Once a male loggerhead finds a mate

Once a male loggerhead finds a mate he will circle her before potential courtship (Drakes, 2012; Duermit, 2007). The male loggerhead will then bite her neck or shoulder (Duermit, 2007). Using his claws, the male loggerhead grabs onto the female to maintain grip. He also maintains his grip by putting his head on the females shell. Next, the male curls his tail under the female to bring their cloaca’s (reproductive opening) closer together (Duermit, 2007; Drakes, 2012). The male needs to maintain grip because mating may last for hours and other males may try to remove him from the female. A female can reject the male however. If the female does reject the male loggerhead she will close her cloaca and swim to the bottom of the water (Duermit, 2007).