Leucism: the prevalent congenital malformation in the olive ridley sea turtle of northwestern Mexico.

Despite being the most abundant sea turtle in the world, the olive ridley turtle Lepidochelys olivacea is classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN. There is evidence of congenital malformations in hatchlings, and the associated causes are multifactorial, with both genetic and environmental sources. Santuario Playa Ceuta (SPC) is a sanctuary for the olive ridley, located at the northernmost region of its nesting range in the Mexican Pacific.