Caretta caretta has head large with broad and subtriangular with 2 pairs of prefrontal scales. In adults, the carapace is heart-shaped. Horny beak is very strong and comparatively thicker than in other sea turtles. There are 3 pairs of inframarginal scutes which rarely have pores. Fore flippers relatively short and also thick. There are 2 visible claws on anterior margin. Hatchlings and juvenile turtles have blunt spines on the carapace scutes which forms 3 longitudinal keels that disappear during the juvenile stage. Adults have constant dorsal pattern; easily recognizable by the reddish brown coloration and sometimes with dark streaks. Hatchlings are dark brown dorsally with the flippers pale brown marginally and underneath and the plastron usually is much paler.