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Definition of kemp ridley sea turtle
kemp ridley sea turtle
Plural:Kemp's ridley sea turtles
kemp ridley sea turtle Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
8
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
North American A small, critically endangered species of marine turtle (Lepidochelys kempii) primarily native to the Gulf of Mexico and the eastern coast of the United States, renowned for its synchronized daytime mass nesting behavior known as an arribada.
Example
"Conservationists heavily patrol the beaches of Tamaulipas, Mexico, to protect the fragile nests of the Kemp's ridley sea turtle from predators and poachers."
Word Origin & Etymology
Named after Richard M. Kemp, a Key West fisherman who first submitted a specimen for identification in 1880, combined with 'ridley', a term of uncertain origin used for this genus of turtles.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Kemp ridley sea turtle. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 12, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/kemp ridley sea turtle