Abstract
Stomach and gastrointestinal contents of twenty-six stranded Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempii) sea turtles were examined. The sample size represents 14.5% of Kemp's ridley standings in Georgia from 1992 through 1996, and focuses on waters surrounding Wassaw Island and Jekyll Island. Curved carapace length ranged from 25-69 cm. Percent occurrence showed moon snails (Polinices duplicatus) and blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus) to constitute 30.77% and 88.46% of the 26 animals, respectively. Other organisms found included horseshoe crabs, calico crabs, purse crabs, additional mollusks, fish, and comb jellies. The data supports the idea that the Kemp's ridley is a shallow water benthic carnivore.