrates (jellyfish, snails, shrimp, crabs). That makes it a carnivore (meat-eater). Source: Animal Diversity Web.

How does the olive ridley turtle reproduce?

The olive ridley turtle reproduces by laying eggs (oviparous). Source: Reptile Database.

Is the olive ridley turtle poisonous?

Only if eaten. Sea turtles are not venomous, but eating turtle meat has caused fatal mass poisonings (chelonitoxism). Source: Pavlin et al. 2015, Mass poisoning after consumption of a hawksbill turtle, Federated States of Micronesia, 2010 (Western Pac Surveill Response J).

Do not catch, handle or disturb wild animals. If bitten, stung or exposed to its toxins, go to the nearest health facility straight away.

What is the scientific classification of the olive ridley turtle?

Scientific classification of the olive ridley turtle: kingdom Animalia, phylum Chordata, class Reptilia, order Testudines, family Cheloniidae, genus Lepidochelys, species Lepidochelys olivacea.

Source: GBIF Backbone Taxonomy, adjusted to the ranks commonly used in school biology.

Is the olive ridley turtle endangered?

Yes. On the IUCN Red List, the olive ridley turtle is listed as Vulnerable: it is considered to face a high risk of extinction in the wild. Source: IUCN Red List (via GBIF), checked 1 October 2026.

This global category is separate from national legal protection. Is the olive ridley turtle protected in Indonesia?

Is the olive ridley turtle protected in Indonesia?

Yes. The olive ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) is a protected species in Indonesia under Environment and Forestry Ministerial Regulation No. P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018 on protected plant and animal species (annex, entry 703).

It is also fully protected under Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministerial Decree No. 66 of 2025 on protected fish species (first provision, entry 41).

Article 21(2) of Law No. 5 of 1990, as amended by Law No. 32 of 2024, prohibits anyone from hunting, catching, injuring, killing, storing, owning, keeping, transporting or trading a protected animal, alive or dead, including its body parts, eggs and nests.

If you see this animal being traded, kept or injured, contact the local BKSDA office.

Can the olive ridley turtle be kept as a pet?

No. Because the olive ridley turtle is a protected species, catching, owning, keeping, transporting or trading it without a permit is prohibited by law. Trading without a permit through electronic media is also prohibited.

If you see this animal for sale or being kept, report it to the local BKSDA office.