In the shallow coastal waters of the Amvrakikos Gulf in northwestern Greece (a vital foraging habitat for both juvenile and adult Loggerhead sea turtles) one turtle has been surviving for at least six years without a lower jaw.

The subject of this story was first recorded in 2019 as part of ARCHELON’s capture-mark-recapture project, which has been ongoing in the Amvrakikos Gulf since 2002. Despite the shocking nature of its injury, the turtle was not weak. On the contrary, its wounds had healed naturally, and its physical condition was excellent. The turtle also carried a significant load of barnacles (crustaceans that attach themselves to the turtle's shell).

Since then, the turtle has been sighted four more times in the same study area, most recently in the summer of 2025. Throughout this six-year period, it continued to display good physical health and has been recorded to grow at an average rate of approximately 0.2 cm per year. Notably, the heavy load of barnacles observed during the first capture has now disappeared.

The question that sparked surprise among researchers was how an animal that normally requires powerful jaws to crush crabs and crustaceans managed to avoid starvation. The long-term survival of this turtle strongly suggests that it has adapted its foraging behavior, likely choosing softer food sources such as holothurians (sea cucumbers), an unusual but documented food source for turtles in Greek waters.

The successful healing of such a severe injury without human intervention highlights the exceptional resilience of sea turtles. While injuries such as the loss of flippers are also observed in the Amvrakikos Gulf, the loss of a lower jaw would normally be considered life-threatening. Against all odds, this jawless turtle continues to fulfill its ecological role and serve as a timeless symbol of resilience and hope.

This extraordinary case is presented in a recent scientific publication by Alan F. Rees and Dimitris Margaritoulis, members of ARCHELON's Scientific Committee.

Join the Scientific Effort – Become a Volunteer!

This unique discovery would not have been possible without the monitoring work conducted by ARCHELON in Amvrakikos. A small team of volunteers with a field leader and a boat lives there every summer, in an area which serves as a "living laboratory" where the recording and study of turtles teach us how to better protect the marine environment.

ARCHELON invites you to live an unforgettable experience by participating as a volunteer in sea turtle protection projects throughout Greece. Your help is invaluable in ensuring that stories of hope, like that of the resilient turtle of the Amvrakikos, continue to exist. Learn more