Ridley Turtles Nest in Huge Synchronised Arrivals
A ridley is a small sea turtle. Two species share the name, and both nest in mass gatherings called arribadas.
A ridley is one of two small sea turtle species: the olive ridley and Kemp's ridley. Both are known for the *arribada*, a mass synchronised nesting in which tens of thousands of females come ashore over a few days. The name's origin is unknown, one of the few animal names in English with no traceable source.
- A small sea turtle. *An olive ridley.*
- Kemp's ridley — the rarest sea turtle. *A Kemp's ridley nest.*
- Arribada — a mass nesting. *An arribada on the beach.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | ridley | An olive ridley. |
| Plural | ridleys | Nesting ridleys. |
| Related | arribada | A mass arribada. |
| Related | turtle | A green turtle. |
| Related | hatchling | Turtle hatchlings. |
How it is used in a sentence
- An arribada brings thousands ashore at once.Over a few days.
- Kemp's ridley is the rarest sea turtle.Nesting mainly on one Mexican beach.
- The name's origin is unknown.Unusually for an animal.
Sea turtle facts
- Seven species — worldwide, most of them threatened
- Temperature-dependent sex — nest warmth determines the hatchlings' sex
- Natal homing — females return to the beach where they hatched
- Arribada — the mass nesting strategy of ridleys
- Turtle excluder devices — fitted to trawl nets to reduce bycatch
Of unknown origin, recorded in English from the nineteenth century. Several explanations have been proposed and none confirmed.
What is an arribada?
A synchronised mass nesting in which thousands of female ridley turtles come ashore over a few days, from the Spanish for arrival.
Why does nest temperature matter?
Because it determines the hatchlings' sex. Warmer nests produce more females, which makes the species vulnerable to warming.