What Is a Leatherback Sea Turtle?

A leatherback sea turtle is known scientifically as Dermochelys coriacea. It is considered to be the largest living sea turtle today. Unlike most other turtles, leatherback turtles have a soft shell. They can be found in warmer oceans throughout the world. These turtles spend most of their lives in water, unless they are laying eggs, and they can dive to great depths.

The leatherback sea turtle is the only member of the Dermochelyidae family. When it was first described in 1761, it was originally named Testudo coriacea. In 1816, however, it was reclassified. Other names for this turtle include leathery turtle and trunk turtle.

A leatherback sea turtle is very large, as it is largest known sea turtle in the world. It can grow to be 8 feet (2.5 meters) in length. One of the largest leatherback sea turtles found weighed in at 2,000 pounds (907 kilograms).

This turtle gets its name from the leathery texture of its shell. A leatherback turtle shell is made up of a matrix of small bones, which are covered by a thick layer of tough, rubbery skin. One main ridge runs down the middle of this turtle's back, and there are three more smaller ridges on each side.

An adult leatherback sea turtle is usually predominately black or dark brown. They do have pale markings, however, all over their bodies. Juveniles also have white markings on their flippers, which are used for swimming.

These turtles can be found in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans as well as the Indian Ocean. While they seem to prefer warm waters, leatherback sea turtles have also been found in more temperate climates, including some areas of Canada. They have also bee found near Australia.

Most of its life, a leatherback sea turtle can be found in deep waters. They can dive to great depths. Some scientists have determined that they can dive as deep as 4,200 feet (1,280 meters). One of the only times that a leatherback sea turtle can be found on land is when it is laying eggs.

Females will crawl onto sandy shores shortly after mating. Here, she will dig a hole with her front flippers, and lay a clutch of about 80 eggs. She will then cover these eggs with sand and return to the ocean. About two months later, the hatchlings will emerge and make their way to the ocean.

At one time, egg poaching in certain areas of the world was quite common. These turtles were also frequently hunted for their meat, and they also accidentally get caught in fishermen's nets. The number of these types of sea turtles has declined drastically over the years, and in 1970, the leatherback sea turtle was added to the United States' endangered species list.

Leatherback sea turtles are distinct in their lack of a hard bony shell. Instead, they possess a leathery, flexible carapace made of connective tissue. They are the largest of all living turtles, with some individuals reaching up to 2,000 pounds. Leatherbacks are also deep divers, capable of reaching depths of 4,000 feet, and can endure colder waters due to their ability to regulate body temperature.

Leatherback sea turtles have a diet primarily consisting of jellyfish. This gelatinous prey is captured with the turtle's pointed cusps and papillae lining its throat, which help prevent jellyfish from escaping. Their consumption of jellyfish plays a crucial role in marine ecosystems by helping to control jellyfish populations.

Leatherback sea turtles are highly migratory and have the broadest distribution of all sea turtle species. They can be found in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, ranging from the Arctic Circle to the southernmost tip of New Zealand. Their vast range is due to their unique adaptations that allow them to tolerate colder water temperatures.

The lifespan of leatherback sea turtles is not precisely known, but it is estimated that they can live for 45 years or more. However, determining their exact lifespan is challenging due to their extensive migrations and deep-sea habitat, which make long-term studies difficult.

Leatherback sea turtles face several threats, including accidental capture in fishing gear (bycatch), poaching for their eggs and meat, plastic pollution, and habitat loss. Climate change also poses a significant threat by altering their nesting beaches and affecting sex ratios, as the temperature of the sand determines the gender of hatchlings.

Conservation efforts for leatherback sea turtles include international agreements like the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) that protect them from trade, and various national laws that safeguard nesting beaches. Organizations and researchers also work on reducing bycatch through modified fishing practices and raising public awareness about the species' plight.