There are eight turtles in Panama. These include five sea turtles and three freshwater turtles. The sea turtles in Panama include the hawksbill sea turtle, the green turtle, the leatherback sea turtle, the loggerhead sea turtle, the Olive Ridley sea turtle.
These turtles can be found on both the Caribbean coast and the pacific coast. Most of the sea turtle nesting sites are on the pacific coast.
There are plenty of turtles that can be found in Panama City, Panama City Beach as well as many parts of the region. You also might even see sea turtle nests if you’re lucky!
The eastern pacific portion of Panama is also home to the Coiba National Park. This park is home to one of the most important foraging habitats of the hawksbill turtle.
The freshwater turtles found in Panama are the black wood turtle, the brown wood turtle, and the central American mud turtle. The black wood turtle is commonly kept as a pet in North America.
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Freshwater Turtles in Panama
There are three freshwater turtles to be found in Panama and these are the brown wood turtle, the black wood turtle, and the Central American mud turtle. Little is known about these three turtles.
1. Central American Mud Turtle
- Family: Kinosternidae
- Scientific Name: Kinosternon angustipons
- Conservation Status: Vulnerable
The Central American mud turtle is a turtle that can be found across Central America. This turtle is native to three Central American countries and these countries are Panama, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica.
The species is also known as the narrow-bridged mud turtle as the plastron and the carapace is connected by a narrow bridge.
While little information is known on the species, it is a mud turtle and can be found in the family Kinosternidae. Like other mud turtles, the Central American mud turtle is predominantly carnivorous.
Mud turtles can be found partially hidden in the mud. These turtles can be found in freshwater bodies with muddy bottoms.
The Central American mud turtle is a Vulnerable species according to the IUCN Red List.
2. Brown Wood Turtle
- Family: Geoemydidae
- Scientific Name: Rhinoclemmys annulata
- Conservation Status: Lower Risk/near threatened
Very little is known about the brown wood turtle. This turtle is called the brown wood turtle because it is a wood turtle with brown coloration.
The carapace is of a lighter shade when compared to the black wood turtle which can also be found in Panama. The turtle is also called the brown land turtle as it spends a large portion of its time on land.
This turtle is part of the family Geoemydidae and this family includes several other pond turtles. The brown wood turtle is endemic to Panama, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Honduras, Costa Rica, and Columbia.
The species is a herbivore and is listed as lower risk/near threatened on the IUCN Red List.
3. Black Wood Turtle
- Family: Geoemydidae
- Scientific Name: Rhinoclemmys funerea
- Conservation Status: Lower Risk/near threatened
As you may have already guessed, the black wood turtle is closely related to the brown wood turtle. Both turtles are closely related as both can be found in the same genus.
This neotropical turtle is quite a popular pet in North America. What this means is that there is a lot more information available on the black wood turtle than on the brown wood turtle.
This turtle is endemic to Central America in places such as northern Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and southern Honduras.
Similar to the brown wood turtle, the black wood turtle is semi-aquatic and spends a lot of time out of water. However, these turtles are never found far from a water body. You can find them near rivers, ponds, swamps, and marshes.
The black wood turtle is quite large and can each carapace lengths of over 12 inches or 1 foot.
The carapace of the black wood turtle is domed, females have flatter carapaces than males do. The coloration of the carapace is black with brown hues. On both sides of the jaw, you will notice yellow spots.
The species is omnivorous and feeds on fruits, grasses, flowers, fish, tadpoles, worms, and insects.
Sea Turtles in Panama
Although Panama is home to three freshwater turtles, they are better known for their sea turtles. Five sea turtles can be found in Panama. In fact, Panama is host to one of the world’s most important foraging habitats for hawksbill – Coiba National Park.
4. Hawksbill Sea Turtle
- Family: Cheloniidae
- Scientific Name: Eretmochelys imbricata
- Length: 62 to 94 cm
- Weight: 80 kg
- Presence in Panama: Pacific Coast & Atlantic Coast
- Conservation Status: Critically Endangered
In Panama, Hawksbills nest at Bocas del Toro which is on the Caribbean Coast, the Southern Zone of Veraguas, beaches of Chiriqui and Isla Cañas (a corregimiento in Tonosí District which is located within the Los Santos Province) on the Pacific Coast.
