Loggerhead Turtle Reproduction
(most of the references are from the book Biology of Sea Turtles, Volume 1 and II, edited by Peter Lutz, CRC Press)

It is estimated that Loggerhead turtles will reach sexual maturation between 30-35 years old. Even though they live in the ocean, the females return to land close to where they were hatched to lay their eggs (interoperous reproduction). The males and females leave their separate feeding areas and migrate to a  place to mate, and afterwards the males will return to their feeding grounds, while the females migrate to their nesting beaches. There are three requirements for nesting to occur. The condition for adult turtle activity must be favorable, must be conducive to embryonic development and survival, and must favor hatchlings survival. If the conditions are met, a 80% hatching success can be achieved, unless stressors like environmental changes, predation and microbiological infections occur.

 

eggs in a nest

The female turtle lays her eggs  on a warm, sandy beach. At night she digs a hole in the sand  drops her eggs into it and covers them up. These nests, called clutches, contain between 19 to 112 eggs and the female turtle will create 3-4 clutches during a season, but only every 2 to 5 years. The baby turtles will hatch after 6 to 13 weeks of incubation. The temperature of the sand determines the gender in all turtles. Cooler temperature produce male turtles, while warmer temperatures are responsible for the females. The temperature of the sand is  crucial to the survival of  the eggs as well.
24 C to 26C are ideal, less than 23 C seldom hatch and greater than 33C never hatch, because the eggs get nearly cooked.

"here I am"

After 6 to 13 weeks the hatchlings emerge from the nest usually near evening, when the temperature is cooler and they are not as likely to be detected by predators as during the day. They scramble towards the ocean and their long and dangerous journey begins.

small, but ready to go