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Definition of kemp's ridley sea turtle
kemp's ridley sea turtle
Plural:Kemp's ridley sea turtles
kemp's ridley sea turtle Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
8
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
North American A critically endangered species of small sea turtle (Lepidochelys kempii), natively found primarily in the Gulf of Mexico and the shallow coastal waters of the western Atlantic Ocean, known for its unique synchronized daytime nesting behavior called an arribada.
Example
"Conservationists have worked for decades to protect the primary nesting beaches of the Kemp's ridley sea turtle in Tamaulipas, Mexico, and Padre Island, Texas."
Word Origin & Etymology
Named after Richard M. Kemp, a fisherman from Key West, Florida, who submitted the first specimen for formal scientific identification in 1880. The etymological origin of the term 'ridley' remains historically uncertain.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Kemp's ridley sea turtle. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 12, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/kemp's ridley sea turtle