Hawksbills also have a foraging area within Panama, specifically the Coiba National Park. This park consists of beaches, islands, forests, mangroves, and coral reefs (which are found in the ocean).
The Coiba National Park is home to the highest density of foraging hawksbill in the eastern Pacific Ocean. The park is found within the Gulf of Chiriqui.
Hawksbills are loyal to their foraging sites and as such the Coiba national park is of extreme importance.
The hawksbill is a critically endangered species that can be found circumglobal. Hawksbills are typically found in tropical waters of the Pacific, Indian, Atlantic oceans. The hawksbill can also be found in subtropical waters.
The population of the species is decreasing. This is no surprise as the hawksbill is overexploited all over the world including in Panama.
The hawksbill reaches maturity at an age of 20 to 40 years. As you can tell, these chelonians are slow to mature.
The hawksbill can reach a mass of 280 lb or 127 kg, although the average mass is around 80 kg or 176 lb. The hawksbill can also reach a length of 49 inches or 114 cm although the average length is around 34 inches or 87 cm. While the hawksbill may seem huge for a turtle, this is actually a small sea turtle when compared to the others.
Male hawksbills are more colorful than females. They also have a more concave plastron, longer claws, and tails. The carapace of the hawksbill is heart-shaped.
The hawksbill is omnivorous although it feeds mainly on sponges. They also feed on cnidarians, echinoderms, crustaceans, marine worms, mollusks, and fish. Apart from animals, they also feed on plants such as macroalgae, fruits, bark, and leaves.
Hawksbills are known to be migratory and can be found all over the world. Hatchlings and juveniles are known to inhabit the oceanic zone in major current systems.
Adults can be found in neritic foraging habitats such as the one found in the Coiba National Park. Mature adults will travel between foraging grounds and breeding sites every few years. Nesting females will often return to their natal beach to nest.
The hawksbill faces many threats. These include the tortoiseshell trade, the harvesting of eggs, the hunting of hawksbills for meat, and the destruction of foraging and nesting habitats. In Panama, the biggest threat is egg collection.
The hawksbill holds a conservation status of critically endangered. It is also included in Appendix I of the CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora).
5. Green Sea Turtle
- Family: Cheloniidae
- Scientific Name: Chelonia mydas
- Length: 39 in (100 cm)
- Weight: 180 kg
- Presence in Panama: Pacific Coast
- Conservation Status: Endangered
In Panama, green turtles nest in the Southern Zone of the Veraguas province, and Isla Cañas (a corregimiento in Tonosí District which is located within the Los Santos Province) on the Pacific Coast.
Isla Canas is an important nesting site for green turtles. This island has 800 residents who work hand in hand with the government to help protect the nesting sites.
They are also allowed to collect a limited number of turtle eggs as it is an important part of their local cuisine. The harvesting of eggs here is done in a sustainable manner.
Green turtles can also be found offshore of Bocas del Toro. The waters here host several adults and juveniles.
The green turtle can be found circumglobal. This turtle is usually found in tropical waters of the Pacific, Indian, Atlantic oceans. These turtles can also be found in subtropical waters.
As with the other sea turtles, the green turtle’s population is decreasing.
The green turtle is highly migratory and can be found in several places. Hatchlings and juveniles are carried along the major gyres of the ocean.
After several years, the turtle can be found in neritic foraging areas which have an abundance of seagrass and other marine foods. Here the turtle can grow.
Upon reaching maturity the species will travel between breeding sites and foraging habitats once every three or so years. After breeding, males do not come onshore to nest.
Females do though. The distance between foraging grounds and nesting areas can be several thousands of kilometers apart.
When not breeding, they can be found in coastal neritic feeding areas.
You may think the green turtle is green in coloration, but they are not green. These turtles are named after their green body fat. The carapace of this turtle is either black or brown in coloration.
The green turtle is a large turtle with an average length of 39 inches or 100 cm. The turtle can reach a length of 120 cm or 47 inches. Also, the weight range of the species is 330 to 441 lb or 150 to 200 kg.
