arribada

noun

ar·​ri·​ba·​da ˌär-ē-ˈbä-də 

plural arribadas

: the synchronized, large-scale nesting of some species of sea turtle (such as the Kemp's ridley and olive ridley)

During an arribada, hundreds of thousands of these 2-foot-long turtles (the smallest [sea turtles] in the world) gather off certain beaches, and over several days, come ashore to dig holes in the sand and lay eggs.

—Susan Scott, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 28 Sept. 2009

The arribada appears to be a behavior unique to the genus Lepidochelys, and the arribadas of olive ridleys are considered one of the wonders of the world.

—Ann Barkau Meylan, Natural History, November 1986

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Spanish, literally, "landing, arrival," from arribar "to land, put to shore, arrive" (going back to Vulgar Latin arrīpāre) + -ada, suffix of action and collectivities

First Known Use

1971, in the meaning defined above

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