Sea Turtle Species Trivia: 10 Questions With Answers

Seven sea turtle species share the world's oceans, and sea turtle species trivia sorts out what makes each one unique. Tell the jellyfish-eating leatherback from the reef-loving hawksbill, the seagrass-grazing green turtle and the flatback found only around Australia.

Start Sea Turtle Species Trivia

🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 150 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 150s

Count
How many sea turtle species exist?
Rarest
Which is the rarest and smallest sea turtle?
Flatback
Which sea turtle lives only around Australia?
Head
Which turtle has a large head and powerful jaws for crushing shellfish?
Beak
Which turtle uses a narrow beak to eat sponges on reefs?
Green
Why is the green turtle called green?
Leather
Which turtle has no hard shell?
Olive
Which is the most abundant sea turtle?
Range
Which sea turtle ranges farthest north into cold waters?
Hawksbill status
What is the hawksbill's conservation status?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: How many sea turtle species exist?
Answer: Seven
Most are threatened.
Q2: Which is the rarest and smallest sea turtle?
Answer: Kemp's ridley
It nests mainly in Mexico.
Q3: Which sea turtle lives only around Australia?
Answer: Flatback
It does not cross oceans.
Q4: Which turtle has a large head and powerful jaws for crushing shellfish?
Answer: Loggerhead
It is common in Florida.
Q5: Which turtle uses a narrow beak to eat sponges on reefs?
Answer: Hawksbill
It helps keep reefs healthy.
Q6: Why is the green turtle called green?
Answer: Its body fat is greenish
Its diet of seagrass causes it.
Q7: Which turtle has no hard shell?
Answer: Leatherback
It can keep warm in cold waters.
Q8: Which is the most abundant sea turtle?
Answer: Olive ridley
It nests in mass arribadas.
Q9: Which sea turtle ranges farthest north into cold waters?
Answer: Leatherback
It has been seen near Norway.
Q10: What is the hawksbill's conservation status?
Answer: Critically endangered
The tortoiseshell trade devastated it.

Sea Turtle Species Trivia – Seven Ocean Travelers

There are seven species of sea turtle: the leatherback, green, loggerhead, hawksbill, Kemp's ridley, olive ridley and flatback. Each has its own size, diet and range, but all depend on beaches for nesting and oceans for feeding.

Leatherbacks dive deep and eat jellyfish, green turtles graze on seagrass, loggerheads crush shellfish and hawksbills feed on sponges in coral reefs. Kemp's ridley is the smallest and rarest, while the olive ridley is the most numerous.

Six of the seven species are listed as threatened. Bycatch, plastic, egg collection and beach development are major dangers. Protecting nesting beaches in Mexico, Costa Rica, Australia and Florida has helped some species recover.

What This Quiz Teaches

Ocean fans and students will enjoy these questions.

How many species exist
What each species eats
Which is rarest
Which lives only in Australia
Which are endangered

Did You Know?

Flatbacks lay large eggs.
Leatherbacks can maintain warm body temperatures.
Green turtles bask on Hawaiian beaches.
Loggerheads cross the Pacific.
Kemp's ridleys nest in daytime.