The turtle faces several threats such as the collection of green turtle eggs and the harvesting of green turtles for meat. The eggs and the meat are consumed in large quantities all over the world, especially in coastal communities where the species nest.
Other threats include bycatch in marine fisheries, and the degradation of foraging habitats, breeding habitats, and nesting beaches.
The green turtle holds a conservation status of endangered on IUCN Red List. It is also included in Appendix I of the CITES.
6. Loggerhead Sea Turtle
- Family: Cheloniidae
- Scientific Name: Caretta caretta
- Length: 92 cm
- Weight: 115 kg
- Conservation Status: Endangered
Loggerheads will often nest on Isla Cañas and can be found in the temperate and subtropical regions of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans
The loggerhead is migratory like most sea turtles are. Hatchlings can be found in major gyres systems directly after leaving their eggs. This is the open ocean developmental grounds. Loggerheads will spend about 5 to 19 years in the oceanic zone.
After which, the loggerhead settles in neritic developmental areas. These areas are rich in prey the loggerhead needs to reach maturity. As with other sea turtles, loggerheads reach maturity at a late age. the age of maturity can be as late as 39 years.
After reaching maturity, the loggerhead will journey between nesting and foraging habitats every two to three years. Both males and females journey between foraging and nesting/breeding habitats, but only females come to shore.
Loggerheads are named for their massive heads, which hold powerful jaws. They are the largest hard-shelled marine turtle and the second-largest marine turtle overall.
Loggerheads face several threats including the collection of eggs and the harvesting of loggerhead for meat. Their eggs and the meat are consumed in large numbers, especially in coastal communities close to the nesting habitats of the species.
Other major threats the species faces are bycatch in marine fisheries and the degradation of foraging habitats, breeding habitats, and nesting beaches due to coastal developments.
The species is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is also included in Appendix I of the CITES.
7. Leatherback Sea Turtle
- Family: Dermochelyidae
- Scientific Name: Dermochelys coriacea
- Length: 155 cm
- Weight: 200 – 700 kg
- Conservation Status: Vulnerable on IUCN Red List
In Panama, the leatherback turtle can be found nesting on the pacific coast in Isla Canas where they nest in sizable numbers. Leatherbacks are also known to nest on Chiriqui Beach, in the Comarca Ngöbe-Buglé.
The Chiriqui Beach is on the Atlantic/Caribbean coast and should not be confused with the beaches found along the Gulf of Chiriqui which is part of the Pacific Ocean and extends from the Pacific coast from the Costa Rican border with Panama to the Azuero Peninsula.
1,000 to 7,000 leatherback nests are recorded on Chiriqui Beach every nesting season. This number means that Chiriqui Beach is the world’s fourth-largest leatherback nesting site.
The Soropta Beach hosts about 500 to 1000 leatherback nests each nesting season. The Bluff Beach hosts 100 to 300 nests each season, and Long Beach boats 100 to 300 nests each season as well.
The nesting season within Bocas del Toro darts in February and ends in July with peak nesting taking place in May.
Threats to leatherback in Panama include the collection of eggs and the harvesting of nesting leatherbacks. In places such as Comarca in the north of Bocas, leatherback eggs are harvested in large quantities, and nesting females have been killed by hunters on the Soropta Beach.
Conservation measures in place include initiatives by the Sea Turtle Conservancy (STC). this organization works with the local government and the indigenous people of Ngäbe-Bugle Comarca to ensure that the number of eggs being harvested is reduced.
The leatherback is known to nest on tropical sandy beaches of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans. However, their foraging habitats can be found in even temperate and subpolar areas of the sea.
The leatherback is migratory like most sea turtles are and as such are deep-diving and oceanic as opposed to neritic.
The leatherbacks are named for their leathery shells. Instead of having a hard shell, leatherbacks have a leathery shell. They are the largest turtles and reptiles in the world capable of reaching 2000 lbs in weight.
Leatherbacks face several threats. The biggest threat they face in Panama is the collection of eggs for human consumption.
Around the world, other major threats the species face include the incidental capture of the leatherback in fishing nets and gear, degradation of nesting habitat due to coastal developments, pollution, pathogens such as fibropapilloma virus, and climate change.
