Kemp's ridley

noun

ˈkemps- 

: a small gray sea turtle (Lepidochelys kempii) with a wide rounded shell that occurs especially in the Gulf of Mexico and along the U.S. Atlantic coast

called also Kemp's ridley turtle

Examples of Kemp's ridley in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The quiet shores are perfect for a beach day and serve as one of the few nesting spots for the Kemp's ridley sea turtle, the world's most endangered variety. —Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 21 Feb. 2025

Its 66 miles of pristine coastline shelter the rare Kemp's ridley sea turtle and more than 380 bird species, while offering its human visitors ample opportunities for walking, swimming, and birdwatching. —Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 27 Oct. 2024

Weighing in between 85 and 100 pounds, Kemp's ridley sea turtles are the only sea turtle species that primarily nest during the day. —Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2024

The aquarium's Sea Turtle Assistance and Rehabilitation — or STAR Center — is caring for the turtles, which are of the green, Kemp's ridley and loggerhead varieties. —Caitlin O'Kane, CBS News, 24 Jan. 2024

While the Kemp's ridley is the most common visitor, green, loggerhead, and leatherback sea turtles also nest along the Texas coast. —Ariana Garcia, Chron, 3 May 2023

The last eight turtles, all Kemp's ridley turtles, flew to Georgia, where Georgia Sea Turtle Center staff members met the plane at the Jekyll Island Airport and took the animals to their new home. —Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 30 Nov. 2022

Conservation efforts have been ongoing in Matagorda Bay for the critically endangered Kemp's ridley. —Ariana Garcia, Chron, 22 June 2022

Plotkin identified the baby turtles as Kemp's ridley sea turtles, the smallest and most endangered sea turtles in the world. —Zoe Sottile, CNN, 18 June 2022

Word History

Etymology

Richard M. Kemp flourished 1873 American amateur naturalist

First Known Use

1979, in the meaning defined above