THE CENTER FOR NORTH AMERICAN HERPETOLOGY

Reptilia    Testudines    Cheloniidae  

Olive Ridley Sea Turtle
Lepidochelys olivacea (Eschscholtz, 1829)

Current SSAR Comments:
While not explicitly discussed in the 8th Edition (2017) Flores-Villa et al. (2016, Chelonian Conservation and Biology 15: 57–162) reported that the source of the name Chelonia olivacea (now Lepidochelys olivacea), before credited to (Eschscholtz, 1829, Zoologischer Atas, Enthaltend Abbildungen und Beschreibungen neuer Thierarten, während des Flottcapitains v. Kotzebue zweiter Reise um die Welt, auf der russisch-kaiserlichen Kriegsschlupp Predpriaetië in den Jahren 1823–1826. Bei G. Reimer, Berlin, Germany) (published after May 1829), was actually first published in January of that year by Eschscholtz (1829, Quatember 1: 10–18).

Range maps are based on curated specimens and provided gratis by CNAH.
(Created by Travis W. Taggart; Version: 2023.12.11.22.11.56)
Download GeoJSON polygon range file: - 2.94 MB

First instance(s) of published English names:
Olive Caouanne (Caouana olivacea: Gray, John E. 1856. Catalogue of shield reptiles in the collection of the British Museum. Part I. Testudinata (Tortoises). Taylor and Francis, London, England. 79pp.); Pacific Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta olivacea: Van Denburgh, John. 1922. The Reptiles of Western North America: An Account of the Species Known to Inhabit California and Oregon, Washinton, Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, British Columbia, Sonora, and Lower California. Volume I. Lizards. California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco. 556pp.); Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea: Schmidt, Karl P. 1953. A Check List of North American Amphibians and Reptiles. 6th Edition. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, Illinois. 280pp.); Bastard Turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea: Schmidt, Karl P. 1953. A Check List of North American Amphibians and Reptiles. 6th Edition. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, Illinois. 280pp.); Pacific Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea remivaga: Schmidt, Karl P. 1953. A Check List of North American Amphibians and Reptiles. 6th Edition. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, Illinois. 280pp.);

Taxon Links:

  
Catalog of American Amphibians and Reptiles
  
The Reptile Database
  
NatureServe
  
iNaturalist
  
GenBank
  
USGS - Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database

Pertinent LIterature:
1829 Eschscholtz, J. Friedrich. Zoologischer Atlas, Enthaltend Abbildungen und Beschreibungen neuer Thierarten, während des Flottcapitains v. Kotzebue zweiter Reise um die Welt, auf der russisch-kaiserlichen Kriegsschlupp Predpriaetië in den Jahren 1823-1826. Beobachtet von Dr. Friedrich Eschscholtz, Professor und Director des zoologischen Museums an der Universität zu Dorpat, Mitglied mehrerer gelehrten Gesellschaften, Rufs. Kais. Hofrathe und Ritter des Ordens des heil, Wladimir. Erstes Heft. [Zoological Atlas: Containing illustrations and descriptions of new animal species, during the fleet captain v. Kotzebue's second trip around the world, on the Russian-Imperial warship Predpriaetië in the years 1823-1826. Observed by Dr. Friedrich Eschscholtz, professor and director of the zoological museum at the University of Dorpat, member of several learned societies, Rufs. Kais. Court Counselor and Knight of the Order of Saint, Vladimir. First Issue.] Bei G. Reimer, Berlin, Germany. 17; + 5 platespp.
1829 Eschscholtz, J. Friedrich. Beschreibungen dreier neuer Meeresschildkröten. [Descriptions of three new sea turtles.] Quatember [Mitau] 1(1):10–18
2016 Flores-Villela, Oscar, Adler, Kraig, and Eimermacher, Thomas G. Identity of three new sea turtles named by J. Friedrich Eschscholtz. Chelonian Conservation and Biology 15(1):57-162

THE CENTER FOR NORTH AMERICAN HERPETOLOGY — Accessed: Thursday 30 January 2025 02:38 CT