Caretta caretta holds a vulnerable status on the IUCN Red List and is also included in Appendix I of the CITES.
8. Olive Ridley Sea Turtle
- Family: Cheloniidae
- Scientific Name: Lepidochelys olivacea
- Length: 23 to 29 in (58 to 74 cm)
- Presence in Nicaragua: Pacific Coast
- Conservation Status: Vulnerable
In Panama, the Olive Ridley can be found on Isla Cañas and the Southern Zone of Veraguas. The Olive Ridley is known for the arribada whereby thousands of nesting Olive Ridley come to nest on the same beach within a few days.
As such, you can witness hundreds to thousands of Olive Ridleys laying eggs on the same beach at the same time.
The Olive Ridley can be found in tropical and subtropical regions of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans. Nesting habitats occur in tropical waters.
The Olive Ridley starts life in the pelagic phase where they are carried along with the major current systems. At this phase, they may cohabitate with adult Olive Ridleys in the same habitat.
Once the Olive Ridley reaches adulthood/reproductive maturity, they will move between oceanic waters and the breeding/nesting sites. The species breed near the nesting beaches.
While males remain in the water after mating, females will come to shore to nest. Sometimes thousands of females will come to shore to nest at around the same time in the arribada.
Threats that the Olive Ridley faces include the exploitation of the Olive Ridleys for their eggs, bycatch in fisheries, habitat degradation due to human transformation of their nesting habitats, and disease and predation.
Lepidochelys olivacea holds a vulnerable status on the IUCN Red List and is also included in Appendix I of the CITES.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many sea turtle species occur in Panama?
There are five sea turtles. The sea turtles in Panama include the hawksbill, the green turtle, the leatherback, the loggerhead, the Olive Ridley.
The commonest sea turtles in Panama are the hawksbill and the leatherback.
How many freshwater turtles occur in Panama?
There are eight freshwater turtles in Panama and these are the black wood turtle, the brown wood turtle, and the Central American mud turtle.
Where can you turtle watch in Panama?
There are several sites where you can turtle watch in Panama. On the Pacific coast, the largest nestings occur from mid-June to February.
Those are the best times to turtle watch. In the southern zone of Veraguas, you can observe the arribada. This is when thousands of turtles flood the beaches to nest. This is a sight to behold.
The Coiba national park is an important foraging site for hawksbills in the eastern Pacific. It is the perfect place to watch hawksbill.
The Isla Cnas is another excellent place to turtle watch. In fact, it is one of the few places where the public is allowed to watch turtles nest. Nesting season here is from July to November. All five turtle species nest here.
What guidelines should you observe when turtle watching in Panama?
As it has been mentioned many times already, the population of sea turtles has been falling for the past several decades. As such, it is essential that you do not endanger this population any further.
Here are some guidelines to follow when turtle watching.
- Always go turtle watching with a tour guide. The tour guide should have all the necessary information on what to do and what not to do.
- Don’t get in front of the turtle.
- Don’t get too close to the turtle. Getting close to the turtle can stress it and cause her to stop laying eggs.
- Don’t make noise as this can frighten the turtle.
- Don’t shine a light on the nesting turtle and this includes the flash from a camera.
- Only take pictures when the tour guide tells you to.
Conclusion
There are eight turtles endemic to Panama. These turtles can be found in the seas, on the coast, in the forests, and in the freshwater bodies of Panama. Out of these eight turtles, five are sea turtles and these are the leatherback, the loggerhead, the hawksbill, the Olive Ridley, and the green turtle.
Central America and the Caribbeans are known for their vast population of sea turtles. Several sea turtles nest on the coasts of countries of Central America. Panama is no exception.
Every year tens of thousands of sea turtles nest on the coasts of Panama. Some of these nesting sites include Bocas del Toro, the southern zone of Veraguas, Coiba National Park, and Isla Canas.
While Panama’s sea turtles are more well known, Panama is also home to three freshwater turtles. These are the black turtle, the brown turtle, and the Central American mud turtle. The black turtle is commonly kept as pets as they are easy to care for and keep.